Adopt a Survivor

This program was established by Irving Roth, director of the Holocaust Resource Center at Temple Judea of Manhasset. Mr. Roth has organized a network of Holocaust survivors to serve as “adoptees” for our eighth grade students. These connections provide a vital link to the events of the Holocaust in a time when there are fewer survivors living to tell their own stories. The process begins with conversations between survivor and adopter. Through a series of meetings held at RSNS under Rabbi Jodie’s supervision, the students become “surrogate survivors,” committed to learning and re-telling their survivors’ stories to the next generation. Students in this program agree to speak about their survivors in the year 2045, the 100th anniversary of the camps’ liberation. The initial session consists of a formal educational piece to provide students with general background information. In subsequent sessions, students meet the survivors and talk with them in detail. Finally, students present their survivors’ stories to the Synagogue School and during RSNS’ Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial) service.

Parents are welcome, but not required to attend, and take turns providing food for each session.