HOLOCAUST EDUCATION PROGRAMS
NAMES, NOT NUMBERS PROGRAM

THE B’NAI MITZVAH TESTIMONY PROJECT

Memory is at the core of the Jewish people. The Hebrew word for memory occurs more than any other word in the Torah. The Testimony Project provides B’nai Mitzvah students with a very special Mitzvah Project opportunity– the chance to research and document the life of a Holocaust survivor to ensure that their memory is never forgotten. We hope to enrich the experience of B’nai Mitzvah students and make this special time even more meaningful by fulfilling the mitzvahs of becoming a witness and honoring the elderly.
PROGRAM DETAILS:
- Students and their families will attend an orientation session for an overview of the program. Students will then receive a workbook with background information on the Holocaust, and sample questions to guide their writing process.
- Students select a survivor- this could be a family member, family friend, or we will help to pair them with a survivor or child of a survivor. Students must meet with the survivor or child of a survivor at least 3 times.
- Students will document their meetings and type up the survivor’s testimony, using the guided questions. Students will also include a section about what they have learned from the experience.
- The Suffolk Y JCC will provide each student with 2 printed copies of the testimony booklet. We encourage students to share the story and the experience during their B’nai Mitzvah service.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TESTIMONY PROJECT
Question: How much time does it take to complete the project?
Answer: It depends on your schedule and timeframe, but the project should take about 2-4 months from start to finish, which includes the orientation, meetings with the survivor (or second generation), and time to write up the testimony.
Question: What does it cost to participate?
Answer: A fee of $180 will help fund The Testimony Project and other Holocaust initiatives at the Suffolk Y JCC.
Question: Who can participate?
Answer: Students who will become a B’nai Mitzvah within the next year or so are encouraged to participate.
To Sign Up, please
Upon submission of the attached form you will receive an email with a registration link.
For any questions please contact Jane Pashman, jpashman@syjcc.org