This night in Northbrook was not just another event. It was a moral correction.

We created this program because the Holocaust was recently turned into an allegory for immigration and modern politics. That distortion demanded a response rooted in truth. Six million Jews were systematically hunted, eradicated, and turned to smoke. That history is not a metaphor. It is a uniquely Jewish catastrophe and it must be treated with precision.

That is why we placed a billboard in downtown Northbrook. Anyone who has seen slogans or distortions can stop, scan, and see the truth of the Holocaust for themselves. History belongs in public view, not repurposed for political narratives.

Daniel Schwartz, President of the Chicago Jewish Alliance, opened the evening by grounding the room in responsibility and memory. Jeff Kaminsky, a Northbrook resident and founder of Project Aid and Rescue, spoke powerfully about the danger of co opting Holocaust narratives. The Rabbi of Chabad of Northbrook reminded us that Jewish continuity is intentional and lived. Susan Haggard, Vice President of Events at the Chicago Jewish Alliance, once again turned conviction into reality.

And then Sami Steigmann spoke directly to our youth. He shared his life, his survival, and the meaning of Jewish resilience. Not abstract history. Lived truth.

The night ended in a standing ovation. Not for applause, but for shared responsibility. To remember accurately. To teach honestly. To protect Jewish history.

Presented in partnership with the Illinois Holocaust Museum.

The billboard remains downtown Northbrook for anyone who wants truth instead of slogans.

This is why we remember.