BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Teenagers who recently gathered at the Jewish Children’s Museum in Crown Heights for a town hall against hate were encouraged to be curious, with organizers offering a primer on orthodox Jewish culture.

Community advocate and museum director Devorah Halberstam says it’s an effort to build bridges to different communities, combat anti-Semitism and to honor the teenage son she lost 28 years ago to a violent hate-filled attack.

“I also wanted my son to never be forgotten and people need to remember that he was the poster child unfortunately for just innocence” said Halberstam.

Ari Halberstam was 16 years old back in 1994 when he was killed by gunman Rashid Baz, who opened fire on a van carrying yeshiva students on the ramp to the Brooklyn Bridge.

Baz was convicted and sentenced to more than a 140 years in prison, but Halberstam’s death left a wound his mother says never heals.

“Every single moment of my life is dedicated and committed to educating our young people about acceptance, about the love and not hate” said Halberstam.

She says she’s keeping Ari’s memory alive and sharing his story with young people she hopes can relate and grow.

Her message resonated with Kiana Thomas, 19.

“Just hearing that story and feeling a mother’s pain, that did strike me” said Thomas. “I was trying my best not to cry.”