Students at Timberlane Middle School and community members marked Holocaust Remembrance Day with a powerful local connection this month, as the documentary How Saba Kept Singing was screened in both classrooms and at a community event.
The film, directed by Pennington resident Sara Taksler, aired on PBS and was nominated for an Emmy. It tells the story of Holocaust survivor David Wisnia and his relationship with his grandson, weaving together music, memory, and survival.
At Timberlane, more than 800 sixth- through eighth-grade students watched the film as part of classroom discussions, followed by a broader community screening and conversation at Hopewell Valley Central High School.
School officials said the impact on students was immediate.
“I saw How Saba Kept Singing in our school and then the richness of the conversations coming from the students. These are sixth to eighth graders who are changed,” Timberlane Principal Chris Turnbull said during a post-screening discussion.
Teachers reported that students carried those conversations beyond the classroom.
“You saw tears in kids’ eyes. You saw kids talking about history at lunch and around the school instead of talking about sports,” said Vice Principal Michael Emmich before the community screening.
A story that feels close to home
Part of the film’s impact, educators said, comes from its local ties.
Wisnia’s story is not distant history for many in the Hopewell Valley community. Through family, synagogue connections, and personal relationships, some students and families recognized names and connections as the film unfolded.
David Wisnia was a local cantor and his father, Eric, was the rabbi at Congregation Beth Chaim for many years.
Taksler, who lives in Pennington, said she was drawn to the story not only because of its historical significance, but because of the humanity at its center.
“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.”
Connecting history to today
The screenings come at a time when the district has continued to address incidents involving hate symbols, including swastikas found in school bathrooms over the past year. District officials have previously said those incidents are taken seriously and are investigated, with an emphasis on education and accountability. The timing of the film and discussions added additional context for students as they continue to engage with difficult aspects of history and its relevance today.
Superintendent Dr. Rosetta Treece framed the screenings as part of a broader effort to bring history beyond the classroom and into the community.
“We try to include parents and community members when we do that work,” Treece said. “If there’s something that we bring to the students, I try to bring it back to the rest of the community.”
Treece also reflected on her own experiences visiting Holocaust sites, emphasizing the importance of understanding not only what happened, but how it was allowed to happen.
“Everyone needs to know this story,” she said.
A film built for younger audiences
Taksler said the film was intentionally created with students in mind, designed to make a difficult subject more accessible through storytelling and personal connection.
The full documentary is available publicly online, along with lesson plans that educators can use in classrooms.
“We purposely made it with high schoolers and middle schoolers in mind,” she said.
That accessibility appeared to resonate with students, who engaged in follow-up discussions and submitted questions for continued conversations with educators.
Remembering through storytelling
For school leaders, the screenings were not just about a single film, but about creating space for reflection and dialogue.
By combining a personal story, a local connection, and classroom discussion, the experience helped bring history into sharper focus for a new generation. The goal is not only to remember the past, but to ensure that its lessons continue to shape how communities think, talk, and respond today.
The district is working on organizing another event in the coming weeks with Avi Wisnia who is featured in the movie and based in the area.
