Rye, NY ––In an era where Holocaust education is facing a troubling decline and antisemitism is soaring, Rye Country Day School (RCDS) is taking a proactive approach to ensure this vital history is not forgotten.

RCDS is hosting Common Circles’ traveling exhibit called “We are RCDS: Bridging, Belonging, & Building Community, an innovative and interactive program that uses art, technology, and storytelling to teach about the Holocaust, antisemitism, community and the importance of finding our shared humanity.

The current exhibit, on view by appointment to the public, conceived and designed by Marla Felton and Sue Spiegel of the non-profit Common Circles and developed in partnership with the USC Shoah Foundation, RCDS and American Jewish Committee (AJC), is open at RCDS through May and will then be available travel to other schools.

This initiative comes at a critical time. Antisemitism has reached record levels in the U.S., especially after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas massacre in Israel. The State of Antisemitism in America 2023 Report from AJC found nine in 10 American Jews believe antisemitism is a problem in this country and that 87% believe it has worsened in the last five years. In addition, 46% of American Jews altered their behavior—such as not wearing a Star of David in public or sharing their views online about Israel—out of fear of antisemitism.

“When it comes to the Holocaust, there is no such thing as too much education,” AJC Westchester/Fairfield Director Myra Clark-Siegel said. “By fostering understanding, respect, and connection, this exhibit underscores the importance of remembering the lessons of the Holocaust and applying them to build a more compassionate and inclusive future.”

 RCDS’s effort exemplifies this commitment by engaging students, educators, and families with a transformative educational experience.

The “We are RCDS: Bridging, Belonging & Building Community” traveling exhibit, which is customized for individual communities, is divided into two parts, each offering a unique perspective:

Through a combination of art, photography, and optical illusions, the first part of the exhibit explores the layers of identity within the RCDS community. It emphasizes the need to understand different perspectives shaped by individual life experiences and fosters respectful dialogue. Visitors are encouraged to listen to each other’s stories, find connection, recognize their shared humanity, and celebrate differences while discovering commonalities.

The second part focuses on Holocaust education, featuring Interactive Biographies** from the USC Shoah Foundation. Visitors hear firsthand accounts from a Holocaust survivor and a Jewish American liberator, connecting with their experiences in a deeply personal way. This section also provides information on the Jewish community, as well as tools to define, recognize, and combat antisemitism, empowering participants to stand against hate in all its forms. Local stories of survivors and liberators from the community are also highlighted.

Marla Felton, founder of Common Circles, said, “COVID, already overfilled curricula, and lack of funding does not make school trips to museums easy, so we decided to bring the museum experience to the schools themselves.”

Sue Spiegel, Common Circles’ creative director, believes that, “the ‘We Are Rye Country Day” experience is a nonconfrontational and creative way to delve into our varied identities and start to learn more about one another.”

Dr. Meredith deChabert, RCDS Assistant Head of School, was a driving force in bringing the exhibit to RCDS. She says: “When you see the exhibit in person and your mood immediately begins to lift, you know. When you hear the unbridled excitement of students of all ages as they see images of the adults in their community, you know. When your colleagues, who are all busy and short on time just linger in the space soaking it all in, you know. Immediately you know that what binds us as a community is personal — rooted in identity, authentic representation, and feeling a sense of belonging.”

 “Common Circles is a wonderful initiative that dovetails with our active approach to building awareness and educating our community about antisemitism and other forms of hate, Head of School Randall Dunn said. “This work is critical, as we strive for a more inclusive, connected world. We Are RCDS is a beautiful, thought-provoking celebration of the range of identities in our community.”

As Nobel laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel once said, “When you hear a witness, you become a witness.” RCDS, in partnership with Common Circles and AJC, is ensuring that every member of its community—students, teachers, and families—has the opportunity to become a witness to history.

For more information about the exhibit and its future locations, please contact marla@commoncircles.org.