Yom Ha'Shoah

Sharing the stories of local Holocaust survivors

While a group of Mrs. Daniels’ 8^th grade religion students prepared to present to the class, she reminded everyone in the room that what they were about to do was more than just a presentation, “it was about sharing somebody’s story as a way to honor and pay tribute to their life.” So, on April 12 - Holocaust Remembrance Day or Yom Ha'Shoah – 8^th grade students shared the stories of local Holocaust survivors.

Groups were asked to research a survivor's life before, during and after the Holocaust, and really look at how antisemitism impacted their life at each turn. To complete the research, students used a number of online resources including Perilous Journeys and the Rochester Holocaust Survivors Archive from the Center for Holocaust Awareness and Information (CHAI) in Rochester. Students also used the Yad Vashem and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum sites to find specific information such as the ghetto, concentration camp, displaced persons camps, or death march their survivor endured. One of the groups told the story of Eva Abrams, who just a few years ago, visited Aquinas and told her own story to students.

Each group presented the story of their survivor in a unique way – some used SWAY or Power Point, while others wrote poems, created tri-folds or drew maps. Each student did, however, write a letter to their survivor, which will be sent to them.

Prior to their presentations, students practiced public speaking techniques in class. Afterward, students reflected on the process and experience of learning about the Holocaust and the importance of survivor testimony.

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