May 2, 2019

In preparation for Yom Hashoah, Judaic Studies teachers spoke to their classes about the history and atrocities that took place during the Holocaust. Teachers introduced students to the organization Our6million.org, whose mission is to remember the victims of the Holocaust by partnering with schools and individuals to light a candle on Yom Hashoah in memory of a specific victim and learn something about that person. The goal is to make the number 6 million personal by giving each victim a name with a story and a life waiting to be lived.

On Thursday, Yom Hashoah, Middle Division students participated in a Yom Hashoah program. 6th grade students listened to the story of Mrs. Sally Frischberg’s experience being hidden by Polish Catholics as an infant, while 7th and 8th grade students listened to Mr. Shmuel Beller speak to them about surviving three labor camps and the death march. At both assemblies candles were lit in memory of the 6 million Jews who perished followed by memorial prayers and songs sung by our Middle Division choir.

In addition to their assemblies, students visited the Holocaust mini museum created by Mrs. Barbara Zelenetz and Mrs.Margalit Greenstein. Students learned about this terrible period in our history from 8th grade trained docents: Arlette Anteby, Michelle Belenkiy, Jennifer Kreizman, Erica Lincer, Esther Sasson, Bella Shatzkes, Solomon Terzi, and Eitan Yehoshua.