Yom HaShoah programming placed an emphasis on perpetuating the memory and legacy of all those that perished and survived the Holocaust, and the incredible responsibility that comes with carrying the weight of history and passing it on to the next generation. RKYHS students had the opportunity to be witnesses to a witness as they heard from Karmela Waldman, a survivor of the Holocaust and grandparent of Eden Fusman (10th grade). Mrs Waldman shared her story of survival with students via Zoom and was joined on stage in the Epstein-Stein auditorium by her daughter Dr. Arden Fusman and granddaughter. At the end of her remarks, Waldman was asked how this generation of students can perpetuate the memory of all those that perished and those that survived. She emphasized to students the importance of creating positive ways to express their Jewishness, display pride in their Jewish identities, and to stand behind Israel and not take it for granted.

Students also heard from RKYHS 10th grader Emma Klugmann who took it upon herself to ask questions about her great-grandmother who was a survivor and to learn her family’s history. The students then exited through the Seryl and Charles Kushner Holocaust Memorial Garden as “Ani Maamin” was played on the violin. Reinforcing the message of how our ancestors live on through their descendants, for the day’s final program RKYHS students heard from David Jasphy about the research he conducted to learn his grandmother’s story of survival and to locate the righteous gentiles that saved his grandmother. An exhibition from Yad Vashem was on display in the RKYHS atrium all day long.