"To listen to a witness is to become a witness," Elie Wiesel explained when speaking about the Holocaust. He believed that anyone who heard a survivor’s story carried the responsibility of “passing the torch” to the next generation. As Grade 8 students in Jennifer Saba's Humanities classes concluded their extensive study of the Shoah and their reading of Night, they reflected on their own family histories and the importance of preserving memory.

For the second year, Morah Saba's students embarked on a Family Roots and Jewish Journeys project. Each student selected a meaningful family artifact—or a photograph of one—and crafted a story around it. They shared treasured Judaica, from 100-year-old tefillin to ancient Haggadah. Family tallitot that once wrapped generations of babies and bar mitzvah boys were displayed alongside a Torah cover that symbolized the strength of community. Other artifacts told stories of brave Jewish men who fought in Europe and the Pacific during World War II, while photographs documented survival from death camps and the promise of new beginnings in America. Through this project, students honored their ancestors and deepened connections with grandparents, who eagerly shared memories of earlier generations.

Students reflected that by learning and retelling these stories, they now carry the responsibility to honor the past and keep these memories alive. The gallery is on display in the Student Union of Mozart.