January 2025, marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Jews worldwide will unite to commemorate the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust.
English teacher Jenna Taylor Novosad from Loyola High School, a co-ed private Jesuit Catholic school in Montreal, led a project on stereotypes, bias, and prejudice, focusing on the history of antisemitism. Students created a handmade book titled “Six Points of Strength; Six Million Souls,” featuring poems and artwork inspired by Holocaust Survivors’ resilience. The project culminated in a visit to the Cummings Centre, where students met with Survivors, and shared stories of strength and courage. This meaningful exchange left both students and Survivors deeply moved, fostering hope and understanding.
“My inspiration for this project came from the words of Ram Dass: ‘We are all just walking each other home.’ I am not Jewish, but I am human. I became a teacher with the intent to remind my students that we each hold the same light inside of us. Light travels fast, and this project is a true testament to that. By sharing these incredible stories, we are reminded that this hatred must never happen again. Compassion, connection, and empathy — these were the feelings shared between my students and the Survivors, and these are the qualities the world needs more of.” Jenna Taylor Novosad, English teacher at Loyola High School.
To learn more about services for Holocaust Survivors call intake at 514.343.3514.