Today I was joined by our B Mitzvah teens, some of their parents, and even some siblings and grandparents – for a convening of the Justice Club – Raising the Bar program’s social justice monthly gathering.
Personally speaking, I was moved deeply by the fullness of the session.
Normally, the teens join me in a hands on social action/social justice project – working on today’s issues.
Today, we met at the Museum of Jewish Heritage where we listened to Amichai Lau-Lavie share his late father’s story – a man of strength, will and integrity – true inspiration. Naphtali Lau-Lavie z”l survived the Holocaust as a teen, saved his little brother, and made sure they both make it to Israel at the end of the war. He passed away just six weeks ago and wrote his incredible story in a memoir called Balaam’s Prophecy. May his memory be forever a blessing.
We were taken on a special tour by the museum staff which provided all of us with a wide body of information and insight into the horror of the Holocaust and the aftermath for survivors and the global Jewish community.
Most importantly, we asked the teens to reflect on one reaction to the day: How would they claim their response to the horrors of the Holocaust in one or two sentences? What is one action they would take on as a response? We will collect their replies and continue this conversation in the coming months.
To learn more about the Raising the Bar program, please contact Naomi Less (naomi@storahtelling.org).
