On Wednesday night, hundreds of people gathered to view Rabbi Pesach Raymon’s “‘Names, Not Numbers©:’ A Movie in the Making” documentary film. This was the school’s fifth year participating in this meaningful culmination of the eighth grade’s yearlong Holocaust study program, created by educator Tova Fish-Rosenberg. The “Names, Not Numbers©” program is generously supported by a prominent national foundation.
With help from journalist Jeanette Friedman and filmmaker Adam Chinoy, the eighth grade students created a documentary of the historical accounts told by these Holocaust survivors, Dr. Leon Chameides, Leah Klapholtz, Rachel Lefkovits, Rachel Sambul, Dr. Bernard Schanzer, Henry Schanzer and Hersh Waisbord.
While the students were working on their own documentaries, Chinoy was creating his own documentary of the eighth graders and their experiences participating in “Names, Not Numbers©.” Adam interviewed the students, who expressed their excitement and fear. Kivi Davis said, “I’m probably more excited about interviewing than filming. Because yes, using all these fancy gadgets is a lot of fun but I learn about the Holocaust from a textbook, it’s just general facts. It doesn’t make me feel that much. But when we’re talking to a person who went through this and hearing their personal story, it’s going to mean a lot.” Amalia Waizer said “I just feel a little nervous asking somebody questions that make them remember something that was so horrible.” This documentary, plus excerpts from the students’ interviews, was screened at Wednesday’s event.
The screening followed a beautiful dinner for the survivors and their families, participating students and their families and other guests.
The documentaries are archived at the national library of Israel in Jerusalem, at Yad Vashem and at the YU Gottesman Library.
Rabbi Daniel Loew, RPRY’s head of school said it best, “Learning about the Shoah is so important, but “Names, Not Numbers©” does not only engage the next generation in learning. Our students got to know survivors and hear their stories, and in the process they were impacted by their personalities. That connection, that relationship, with the courageous individuals whom they interviewed is so influential.”
Thank you to the Shoah survivors and students who participated in this meaningful program.
