The school hosted a student moderated panel in partnership with If You Heard What I Heard, an organization sharing the stories of Holocaust survivors through their descendants , on April 20. The program, titled “Be My Witness,” focused on sharing the stories of panelists’ grandparents to promote greater awareness.

Jewish Club member Sasha Leibzon ’28 said the goal of the event was to carry on the narratives of survivors.

“The event hosted third generation Holocaust survivors sharing their family stories,” Leibzon said. “This is so important because we don’t want these stories to be forgotten. To know what happened during the Holocaust and why it’s so significant today is crucial because of the impact anti-semitism and holocaust denial can have.”

Leibzon said hearing the personal stories in such detail was interesting and memorable.

“I hear about the Holocaust in class,” Leibzon said. “But getting to listen to a specific family story is even more shocking.”

Jewish Club member Hudson Philips ’27 said she felt the direct perspectives promoted deeper understanding.

“It’s always fascinating to hear different stories about the Holocaust in these major historical events because in history class we spend so much time looking at the overall picture and just the scale of the tragedy, but  what really drives home the humanity is hearing these different stories of how people were individually affected,” Philips said. “When I personally have heard people who survived the Holocaust talk themselves, I would say that is more impactful than hearing their grandchildren speak about their experiences, but it was still interesting to hear.”

Jewish Club member Olivia Wiczyk ’28 said the assembly maintained a hopeful tone.

“I thought it was so interesting to hear the similarities and differences of all the three stories,” Wicyzk said.“I really loved how throughout the assembly the speakers truly focused on the positives and lights of their grandparents stories despite the devastations.”

Leibzon said these stories hold a personal connection to her own family.

“I am very vocal about what happened during the Holocaust,especially being Jewish,” Leibzon said. “l’ve experienced getting to know the Holocaust personally within my family and my religion. The past does tend to repeat itself and I think people need to be a bit more aware about what the Holocaust is, so I am grateful these speakers were able to share what their grandparents had to endure physically and mentally during the Holocaust.”