The Survivor Circles 2018:
Original Testimony:
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What is a "Survivor Circle"?
The idea for "Survivor's Circle" was inspired by my experience as a college student travelling on an educational trip to Israel. While we spent days sightseeing, eating out, volunteering and enjoying our winter break, it was one night on our Betar-ZOA trip that would paint a very definitive impression on my memory. That evening my trip participants and I were divided into several groups. We sat in circles with terror survivors and listened to their stories. There was an intimacy in our conversation as they told us of their harrowing experiences, the people they lost and their story. Ultimately, it is one of the few vivid memories I have from this trip. This night was at the forefront of my mind as I contemplated what an authentic experiential learning experience would be for my students. It was not hard to create "Survivor Circles". The essence of the Survivor Circles was simple. So many times Jewish students in day schools are able to encounter the stories of survivors. Often these meetings are the entire grade or high school listening to one speaker who speaks for thirty minutes, answers five questions, and then leaves. I wanted to push the boundaries on what it meant to meet a survivor. The formula was simple: one survivor, three to four students, ninety minutes, and a camera. What unfolded was one of the most profound experiences I had as an educator and beyond what I had imagined for this day. An intimate conversation between students and the survivor. 
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Teacher Reflection:
There was a lot of work that went into creating the Survivor Circles. For days I was on the phone every evening calling multiple survivors and requesting the pleasure of their attendance at our Survivor Circles event. I had thought that this job would be difficult but at every turn, every survivor I spoke to was eager to be in attendance. They wanted to tell their stories. Many had spoken at local public schools but had never had the chance to speak with Jewish students in the Jewish day school setting. So, as long as their schedules allowed for it, they were happy to be in attendance. In fact, one of the survivors I spoke to on the phone was so excited by the opportunity to speak to our students but couldn't make the Survivor Circles day that she asked for a special day to come in and speak to our students. Survivors want to tell their stories. So invite them to your classrooms.
In my experience teaching, I have come to one overwhelming realization: that in order to maximize student outcome, the amount of thoughtful teacher preparation behind the scenes determines the success. So I called the survivors. Set the date. Roped in the documentary filmmaker who would prepare the cameras, bring students from the Cleveland Public School he was working with. Set up the chairs. Wrote thank you notes. Prepped the students by helping them write questions. Bought refreshments. Set up the room. I did everything I thought possible to make this event the best.
And then came the day. Everyone fulfilled their roles and before I knew it the cameras had started rolling and the students commenced their interviews. What I soon realized was that this event was even more remarkable than I had ever imagined it would be. Watching the Survivor Circles in action was one of the momentous occasions of my career. I witnessed the depth of conversation between students and survivors. The discussions went on and on through the ninety-minute period without hiccup. Everyone was attentive. As we wound down the event, the survivors reacted by sharing how incredibly moved they were by the experience. The students had the same feeling. The energy in that room was dynamic and I was proud of what we had accomplished.
There was a lot of work that went into creating the Survivor Circles. For days I was on the phone every evening calling multiple survivors and requesting the pleasure of their attendance at our Survivor Circles event. I had thought that this job would be difficult but at every turn, every survivor I spoke to was eager to be in attendance. They wanted to tell their stories. Many had spoken at local public schools but had never had the chance to speak with Jewish students in the Jewish day school setting. So, as long as their schedules allowed for it, they were happy to be in attendance. In fact, one of the survivors I spoke to on the phone was so excited by the opportunity to speak to our students but couldn't make the Survivor Circles day that she asked for a special day to come in and speak to our students. Survivors want to tell their stories. So invite them to your classrooms.
In my experience teaching, I have come to one overwhelming realization: that in order to maximize student outcome, the amount of thoughtful teacher preparation behind the scenes determines the success. So I called the survivors. Set the date. Roped in the documentary filmmaker who would prepare the cameras, bring students from the Cleveland Public School he was working with. Set up the chairs. Wrote thank you notes. Prepped the students by helping them write questions. Bought refreshments. Set up the room. I did everything I thought possible to make this event the best.
And then came the day. Everyone fulfilled their roles and before I knew it the cameras had started rolling and the students commenced their interviews. What I soon realized was that this event was even more remarkable than I had ever imagined it would be. Watching the Survivor Circles in action was one of the momentous occasions of my career. I witnessed the depth of conversation between students and survivors. The discussions went on and on through the ninety-minute period without hiccup. Everyone was attentive. As we wound down the event, the survivors reacted by sharing how incredibly moved they were by the experience. The students had the same feeling. The energy in that room was dynamic and I was proud of what we had accomplished.