Crafting a Learner-Centered Memorial

As we prepare to mark the one-year anniversary of the devastating massacres of October 7 and the ongoing horror of the ensuing war, educators are searching for ways to commemorate this milestone respectfully, with educational integrity, and in age-appropriate ways.

The shock and horror of the brutal massacres perpetrated by Hamas and others on that awful Shabbat have given way to Israel’s longest war. Hostages and IDF soldiers continue to die with unnerving frequency; Hamas continues to hold scores of living hostages and the bodies of those who have been killed in captivity; tens of thousands of Israeli civilians are unable to return to their homes in the south and in the north; and the entire country remains on high alert in the face of the threat of regional war.

In the midst of all this, how can we mark October 7, 2024?

A LEARNER-CENTERED APPROACH

We often look to Israel for inspiration and guidance, but Israeli society is deeply divided over how to mark the milestone; indeed, multiple ceremonies are being planned.

The iCenter believes there is no one-size-fits-all way to observe this moment; rather than offer a plan for a tekes, or ceremony, we encourage educators to turn to their learners for guidance. We’ve shared a collection of resources—stories, artworks, poems, songs, and more—that you and your learners can use as a springboard to craft a ceremony, an exhibit, an activity, a space for conversation, and/or reflection. Empower your learners, whether school-aged or adults, to explore what this moment in time might mean for them and what they feel will best allow them and their peers to be fully present as they contemplate the personal and collective meaning of the moment, the past year, and the lasting impact of all that has transpired.

TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS

NOTE TO EDUCATORS

You’ll want to tailor this to learners of different ages in different settings. Middle school and high school learners, as well as adults, should be given lots of independence to build a meaningful program, while younger learners will need more guidance.

As educators, we’re constantly impressed by our learners’ understanding, creativity, and resilience. Our role in this undertaking will be to provide a framework—this may include time, space, goals, resources, and more—and to assist our learners as they build a plan that will resonate for them and their peers.

Encourage your learners to:

Set Goals: What do they hope their effort will achieve? How do they hope it will impact their peers or their community?

What are they trying to commemorate, remember, or achieve?
What kind of program, activity, or methodologies will help them achieve their goals?
Do they want to focus on the hostages, the dead, the displaced, the diplomatic aspects of the past year, the impact on young people… the possibilities are endless, and the focus the committee chooses will help guide every decision along the way.

Gather information and resources: This curated collection of stories, artworks, music, and more is a great place to start.

Consider people in the community who have personal connections to the events of October 7 and the aftermath. This may include Israeli shlichim, people who have visited Israel, or others who have family and friends in Israel. Encourage your learners to engage with these people to hear their stories firsthand!
Consider other memorial ceremonies or activities they’ve experienced in the past. For many young people, Yom Hashoah/Holocaust Remembrance Day may serve as a reference point. What did they find powerful about a ceremony they attended? What would they like to emulate from an exhibit they visited? These questions can help them identify ways to make their work meaningful for themselves and their peers.

WRAPPING UP

Your group of learners may decide to organize a memorial ceremony, or they may create an exhibit with space for visitors to add their own reflections. Whether they create a wall of remembrance, a letter-writing campaign, a video presentation, a song and poetry workshop, or a space for quiet conversation and reflection, the event will be theirs, and their peers are likely to support them.

The possibilities are endless, and the beauty of empowering your learners to create their own experience is that no two settings will mark October 7, 2024, in exactly the same way.