From Holocaust Memory to Action: A Youth Leadership Program in Tel Aviv | Lior Biran
As a Lauder Fellow and a third-generation Holocaust survivor, I had the privilege of leading one of the most meaningful projects of my life: a year-long Holocaust education and youth leadership initiative for Israeli teenagers in Tel Aviv, as part of my Lauder Fellowship workplan and in partnership with Zikaron BaSalon. The program was designed to empower high school students not only to learn about the Holocaust, but to become active torchbearers of its memory in their communities — guided by my mentorship, direction and personal experience.
Together with the support of the WJC and Zikaron BaSalon’s professional educational team, I developed a comprehensive curriculum tailored for youth. The program included historical content, survivor testimony and thematic discussions that connected past and present — especially through the lens of October 7th, which many of the students had experienced personally. I designed and led specific lessons that drew thoughtful, respectful parallels between the Holocaust and October 7th, emphasizing how to build connections that honor both the uniqueness and the gravity of each event. Our central mission was to train the students to deeply understand one survivor’s testimony — whether from a family member or a survivor they had never met — and to retell it meaningfully to others. Each participant was mentored individually, receiving personal guidance and feedback as they shaped the way they would tell the story in front of fellow students in their schools.
Over the course of ten months, I met with the group regularly in Tel Aviv — typically every week or every other week — depending on my academic schedule and active reserve duty as a combat soldier. Despite the physical and emotional demands of my military service, I remained fully committed to creating a consistent, safe and inspiring space for the teens. In our sessions, we studied key historical moments and personal narratives, engaged in open dialogue and most importantly — practiced and refined the student's storytelling skills again and again. We learned from one another, supporting and challenging each other to elevate the memory of the survivors they represented. We also explored the most effective and relevant ways for the younger generation to preserve Holocaust memory — utilizing storytelling, creativity and emotional connection to make the past resonate with the present.
The program culminated in a powerful event in which each of the 15 students shared a survivor's story — not as a history lesson, but as a living, breathing legacy — presented to fellow students in their schools. The impact was profound. Each student completed the program with a deep understanding of their role as the final generation to hear survivor testimony firsthand. The message I repeated again and again was: this is just the beginning. While they had completed the training, their responsibility to memory was only just beginning. They left the program empowered to be leaders in Holocaust remembrance within their communities, equipped with tools, knowledge and confidence to continue sharing these stories far beyond the classroom.
For me, this project was far more than educational — it was personal, generational and national. As a third-generation descendant of Holocaust survivors, preserving Holocaust memory is not only my passion - it is the greatest mission of my life. With the support and trust of Zikaron BaSalon, I had the immense honor of mentoring a group of thoughtful, committed teens during one of the most turbulent times in Israel’s history. Together, we proved that memory is not just something we keep — it is something we carry forward, shape anew and share with courage and compassion.
