Nothing has impacted Jewish life in the 20th century more than the decimation wrought by the Holocaust and the hope and haven created by the establishment of the State of Israel.
Today, we find ourselves in a world where Holocaust education has never been more necessary. It is hard to avoid the ever-present signs of prejudice and hate in the world around us and it is here where modern education must find its place.
Schools, above all else, must strive to be producers of hope. Educators need to equip the next generation to grow up to be change-makers and in turn, producers of hope themselves. At Cape Town Torah High, two of our founding principles are that students will be passionate about their Judaism, and possess a feeling of connection and love towards the land of Israel. These values are not just marked by observing two dates in our calendar, but in Yom HaShoah and Yom Ha’atzmaut we find a springboard for a multi-dimensional examination of the lessons that we are still learning in the wake of these moments in history.
We spent these weeks weaving together an awareness through both the Kodesh and secular streams of our school. Throughout Holocaust week, after Shacharit, Rabbi Dani Brett began each day by sharing the stories of inspirational Torah personalities who survived the Shoah and defeated Hitler by rebuilding their lives, families, communities and institutions. Through these lessons of hope, each day began centred on the power of the human spirit. During this week Rabbi Kalman Green also presented lessons based on Holocaust survivors as they shared their testimonies.
On Yom HaShoah Ve’haGevurah itself, the school collaborated with the Cape Town Holocaust and Genocide Centre and Mrs. Linda Hackner ran a powerful visual workshop and discussion for the senior students that centred around a toddler’s tragically abandoned shoe found at Auschwitz. This workshop led to exploring a valuable lesson in how and why we study history and how our own history as the Jewish people is one built on the survival of these stories. The younger grades reflected on the poem, The Butterfly, written in the Warsaw Ghetto. Examining this poem fed into student’s personal introspection on their hopes and dreams for the world today. In the wings of butterflies, our junior students wrote their prayers for a peaceful world, now decorating the walls of our school. The day was then wrapped by senior students joining the community ceremony in Pinelands. Here students were empowered hearing the testimony of Holocaust survivor, Miriam Lichterman, and took home the inspiring lessons of how she built her family and community based on the values of hope and joy.
To mark Israel week, Rabbi Brett highlighted personalities who exemplified love for Eretz Yisrael in our ancient and modern history and by showcasing Beneath the Helmet, a powerful eye-opening documentary exploring the lives and minds of Israeli teenagers as they graduate High School and join the IDF. In light of the recent hail of rockets on Israel’s south, students wrote letters of love and encouragement to residents affected by the terror, and joined an international campaign to take on pledges of Torah and mitzvot in honour of the Jews of Israel. Our Israel education was rounded off by a visit from Israel advocate, Mr. Luba Mayekiso, who runs an Israel Advocacy organisation, Africa for Israel and serves as a beacon of light in a national political landscape where Israel is routinely condemned and falsely vilified.
Celebrating Yom Ha’atzmaut would not be complete without enjoying some Israeli food and music and a visit to the community carnival at the Zip Zap Circus. Here CTTH teachers, students and parents joined together in a candle-making workshop celebrating the theme of spreading the light. CTTH also provided the opportunity for all children to put on tefillin and pledge a letter in the international children’s Torah.
To visit the Torah High website, click here
To read the June issue of the Chronicle online, click here
To read about Martin Margolius’ leap off Signal Hill, click here
