Last Thursday, Yeshiva University High School for Boys (MTA) honored the memory of the six million Jews who were killed during the Holocaust by holding a meaningful Yom HaShoah program, designed by students in conjunction with the Student Life Department. The presentation was organized by many of the 21 seniors who visited Poland just a few weeks ago together with Rabbi Taubes as part of the “Names, Not Numbers” senior elective course.

Rabbi Taubes offered an introduction about the importance of reflecting upon the huge number of people who lost their lives. Subsequently, five seniors shared their personal experiences from their visit to Poland. They noted why it is so important to know the history of the Jews of Poland and to study about the Holocaust even today, and how we can personalize those tragic experiences and learn from them. Each boy then lit a candle marking the loss he focused upon in his remarks. The final candle was lit by Rabbi Taubes after sharing his experience of visiting Poland for the first time. He noted that while we are correct to mourn those who tragically died as Jews, it is even more important to live as Jews today ourselves.

The students were inspired to hear from their peers about what it meant for them to visit a place that was rich with Jewish history before the Holocaust. The program also included videos produced by Shimmy Socol ‘16, recording what the seniors saw in Poland.

Mrs. Tova Rosenberg, creator of “Names, Not Numbers,” organized the seniors’ visit to Poland.