Leon Zwier and his granddaughters, Phoebe and Chloe, visited Yad Vashem in September 2023 for his granddaughter Phoebe’s Bat Mitzvah and participated in the Yad Vashem Twinning Program. The Twinning Program is an increasingly popular way to strengthen a child’s identification with Jewish heritage by forging bonds with individual children who were murdered during the Holocaust. Choosing to participate in the program offers the opportunity to remember and learn about the life of a child who was murdered during the Holocaust. Yad Vashem’s official guide Lara Bieler Kwalbrun accompanied to point out important and interesting facts. Leon has given permission for his words to be reprinted below…
I am writing to share with you some of my naches connected to your great work. Phoebe had her Shule Bat Mitzvah event yesterday. She gave a Dvar Torah. She commenced by telling everyone the highlight of her recent trip to Israel was going to Yad Vashem, learning about the Shoah, and culminating in the twining program. She then said her Hebrew name and spoke of her “twin” Chaya, who perished at age 11, who never achieved the milestone or enjoyment of a Bat-Mitzvah because of the Holocaust. She did, as you asked both my granddaughters to do, which was to bring their twin back to life at a life event.
My family and I were so moved, as were many others. Her Bat-Mitzvah teacher said the impact on Phoebe’s life was remarkable and she was a different person after Israel.