Under the guidance of its creator, Tova Fish-Rosenberg, The Names Not Numbers© program has been embraced by the Kushner academic community with the support and encouragement of the Principal of JKHA, Debbie Finkelstein. The program links generations together, as survivors share their stories of courage with students who are often twice or thrice removed from the Holocaust time period. Currently, the school’s documentary is in the process of being filmed, edited and compiled by the students. With the help of a professional filmmaker, Saul Sudin, and Washington Correspondent at Fox News, Joel Waldman, the students have learned video and interviewing techniques that enabled them to successfully interview the survivors, who were then able to share their stories with their students and, as a result, the larger community.

This past week, the students met with their survivors to hear their recollections of World War II and the Holocaust. The survivors shared their experiences with the students, who will likely be the last generation to hear these accounts firsthand. This year, the project carries an even more meaningful tone as the current high school seniors are mentoring the 8th graders throughout the process. The students displayed empathy and compassion throughout the moving question and answer sessions with the survivors, and throughout this interactive approach, the students are learning about the Holocaust in a multidisciplinary manner while at the same time preserving history.

Photos courtesy of Debbie Finkelstein

By Debbie Finkelstein, JKHA Principal