L’Dough V’Dough
April Ball ’21, a student at Stanford University, and Stephanie Jacobs, a Los Angeles photographer and instructional designer, traveled to Europe last summer to conduct interviews with Holocaust survivors in the Netherlands and Belgium. Their work, which combines photography and first-person narratives, is displayed in a new exhibit at Hillel at Stanford, and the project is ongoing.
To mark the opening of the exhibit, Ball and Jason Kuperberg, Hillel International Springboard Fellow at Hillel at Stanford, hosted L’Dough V’Dough, a program that lets Jewish students braid challah with Holocaust survivors.
Hillel at Stanford partnered with the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust, Jewish Family and Children’s Services Holocaust Center, Stanford University Office of the Vice President for the Arts to bring the program and event to Stanford.
Stanford student Dean Manko teaches Holocaust survivor Helga how to braid challah, for the first time. Braiding challah together engages all of the senses and helps break down perceived barriers between generations, cultivating more meaningful and dynamic conversation. (Photo by Stephanie Jacobs)
A proud student shows off her beautiful challah. For many students, this was the first time braiding challah. Those with more experience were able to share their expertise. (Photos by Stephanie Jacobs)
Students from the Jewish community and across campus came together, sharing laughs while discussing a difficult topic in an uplifting manner. The event brought together students with a wide range of experiences, continuing to build a cross-campus community through Hillel. (Photos by Stephanie Jacobs)
The Jewish Family and Children’s Services Holocaust Center introduced Stanford Hillel students to Helga, who shared her story as a Holocaust survivor and child from Vienna. The program emphasizes the importance of intergenerational communication, and Helga’s experience will continue to live on through the students who had the opportunity to hear her story. (Photo by Stephanie Jacobs)
“This is my sixth year being involved with L’Dough V’Dough, and bringing it to Stanford was a powerful experience for me,” April Ball said. “Seeing my classmates and peers engage with such a meaningful opportunity was a reminder of why I do this work, to connect generations and engender intergenerational learning.” This event was an empowering experience for those in attendance, and everyone left with a unique perspective on humanity. (Photo by Stephanie Jacobs)
The event was an opportunity for April Ball to share her work with Stanford peers, and share the stories and messages of the survivors she met throughout her time in Europe. (Photo by Stephanie Jacobs)
The smell of fresh challah permeated the entire building. Students were able to bring a loaf to their friends across campus. In the evening at Hillel, students were able to enjoy challah freshly baked by peers, elevating the Shabbat experience. (Photo by Stephanie Jacobs)