Student 1:
An interesting moment that I connected to personally was everytime we cooked together as a class. I feel very connected to food and I always get excited when cooking a new recipe from a different cuisine. I have learned how to cook since the age of 12 to learn how to become more independent so that when I move out, I don’t have to worry about starving. These new recipes are affordable to make and very delicious and healthy because of our school farm fresh ingredients. During the pandemic I wanted to get more peace with all the issues happening around the world and in my family so cooking was my escape and I really started to enjoy it. Cooking in this class was very therapeutic and I felt very joyful when I ate the food I made.
A special moment I experienced with Pinchas was that he reminded me a lot like my Grandfather. My grandfather passed away during COVID but he was also in his 90s and witnessed the partition and world war 2. He told some great stories just like Pinchas about how cooking brought back nostalgic memories with his family. Meeting Pinchas was very nice as he was so sweet and kind hearted just like my grandfather.
Student 2:
Challah bread is not something I eat but it reminds me of a Romanian sweetbread (Cozonac) that is commonly eaten during Christmas time and Easter. For me it is a symbol of ending a fast, celebrating a religious holiday and getting together with my family. Since it is considered a complicated bread to make, the recipe calls for assistance from the women of the family and allows for more quality time spent together. Food is more than satisfying our taste buds, but it connects us to our culture, our communities and to our ancestors.
Student 3:
One moment I found meaningful was when I sat on the ground with my friends, listening to Pinchas tell us stories and asking him questions. It felt like I was sitting with my grandpa as he told me his stories. I found it fascinating how the conversation ranged from light-hearted tales to deeper reflections. It was very encouraging to hear his optimistic view of the future, as he told us how he believes the newer generations are more socially aware, willing to create change and live peacefully with everyone else. One question that came up during our conversation with Pinchas and stuck with me was along the lines of: “Can we really do anything to create societal change since it feels that we are powerless with all the important decisions being made by those in positions of authority?” Pinchas's response was a simple yet powerful reminder that even if it feels like we are swimming against the tide, our actions can have a significant impact, no matter how small. He reminded us that if we want to contribute to helping people in need and cannot go out there ourselves, we can help by donating to charities or raising awareness by sharing the ideas and information we have with others. It could be as easy as raising awareness among family, friends, or the community. No matter how small a person thinks their contribution is, it still matters. His positivity and hope inspired me, and I found it very motivational and meaningful.
Student 4:
When Pinchas was here, I really liked the part when I sat in front of Pinchas and he started talking more about his childhood. I remember not knowing how to enter the conversation so I just sat in front of Pinchas with a few other students. When Pinchas stood at the front of the room and spoke to the whole class, it felt less personal as if we were watching him on a screen, but really sitting with him and actually talking to him gave me a greater appreciation for his story and I really enjoyed speaking to him. Actually speaking to him in a smaller group felt a lot more personal and even though we know already that historical events happened, it really made those events we hear as stories feel very real and human. I often feel that survivors of traumatic events are taught about in a way that sort of dehumanizes them in my opinion. They become sort of symbols of their trauma, and I really enjoyed how personal the whole day felt with Pinchas. Getting to actually meet someone who has experienced these events and has lived through this history just makes the learning experience so much more personal, and you're motivated to learn more because you actually empathize with the survivor on a deeper level than just reading about them. I'm also very happy that Pinchas enjoyed the circle we sat in too, I'm very glad I met Pinchas, he is such a cool person.
Student 5:
A moment that I found particularly meaningful was after we cooked, with both the formal and informal questionnaire we had with him. Our learning focus was about the change from focusing on the numbers and tragedy but instead the joy and life each survivor had both before and after the war. Hearing Pinchas talking about his memories with his family and how he keeps his memory alive by sharing their food traditions really emphasized how important our senses are when it comes to memory. Many tend to think of memory with just the senses visually but our other senses are so intertwined when it comes to remembering things. Like when Pinchas talked about the memories of helping his mother cook and how the kitchen smelled during these cooking sessions, making the recollection all the more vivid in both the way he sees it and in the way we can visualize what he is talking about. Learning about how he’s adapted recipes and cooking processes to work for where he lives now is very telling in how these traditional recipes change over time, not only out of taste but out of necessity when the only other option would be to stop making it entirely. It shows just how resilient tradition can be but also how the only way to keep these memories and traditions alive are by adapting and being open to change. The best way to keep our memories alive are by sharing them with others, and I think Pinchas’s visit really cemented how important this connection is in order to appreciate and experience others culture in the way they do.
Student 6:
Some friends and I talked to Pinchas and we asked him different questions. One of my friends asked him what we should do when there are all these awful things happening in the world. He remarked on feeling helpless and always being exposed to these events makes him feel guilty. Those are feelings that I (and likely most others) can relate to very heavily. Growing up in the information age with social media algorithms makes it easier than ever to find all the upsetting news for a lifetime in an hour. It wears on you after a while but we thought asking Pinchas would bear fruit since he was here to talk to us and, as a Holocaust survivor, he’ll likely have more perspective. He told us that ultimately, as a single person, we cannot do that much. We can only really hope to help those around us and make it easier / provide comfort. He also mentioned that if you really want to make a difference, spread the message so those with more influence can hopefully take notice or start an organization and try to help as many people as you are able. It was very grounded, he talked about something that causes so many to spiral with such composure and compassion. I expected to learn something, but he really shocked me with how simple his idea was but how well it works. I will likely carry that lesson, to do what I can but not be worried over not doing more than I am able, for the rest of my life.
Student 7:
When I think back to that day with Pinchas what stood out to me the most were his stories and his memory. The most obvious reason why this stood out to me was because of the detail and accuracy of his stories. I find it fascinating that he remembers so much from the beginning of his life, something that a lot of people, me included, can’t seem to ever recall in such detail. The other reason why this has stayed with me, and this is a concept that I’ve visited a lot in this class, is that it’s important to be reminded that people are more than their traumas. In our history class, we focused on Jewish history and culture, which is something we tend to forget about when we are talking about Jewish people. It is always about the Holocaust. It is so important in our society today to remember that these were humans with lives, families, and jobs before they were survivors or victims of the Holocaust and they will continue to be. Spending that day with Pinchas was a reminder of that. Pinchas had a family, a favourite food, and a life, and I think being able to talk to him about such mundane topics like food was the most meaningful to me.