In addition to the expected excitement of bringing together more than 200 middle school students from two different schools for a day of intentional listening and learning this year's inaugural meeting also fell on Yom HaShoah. Yom HaShoah is the day that Jewish communities around the world commemorate the Holocaust. Bringing Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant students and faculty together on this day was a profound way of commemorating the Holocaust as well as working toward a future where colossal failures of humanity such as the Holocaust are impossible.
The day began with a visit from the Higher Ground Group. We are grateful to the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta for coordinating this visit. The members of HGG answered questions that were asked by student leaders and helped frame both the challenges and opportunities of interfaith dialogue and cooperation.
Following the HGG panel students broke into small groups to begin the work of relationship building. With faculty members from both schools working together to support the students, barriers quickly lowered and common ground emerged.
Lunch included a blessing from Marist's Father Ralph as well as the traditional birkat hamazon (grace after meals) prayer offered by Davis students. Following lunch all students participated in a program about Chiune Sugihara, a member of the Japanese consulate in Lithuania who courageously rescued many Jews during the Holocaust by issuing visas.
During the last part of the day the combined group of students and faculty had the chance to hear from two speakers-- the first a Davis Academy alum and current Marist student, Anna Rosing, who shared her experiences visiting Eastern Europe and the concentration camps in particular, and then from Norbert Friedman. Anna's remarks helped concretize the Holocaust for both Davis and Marist students all of whom were touched by her honesty and thoughtfulness. Norbert is a beloved member of our community, a Holocaust survivor, published author, and true hero. Norbert graciously answered questions from both Davis and Marist students. All of us felt truly blessed to hear his testimony, especially as we know that this is the last generation that will have the honor of hearing testimony directly from Holocaust survivors.
At the very end of the day a small group of Davis and Marist students gathered in an unoccupied classroom that had been converted to a makeshift recording studio. Together they sung the words, "Hinei mah tov.." from Psalm 133:1 which means, "How good it is for brothers and sisters to dwell together in peace." The song will be featured on Davis' 2nd album of original Jewish music!
The Davis/Marist partnership is a source of pride and excitement for both schools. It is a vibrant expression of The Davis Academy's menschlichkeit values-- in particular the values of chochmah (wisdom) and cavod (respect).
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