Confused. Angry. Sad. Inspired. Upset. These were some of the understandable reactions to a visit by the children of Chabad Hebrew School in Franklin Lakes to the Auschwitz exhibit at the Jewish Heritage Museum in New York City.

Actually, the three-hour exhibit was comprehensive, engaging and all around excellent.

The children discovered a very powerful lesson near the exhibit’s end when the children learned that thousands of Jews resisted the Nazi attempts at dehumanization, clinging tenaciously to their inner dignity and purpose by risking their lives to perform mitzvot under the noses of the Nazis.

Finally, the students channeled their feelings and reactions into positive responses and emotions by illustrating how they could be used to correct the world’s ills, challenge discriminatory attitudes and motivate positive action.