How can stories shape our giving? At B’nai B’rith Connect they are asking these questions of the youngest members of their young professionals’ program. Earlier this year, B’nai B’rith brought together six undergraduate college students to participate in a giving experience that would challenge them to consider the past, present, and future.

Since 2020 Honeycomb has been training youth philanthropy professionals on how to apply an intergenerational lens to their programs, through one of their signature initiatives called Opening the Dor. Hebrew for generation, “dor” is commonly used in the phrase “L’Dor v’Dor” or from generation to generation. By focusing on intergenerational connection, participants can focus their giving experience through the lens of identity, storytelling and heritage. B’nai B’rith was able to apply this year’s special focus on engaging Holocaust survivors to help enrich connections between seniors and youth philanthropists.

In their fifth session, they were joined by Evelyne Appel, a Holocaust Survivor born in 1932 in Paris, France. Evelyne shared her powerful story with the group about how her family secretly fled the country through the Swiss Alps and eventually joined the resistance to courageously assist other Jews to safety.

Hearing testimony directly from a survivor had a profound impact on the group. When reflecting on his time with B’nai B’rith, Adam Berkowitz, senior at Binghamton University, explained that “the program was meaningful to me because of its emphasis on remembering and honoring victims of the Holocaust. We had the opportunity to listen to the story of one survivor as she detailed her experience. It served as a necessary reminder that the story of every victim is important.”
Elisabeth Krebs, Associate Director of Programs and facilitator noted, “There’s a lot of Holocaust denial out there. My hope was these students who heard her story would be equipped in conversations to say, ‘well, you’re wrong, because I heard this person directly tell me their story.’”

To ensure the experience was well-rounded and relatable, Elisabeth partnered with a young lay leader, Morgan Mattler, a B’nai B’rith Connect Regional Leader in Washington DC. Helping to guide conversations, and acting as co-facilitator, Morgan, played a pivotal role in the process, providing a point of connection for the students to consider challenging issues and unpack ideas with one of their contemporaries.

As the program came to a close, now equipped with new skill sets and grounded with the knowledge of Evelyne’s impactful story, the group was able to apply what they had learned and take action. Ultimately, the students made a group donation to B’nai B’rith International Center for Human Rights and Public Policy (ICHRPP).

In the end, these students deeply reflected and considered the real-world implications of antisemitism and how to learn from the past in order to ensure a brighter future. Elisabeth emphasized, “Holocaust Remembrance was one of the areas they considered. But the consensus was to channel the funds to our UN advocacy group. I think it’s because of everything happening with antisemitism in the world right now and B’nai B’rith is always at the table with world leaders ready to make a difference.”

Following this experience the participants have continued on to express interest in other programs, participating in the UN Holocaust Remembrance Day and other wider B’nai B’rith opportunities. As antisemitism continues to rise globally, intergenerational connection isn’t just meaningful, it’s essential. When young people bear witness directly and hear the testimony of those who lived through some of the darkest moments of our history, they don’t just learn about past events. They create personal connections and commit to honoring the lessons of the past to protect the future.

Alana Hollander, Writing Consultant, Honeycomb

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B’nai B’rith is recognized as a vital voice in combatting anti-Semitism, promoting Jewish unity and continuity, a leader in disaster relief and assisting communities in crisis, a provider of safe and affordable housing for low-income older adults and a tireless advocate on behalf of seniors. Since their founding in 1843, B’nai B’rith has focused on making the world a safer and more tolerant place.

B’nai B’rith Connect (a program of B’nai B’rith International) is designed for those seeking depth and purpose in their engagement. Through smaller, thoughtfully curated gatherings, it creates space for meaningful conversation, shared learning, and genuine relationships.

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For more information about any of our network programs, contact Laura Hemlock-Schaeffer, Program & Education Director, Honeycomb.