This past Monday, the student body was privileged to participate in a solemn yet inspiring program dedicated to Yom Hashoah. After each student lit a candle in remembrance of those who perished in the Holocaust, we were privileged to hear from Mrs. Anna Freedman. Mrs. Freedman told us about her journey escaping from a ghetto with her mother, who then handed her over to a priest and eventually to a Catholic family, Nazi sympathizers, who sheltered her and raised her in Nazi Germany. Following the war, Mrs. Freedman's mother returned to claim her and, after several court cases, was able to regain custody of her daughter, and the two eventually came to America. While growing up in a rather secular home in America, Mrs. Freedman eventually rekindled her relationship with Judaism, going on to marry a rabbi and raise an Orthodox family. Each and every student was truly touched by Mrs. Freedman's story and her message of Jewish continuity, leaving us with the inspiring idea that, "if they were willing to die for [Jewish] values then it is important enough for [us] to live for them."

The students also witnessed a moving candle-lighting ceremony, in which survivors living in Forest Trace, a local senior living community, joined our program and lit candles in memory of their family members who had perished in the Holocaust.  This ceremony was followed by the award winning documentary, "Into the Arms of Strangers," a film about the Kindertransport, which enabled thousands of Jewish children to stay in England during World War II. Overall, the entire program provided students with insight into the horrors of the Holocaust, along with an understanding of what is needed from us to press on.

Following the program, the high school seniors had the unique opportunity to sit down with the Forest Trace seniors to enjoy lunch together. The intimate setting gave us a remarkable opportunity to see the true inner strength that each of the survivors possesses. While so often our conversations with survivors are veiled through a podium, it was truly incredible to gain a personal relationship with these heroes.

We would like to thank both Mrs. Freedman and the survivors from Forest Trace for devoting their time to sharing their personal stories with us and providing us all with a meaningful day of remembrance.