COMMACK SCHOOLS

Seven CHS students attended a screening of the powerful documentary, “Names, Not Numbers,” on Sunday afternoon at the Stage 74 theatre at the Suffolk Y JCC in Commack after contributing to the film as interviewers and producers.

Superintendent Dr. Jordan Cox and assistant superintendent Timothy Russo attended the premiere to support CHS student filmmakers Adin B., Hailey D., Julia E., Dylan G., Jake S., Addison S. and Liza Z.

For the project, the students interviewed Holocaust survivors Sol Ginzburg and Edith Gross (pictured with Adin). Fellow Holocaust survivor Celina Kohn was interviewed by students from neighboring communities.

Gross was born in 1928 in Czechoslovakia. German forces arrived in 1944, and she was taken to Auschwitz. She survived the Death March and ultimately was liberated by Russian troops.

Ginzburg was born in Poland in 1937. When he was two years old, his homeland was invaded and his father was arrested.

“Names, Not Numbers” is an innovative documentary film project in which students document and share the stories of local Holocaust survivors. The program transforms traditional history lessons by combining Holocaust research with lessons in video production, interviewing techniques and film editing.

The CHS students have been working on the project since the fall.