On Monday, May 6, Yom HaShoah, BPY hosted an assembly for middle school students, led by Morah Racheli Gothelf and the eighth grade students. This year’s program was especially poignant and meaningful, as students understood that the Holocaust is not just an historical event, as the echoes of antisemitism reverberate in the world today. As part of the program, students sang “Ani Ma’amin,” led by the new chazzan, Rav David Chayak.

The opening of the program set the tone for the day: “Today is seven months after October 7. World Jewry in general, and the Jews in Israel in particular, understand—even if it was for one day—what a holocaust looks like. Those who cannot tolerate our very existence raised their heads and said out loud, once again, that we have no right to exist, that we have no right to a Jewish state. As happened in the past, hatred and antisemitism is expressed in the streets. In the name of freedom of speech, intimidation and public expressions of hatred toward Jews and the State of Israel is allowed to happen, and many remain silent in the face of all this. Yom HaShoah is a day not only to remember tragedy; it is also a day to commemorate heroism. There were strong and proud Jews during the Shoah who stood up with a mighty stance against the Nazi decrees and their desire to wipe out the Jewish presence from the world. On October 7, terrorists tried to break the spirit of the Jewish people, and today we declare loudly and strongly—Never Again! This is our duty—we will never forget. Not 80 years ago, and not today. This is our moral obligation—and that of Jews the world over, the third and fourth generation from the Holocaust.”

The students said how inspired and moved they were from this program, and that they will carry with them the neverending message of zachor—remember—and aseh—do.