Remembering Meron – “45 for 45”
Both the Kesser Torah College Boys’ and Girls’ High Schools in Sydney have held a special memorial event in memory of the victims of the Mt Meron tragedy.
The event – called was named “45 for 45” as students dedicated 45 minutes of study in memory of the 45 people who passed away.
Head of High School Jewish Studies Rabbi Yaacov Chaiton explained the duty and responsibility that we all have to remember those who perished in a meaningful way.
The event was designed so students would be able to identify with those who lost their lives on an individual level:
All students were divided into groups and given a unique booklet with the individuals’ names and faces. Each booklet contained distinct sections from Pirkei Avos (Ethics of the Fathers) together with commentary. The students used the 45 minutes to learn a Mishna together with commentary in memory of the person allocated to them. They then typed up summaries of what they had studied to be collated and made into a booklet for each student.
Students were also given bookmarks with a powerful poem written by one of the victims just a few hours before he passed away.
