On Tuesday, October 10, HANC Middle School held its Names, Not Numbers© program. Names, Not Numbers is a copyrighted oral history film project and curriculum that Mrs. Tova Fish-Rosenberg created, which takes the teaching of the Holocaust and its lessons well beyond many previous efforts. Through the Names, Not Numbers© program, HANC’s eighth-grade students had the opportunity to document the teachings of the Holocaust and address questions about an individual’s responsibility to humanity.
The night began with a dessert reception for the students, their families, the survivors, and their families. This allowed everyone to mingle and enjoy the company. In fact, the inter-generational component is a key aspect of the program. After dessert, Rabbi Hecht, Middle School Principal, introduced the program.
First, Rabbi Hecht spoke about the situation in Eretz Yisrael. The anthems were sung and special t’filos and T’hilim were said. This part of the program concluded with everyone singing Acheinu. Next, the lights were turned off and it was time for the feature presentation. The students interviewed Mrs. Lisa Baer, Mrs. Bronia Brandman, Mrs. Edith Gross, Mrs. Ray Kaner, Dr. Clem Loew, Mrs. Gabriella Major, Mrs. Fran Malkin, and Mrs. Chaya Small. At the end of the movie, there was loud applause, and when the survivors were asked to come to the front for a final time, the crowd of people erupted.
Afterward, parents and students were effusive in their praise of this most powerful evening. May the parents and students always pass down the testimony from generation to generation.
Names, Not Numbers© is generously supported by a prominent national foundation. The following people sponsored as well: the Blass Family, the Brandler family, the Daitch family, the Grysman family, the Hackel family, the Nathan family, the Newman family, the Ritter family, the Silbiger family, and the Weitzman family. A special thank you to Tova and Dov Rosenberg for their efforts with this program. The “Names, Not Numbers© at HANC 2022-23” documentary will be included in the archives of The National Library of Israel in Jerusalem, Yad Vashem, and Yeshiva University’s Gottesman Library.
