The day’s significance was felt throughout Hebrew Academy as Elementary and High School marked Yom Hashoah on Thursday. Grades 4 to 6 visited an outstanding, interactive “Cheder Shoah” created by Elementary Bnot Sherut Danielle Kalfus and Hadar ben Shushan. Upon entering the room, each student received a pad containing the photo and name of one Holocaust victim or survivor; students were then led on a meaningful journey that touched upon victims’ shattered dreams, Tzadikei Umot Haolam, the partisans, Hakamat HaMedina, and the survivors who rebuilt their lives and families. In incorporating writing, videos, a shadow play and live performance, the Bnot Sherut brought the Shoah to life for our students in a compelling, sensitive and meaningful way.
Our Grade 11’s marked Yom Hashoah in Washington DC, together with High School Principal Dr. Laura Segall, HS Dean of Jewish Life Rabbi Eddie Shostak, and Director of Activities and Athletics Yoni Lehrer. Yesterday, the group spent the morning at the renowned United States Holocaust Memorial Museum where they heard from a Holocaust survivor, and held a moving assembly in the evening where they shared their thoughts on the day and composed six-word memoirs. Click here to read them.
Grades 7 to 10 attended a touching commemoration this morning centred on the youth of the Shoah. After a heartfelt introduction by Head of School Dr. Kalman Stein, students read individual testimonials, featured moving video footage and lit candles in memory of the six million martyrs who perished al Kiddush Hashem. The assembly concluded with an uplifting video featuring survivors, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren singing Ofra Haza’s famous “Hai”.
Kol Hakavod to Bnei Akiva Shlichim Eli and Sivan Veresh who organized this exceptional ceremony, and to Grade 9 and 10 students Yardena Zobin, Sara Hamaoui, Eliana Eisenberg, Liraz Ohayon, Ezra Grossman, Moshe Azoulay de Courten, Ronit Benizri and Myriam Minciotti for their wonderful contributions.
HA parent Rabbi Chatzkel Freundlich, HA parent Martine Cohen, and Grade 11 students Aliza Cohen, Gabriella Dadoun, Liora Illouz and Olivia Feldman celebrated Shabbat in Warsaw as participants of the 2019 March of the Living. Both Martine and Rabbi Freundlich have been chronicling their experiences on this emotional journey in eloquent written and video reflections shared on their personal Facebook pages. We encourage you to read/watch them!
-by Aviva Engel, Director of Communications