WDS Eighth Graders Premiere Powerful Holocaust Documentary through Names, Not Numbers®

Last week, the eighth graders at Westchester Day School stood at the intersection of memory and responsibility as they premiered the 2025 Names, Not Numbers® Holocaust documentary. This moving film marked the culmination of a year-long educational journey in which students researched, interviewed, filmed, and preserved the testimonies of six Holocaust survivors.

This transformative experience was made possible through the visionary Names, Not Numbers® program, founded by Mrs. Tova Fish-Rosenberg, and under the dedicated guidance of Mrs. Jill Rivel, Names, Not Numbers® Faculty Coordinator at WDS. Through each stage of the process, students deepened their understanding of history, developed skills in journalism and filmmaking, and formed personal connections to the stories and lives of Holocaust survivors.

While not all members of our community were able to attend the live screening, we are proud to now share the full documentary publicly. We invite you to experience this important work and witness the empathy, insight, and care our students brought to each interview and every frame.

View here

We especially encourage viewers to stay through the credits, where some of the most poignant and heartfelt moments unfold.

This project is far more than a curriculum milestone. It is a sacred act of remembrance and a living testament to the power of L’Dor V’Dor—passing down memory, values, and identity from generation to generation. At a time when Holocaust denial and distortion continue to rise, this kind of immersive, student-driven learning is not only meaningful—it is essential.

We are deeply grateful to the families who sponsored the premiere and dinner. Their generosity helped create a powerful and memorable evening for our community.