On Wednesday, November 4 2015, Yeshiva University High School for Boys (MTA) students in the Names Not Numbers Holocaust documentary program, joined by the rest of the senior class, traveled to Battery Park in Lower Manhattan for the annual visit to the famed Jewish Heritage Museum. Upon arrival, the students were greeted by the museum staff and given a basic overview of World War II and the Holocaust. This lesson smoothly transitioned into a theological workshop in which students delved into the Jewish life during the time and even analyzed a number of ethical wills, written as a last message to family members whom the writers assumed they would never see again.

Before continuing their journey, the students were served a scrumptious lunch, at which time they reflected upon their previous discussions. Afterwards, students in groups of 12 were led through the museum which consisted of a chronological display of events beginning from 1933, when Hitler came to power, until the emancipation of the Jews. Each tour guide developed a strategy to educate his respective group; for example, putting emphasis on certain individual stories for the Names Not Numbers participants. Upon the culmination of the trip, the entire senior class gathered just across the river from Ellis Island, with the Statue of Liberty in sight, to articulate the idea of religious freedom for Jews today. Mrs. Rosenberg, creator of the Names Not Numbers program, arranged the trip, and some of the Rebbeim, as well as Mr. Dobrick, accompanied the students to the museum.

By Hillel Krief (‘16)