Every year on the 27th of Nissan, the Jewish community commemorates Yom HaShoah and remembers the six million Jewish victims who perished in the Holocaust. Here at Scheck Hillel, we held a meaningful ceremony to remember this tragedy; we lit candles, recited prayers, and listened to stories to honor the victims and survivors. As a part of the commemoration, the 9th grade class traveled to the Miami Beach Holocaust Memorial, where they viewed powerful sculptures, learned about the history of the Holocaust, and read the names of victims and survivors.

The most unforgettable part of this experience was meeting 100-year-old Holocaust survivor Jack Waksal. He told the 9th-grade class of his escape from a labor camp and how he survived by hiding in the forests of Poland for two years. Hearing his story in person impacted us all and helped the grade understand why it is so important never to forget the atrocities of the Holocaust. Am Israel Chai!