Holocaust Film Moves 800 NJ Students to Discuss History

Students at Timberlane Middle School in Hopewell Valley, New Jersey, did something rare this month: they chose to discuss history over sports at lunch.

The shift came after more than 800 sixth through eighth graders watched "How Saba Kept Singing," an Emmy-nominated PBS documentary about Holocaust survivor David Wisnia. The film, directed by Pennington resident Sara Taksler, weaves together music, memory, and the relationship between Wisnia and his grandson Avi.

"You saw tears in kids' eyes," said Vice Principal Michael Emmich. "You saw kids talking about history at lunch and around the school instead of talking about sports."

The screenings marked Holocaust Remembrance Day with a powerful local connection. Wisnia served as a cantor in the area, and his son Eric was rabbi at Congregation Beth Chaim for many years. Some students recognized names and family connections as the film unfolded.

Principal Chris Turnbull watched the transformation firsthand. "These are sixth to eighth graders who are changed," he said during a post-screening discussion at Hopewell Valley Central High School, where the community gathered for a second viewing.

Taksler intentionally designed the documentary for younger audiences, making difficult history accessible through personal storytelling. "This is a story about living through hard times," she said. "You might be moved emotionally, and there are parts of it that may make you want to laugh."

The film balances heavy subject matter with moments of joy, capturing Wisnia's effervescent personality. It shows him performing with his grandson Avi at the piano and revisiting Auschwitz-Birkenau on the 75th anniversary of the camp's liberation.

The Ripple Effect

The screenings come as the district addresses ongoing incidents involving hate symbols found in school bathrooms over the past year. Superintendent Dr. Rosetta Treece emphasized that education remains central to the district's response.

"Everyone needs to know this story," Treece said, reflecting on her own visits to Holocaust sites. She stressed the importance of understanding not just what happened, but how it was allowed to happen.

The district intentionally brought families into the conversation. "If there's something that we bring to the students, I try to bring it back to the rest of the community," Treece explained.

Teachers report that classroom discussions continued well beyond the initial screening. The documentary is available publicly online along with lesson plans for educators, making the story accessible to students nationwide.

The district is now planning another event featuring Avi Wisnia, who appears in the film and lives in the area. The goal extends beyond remembering the past to shaping how communities think and respond today.