With each year that passes since the end of World War II, it becomes more and more important to share stories from Holocaust survivors, keep these stories alive and to never forget. This year to prepare for Yom HaShoah, Moriah middle school learned about different aspects of the Shoah through various poems and stories in Ivrit class. Many classes read about the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. They learned that, led by Mordechai Anilevich, Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto chose to fight the Germans and not go quietly to their deaths. Though they were outnumbered and lacking weapons, they held the Germans off for over a month, showing the world that Jews could fight for their lives.

An assembly was held on Thursday where the students held a candle lighting memorial service to commemorate the lives of the six million Jews lost during the Holocaust. Then, they watched last year’s “Names, Not Numbers©” documentary made by the class of 2017. For some students, it was the first time hearing first-hand, personal stories. For others, it was watching their own relatives share their experiences. It was a moving and inspiring way to mark the day for all of the students.