This past week, HAFTR eighth grade students started on their annual Names, Not Numbers® project, an initiative that connects students with Holocaust survivors to ensure their stories are preserved for future generations. This meaningful project provides students with a rare opportunity to engage with survivors, documenting their life stories before, during, and after the war. By participating, students not only develop their historical research and interviewing skills but also gain firsthand insight into the realities of the Holocaust.
As in previous years, HAFTR students are collaborating with Lawrence Middle School on this significant endeavor. Together, the students are united in their mission to ensure that the stories of Holocaust survivors are never forgotten.
In preparation for their interviews, the students had the privilege of hearing from Tova Fish-Rosenberg, the founder of Names, Not Numbers®. Fish-Rosenberg shared the importance of the project and the responsibility the students carry as interviewers and documentarians. Students also watched an example of a past Names, Not Numbers® documentary to better understand the impact and scope of the project.
The students were then guided by Shoshana Soroka, editor of The Jewish Home, who provided them with valuable insight into effective interviewing techniques. Ms. Soroka emphasized the importance of thoughtful questions and the power of preserving survivor narratives. Under her guidance, the students refined their questions, ensuring that their interviews would be both respectful and meaningful.
Motivated by the weight of their task, the students left feeling prepared to contribute to this essential project. Their dedication reflects a commitment not just to capturing history, but to honoring the resilience and strength of those who lived through one of the darkest periods in human history. As these students are likely the last generation to hear first-person narratives about the Holocaust, the task takes on a new meaning for them.
The Names, Not Numbers® project is a testament to the ongoing importance of preserving these stories. Through this work, students are not only documenting history but shaping it – ensuring that the lessons of the Holocaust remain a guiding force for future generations in fostering empathy, understanding, and tolerance.
Names, Not Numbers® is an interactive, multi-media Holocaust film documentary project created by educator Tova Fish-Rosenberg. Names, Not Numbers® is generously supported by a prominent national foundation.
