Celebrating through giving

Ben Shaw celebrated his bar mitzvah in February and decided to forego gifts and instead ask for donations to the Jewish Holocaust Centre (JHC). Ben has visited Holocaust museums in both Sydney and America, and believes it is important to support the JHC in his home town.

Ben is a Year 8 student at Melbourne Grammar School and when his friends found out about his generous gesture, they thought it was ‘cool’ to donate to the JHC. Ben’s non-Jewish friends knew about the Holocaust, as they have participated in JHC education programs, and subsequently all donated. When asked why he chose to donate to the Centre, Ben said, ‘I realise the value of ensuring that the Jewish Holocaust Centre can continue its work, as I think it is important to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive for future generations.’

We thank Ben and his family and wish them a hearty Mazal tov. Ben’s decision to donate to the Centre shows he is already a mensch !