When I had my Bar Mitzvah last year, I was a part of the Twinning Project through Yad Vashem, The World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Israel, which is a memorial to those who lost their lives during that time. The twinning program provides an opportunity for boys and girls to be paired with children who never had the chance to become a Bat or Bar Mitzvah, a special ceremony that marks our transition to adulthood. The Holocaust refers to the systemic killing of six million Jews during World War II (1939-1945) across German-occupied Europe. 
Through the twinning program, we keep the memory of our past alive, reminding us of our heritage and the struggles that our people continue to face solely because of our religious beliefs. I felt honored to be a part of this program and to share my special day with Aharon Rovner, a boy who was born in 1937 in Poland, which is where my great-grandmother escaped from when she was a little girl. Aharon didn’t escape, though. He was murdered during the holocaust at the age of 5. Only his father survived. He completed the forms you see in the photo above. Through the twinning program, I was able to learn more about Aharon as well as his family and many other families who died during the Holocaust. 
I became a part of this program because I know little acts like these can make a big difference and that we need to make sure that we never forget our history to help make sure that nothing like this ever happens again. It was very meaningful to be a part of this organization and to celebrate my special day with someone who wasn’t able to do so.

– AD

Relationship:  unknown unknown