Last week, Bruriah marked Yom HaShoah with an incredibly powerful program that educated and inspired. The program was designed to remember the immense tragedy of the Holocaust while also highlighting the individual stories of family members of Bruriah students and teachers who triumphed through tragedy. “We designed this program to enable students to recognize their connection with the Holocaust,” said Director of Student Life Dena Lichtman. “When their friends and teachers get up and tell stories of people close to them, it really helps personalize the experience for them.”

The program began with four Bruriah students—freshman Shoshana Pinsker, sophomore Faiga Gordon, sophomore Yaeli Koplowitz and senior Yocheved Sima Bohm—who each recounted the experiences of their great-grandparents through the Holocaust. Their moving accounts set the stage for special guest Lew Sosnowik, who joined students on Zoom to tell his story. As the father of Bruriah teacher Daniel Sosnowik, Mr. Sosnowik further helped students connect as a community to the experience of the Holocaust. He recounted his story of survival as a child in Poland, where his family miraculously escaped from the Warsaw Ghetto and went into hiding in various locations for nearly three years, until they were finally liberated. Mr. Sosnowik feels strongly that his father’s good name and reputation was what ultimately saved his family, as he had many non-Jewish businessmen who didn’t hesitate to help him while he was in hiding. He reiterated this message to the students in his presentation, “tov sheim tov m’shemen tov,” that we have a responsibility to guard our good name and our legacy because who knows when it can save a person.

This poignant and impactful tribute commemorated the Holocaust victims while simultaneously celebrating the survivors. Bruriah students walked away from the program recognizing their important role in carrying on the legacy of those who perished, those who survived and the lessons they leave behind.