Crafting a Learner-Centered Memorial
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As we approach the second anniversary of the October 7 massacres and the war that followed, educators once again face the challenge of marking this day with honesty, compassion, and educational purpose.
Two years later, the effects of that day are still deeply felt. Hostages remain in Gaza. Families continue to grieve loved ones killed in captivity and in battle. Communities in Israel’s south and north remain displaced, and the war continues to shape daily life and identity. Across the Jewish world, educators are helping learners make sense of a reality still unfolding.
This anniversary invites us to reflect, remember, and respond with care. How can we honor the lives lost, support those still living in uncertainty, and create age-appropriate learning experiences that help our students hold complexity, empathy, and hope?
A LEARNER-CENTERED APPROACH
We often look to Israel for inspiration and guidance, yet even two years later, Israeli society remains deeply divided over how best to mark this milestone. Multiple ceremonies and approaches continue to emerge, reflecting the many ways people are processing grief, memory, and hope.
At The iCenter, we believe there is no one-size-fits-all way to observe this moment. Rather than prescribe a plan for a tekes (ceremony), we encourage educators to listen to and collaborate with their learners. We’ve gathered a collection of resources—stories, artworks, poems, songs, and more—that you and your learners can use as a springboard to create a ceremony, exhibit, activity, or reflective space for conversation.
Empower your learners—whether school-aged or adults—to explore what this moment means to them now, two years later, and to consider how they can best be present with the personal and collective meaning of this anniversary, the years since, and the enduring impact of all that has unfolded.
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 continue to be inspired by our learners’ understanding, creativity, and resilience—especially as they navigate the complexity of these past two years. Our role is to provide a framework: time, space, goals, and resources that empower them to design experiences that resonate personally and communally.
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, honor, or reflect upon?
- What kind of program, activity, or methodology will help them achieve their goals?
Invite them to consider areas of focus: do they want to center the hostages, the fallen, the displaced, the impact on young people, or the broader societal and diplomatic shifts since October 7? The possibilities are wide, and their chosen focus will help guide every decision along the way.
Gather Information and Resources:
- This curated collection of stories, artworks, music, and more is a meaningful place to start.
- Encourage them to connect with people in the community who have personal ties to the events and aftermath of October 7, such as Israeli shlichim, recent visitors to Israel, or those with family and friends affected by the war. Hearing stories firsthand can deepen empathy and understanding.
- Invite them to draw on familiar experiences. For many young people, Yom Hashoah or other memorial ceremonies may serve as helpful reference points. What elements have they found powerful in the past? What would they like to emulate or do differently? These reflections can help shape a commemoration that feels authentic, relevant, and meaningful for them and their peers.
WRAPPING UP
Your group may choose to organize a memorial ceremony, create an exhibit with space for personal reflections, design a wall of remembrance, write letters to families of hostages or soldiers, produce a video or art installation, compose songs or poetry, or facilitate a quiet circle for conversation and reflection. Whatever form it takes, the experience will belong to them—and their peers are likely to join in meaningful ways.
The possibilities are wide, and the power lies in giving learners ownership of how they remember, express, and respond. No two communities will mark October 7, 2025, in exactly the same way—and that diversity of expression is itself a reflection of our shared commitment to memory, learning, and hope.
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