JKHA middle school began Yom HaShoah with a full division assembly. Principal Ariel Levenson tasked students with infusing the day with meaning and reflection, and imparted to them a message about resilience. Students and faculty members shared readings and stories of survivors, concluding with the lighting of six memorial candles.

During the day, seventh and eighth grade students considered what it means to have faith during times of difficulty by studying and discussing short stories from Yaffa Eliach’s “Hassidic Tales of the Holocaust.” Students were moved by the powerful lessons of belief, resilience and dedication and comforted by the idea that one can find God and build one’s emunah even during times of darkness. Fifth and sixth graders participated in a program that discussed the righteous gentiles in the Holocaust who made choices and risked their lives to save Jews from extermination.

The “Names, Not Numbers©” documentary was also made available for screening, and the students were invited to watch Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks’ presentation during the Global Day of Testimony where JKHA/RKYHS was a partner host.