May 2, 2019

Yom Hashoah was commemorated by the Lower Division's Fourth and Fifth grade students with a meaningful age appropriate program.

Head of Elementary School Rabbi Yahel Tsaidi spoke to the students about the importance of remembering the Shoah and the ability to hear testimonies of the survivors from the survivors themselves, something that future generations will not be able to do.

Mrs. Helen Ender spoke about her parents, Chana and Isaac Aron A"H, Holocaust survivors, and their experiences as Partisans during the war. She explained that her father's life mission was to make sure that the atrocities that occurred during the Holocaust would never happen again. Mrs. Shaindy Finkiel spoke about her grandparents' acts of kindness during the war.

Students then watched an excerpt from the film, "Inside Hana’s Suitcase," a story of two young children who grew up in pre-WWII Czechoslovakia and the terrible events that they endured because they were Jewish. They also watched a video entitled “Shine On” by the Holocaust Survivor Band.

A candle lighting presentation followed, during which six parents joined their children in lighting six yahrzeit candles to commemorate the six million Jews who perished in the Shoah. Rabbi Sharoni recited the Kel Maleh Rachimim prayer and Mrs. Sylvia Schwartz led the students in songs. Students were also able to look at photos, books and articles that were displayed outside the auditorium and add the names of those they know who perished in the Shoah.

Thank you to Helen Ender and Shaindy Finkiel and all the teachers and staff who supported the program through their creativity and input.