Commemorating Yom HaShoah

The SAR Academy community came together to commemorate Yom HaShoah through tefilot, survivor stories, and moments of silence.

The morning program began with the sound of the siren and a moment of silence, as students in Grades 3-8 gathered on the steps for tefilot.

We were honored to welcome survivors, children and grandchildren of survivors, to light nerot zikaron in memory of the six million. Together, we sang Ani Ma’amin and Acheinu, and concluded the tekes with Hatikvah—a powerful transition toward hope and resilience for the future.

Throughout the day, students in grades 3-8 had the unique opportunity to hear the personal stories of the Shoah directly from our visitors. Middle School students participated in a moving program that wove together song and text-based learning, offering a powerful reminder of those who perished. Their day also included dedicated Yom HaShoah lessons, along with time in our Yom HaShoah Gallery to encourage further reflection and discussion.

Every hour, students and faculty paused, standing in silence, to honor and remember the six million as the names of SAR family members who perished in the Holocaust were read aloud.

We are grateful to those who participated in our tekes and shared their stories with us throughout the day, including survivors Judge Lee First, Lisa Baer, and Jennine Simon, plus Morah Sharon Sturm (Izaak Sturm z”l), Morah Dina Rosenberg (Eva Rose Meyer z”l, Ludwig Meyer z”l, Israel David Rosenberg z”l), Morah Reva Slasky (Dr. Moshe Avital z”l), Sara Hasson (Steffa Hasson z”l), Tami Sklarin (Blanche Steinmetz z”l), and Mrs. Chana Stiefel (author of Tower of Life, in memory of Yaffa Eliach z”l).

The importance of remembering the kedoshim was felt in the SAR Academy building, and the deep sense of hope was present as well.