As part of the Names, Not Numbers Holocaust film program, eighth grade students participated in an emunah session led by Rabbi Dr. Avi Miller, from NSHA High School following their filmed interviews with Holocaust survivors and children of survivors.
Rabbi Miller opened the conversation by asking students to describe, in a single word, how they felt after conducting their interviews. Responses ranged from “inspired” and “empowered” to “upset” and “responsible” — capturing the emotional and moral weight of the experience. He then guided students in a discussion about why the Chanuka menora is traditionally lit outside the home, drawing a parallel between publicizing the miracle of Chanuka and the responsibility to share survivors’ stories.
Students were invited to reflect on moments from their interviews that stayed with them most deeply. One student paraphrased author and survivor Elie Wiesel, noting that “whoever listens to a witness becomes a witness.” Rabbi Miller challenged the group to think both spiritually and intellectually about how participating in Names, Not Numbers has changed them, and how they now see their role in carrying these stories forward.
The conversation reinforced a central goal of the program: that students not only learn history, but also accept the responsibility of remembrance, ensuring that these stories are preserved and never forgotten.
Copyright © 2026 North Shore Hebrew Academy. All rights reserved. Website designed by Addicott Web.