8th Graders Participate in Powerful “Names, Not Numbers®” Holocaust Education Project

The entire SAR Academy 8th grade class took part in the transformative Names, Not Numbers® Holocaust education program. Developed by Tova Fish-Rosenberg, the program has become a meaningful tradition at SAR, offering students a unique and personal way to engage with Holocaust history.

In partnership with Atmosphere Academy, a local charter school, students explored the Holocaust through an interdisciplinary lens, working closely with writers, educators, and filmmakers. The program began with a special kickoff session where students met the program;s founder Tova Fish-Rosenberg and SAR principal Rabbi Krauss, and watched a previous Names, Not Numbers® documentary produced by SAR students.

To prepare for the project, students participated in a journalism workshop with Mr. Jeffrey Salgo and studied Holocaust history in depth with Ms. Koevary and Mr. O’Hara. After weeks of learning and research, each student conducted a powerful, hour-long interview with a Holocaust survivor, listening to and recording their firsthand accounts.

The interviews, edited into 15-minute segments, will be woven into a full-length documentary. The culminating event—a special film screening in June—showcased the students’ incredible work and the moving stories they helped preserve. Watch this year’s film at https://bit.ly/SARNNN25. 

This project not only deepened the students’ understanding of history but also taught them the importance of memory, storytelling, and bearing witness for future generations.