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Michael Calcagno

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14 poignant pics of Holocaust survivors and 14 heart-wrenching notes to go with them.

Stark and brazen in the face of history, these faces shine out and remind the world of its darkest moment but also its brightest future.

"Survivor"is a photo series that tells the story of over 200 people who survived an important and painful episode in history.

Every person featured in the series is a survivor of the Holocaust. Each portrait is accompanied by a caption, written in their own handwriting. The messages range from feelings of unquenched anger, to peaceful resolution, to hope for the future.

Photographer Harry Borden, a seasoned celebrity photographer, started the project 10 years ago and spent five years traveling the globe to meet and photograph his subjects. He photographed the survivors in their own homes using natural light to create a sense of intimacy.


“I wanted to do something that would have a lasting ... impact,” Borden told ABC News Australia. The series is both incredibly moving and a way of preserving the voices of those who lived through one of the darkest moments in recent human history — voices that should not be forgotten.

1. Felix Fibich

[rebelmouse-image 19530779 dam="1" original_size="1349x1012" caption=""In my dancing I was trying to express a full range of human emotions from the joy of life to deep sorrow of pain and suffering of tragic life." Photo by Harry Borden." expand=1]"In my dancing I was trying to express a full range of human emotions from the joy of life to deep sorrow of pain and suffering of tragic life." Photo by Harry Borden.

2. Agi Muller

"As a Hungarian Jew, I ran from the Germans, I ran from the Soviets. I’ve stopped running. Beauty and love surround me!" Photo by Harry Borden.

3. Leon Jedwab

"I believe I’m the last Holocaust survivor out of the 70 or so Jewish families including my mother, sister and brother who lived in my birthplace of Zagórów in Poland. I still live with the nightmares." Photo by Harry Borden.

4. Mary Elias

[rebelmouse-image 19530782 dam="1" original_size="1349x1012" caption=""The last time I saw my parents was when we arrived at Auschwitz. My father came back to get his prayer book. He kissed us and said, 'We will never see each other again.'" Photo by Harry Borden." expand=1]"The last time I saw my parents was when we arrived at Auschwitz. My father came back to get his prayer book. He kissed us and said, 'We will never see each other again.'" Photo by Harry Borden.

5. Dan Vaintraub

[rebelmouse-image 19530783 dam="1" original_size="1349x1012" caption=""The day of my birth tells all the story. 10.11.1938." Photo by Harry Borden." expand=1]"The day of my birth tells all the story. 10.11.1938." Photo by Harry Borden.

6. Lidia Vago

[rebelmouse-image 19530784 dam="1" original_size="1349x1012" caption=""In Limbo: In the black hole of our Planet Earth / Auschwitz / They drove me out / When it ceased to be; / Yet who will drive it out of me? / It still exists. / Only death will be my exorcist." Photo by Harry Borden." expand=1]"In Limbo: In the black hole of our Planet Earth / Auschwitz / They drove me out / When it ceased to be; / Yet who will drive it out of me? / It still exists. / Only death will be my exorcist." Photo by Harry Borden.

7. Tuvia Lipson

[rebelmouse-image 19530785 dam="1" original_size="1349x1012" caption=""Little did I know that I would find the strength to survive those insufferable circumstances that are still far beyond human understanding. I am proud to say that I am here, but many of those who are part of our life are not. And so my heart silently weeps." Photo by Harry Borden." expand=1]"Little did I know that I would find the strength to survive those insufferable circumstances that are still far beyond human understanding. I am proud to say that I am here, but many of those who are part of our life are not. And so my heart silently weeps." Photo by Harry Borden.

8. Kitia Altmann

[rebelmouse-image 19530786 dam="1" original_size="1349x1012" caption=""At the end of the day, Holocaust was all about people!! Good people, bad people, and the ones who were indifferent. For me survival is an on-going process." Photo by Harry Borden." expand=1]"At the end of the day, Holocaust was all about people!! Good people, bad people, and the ones who were indifferent. For me survival is an on-going process." Photo by Harry Borden.

9. Leon Rosenzweig

[rebelmouse-image 19530787 dam="1" original_size="1349x1012" caption=""The best time of my life is when I am with my family." Photo by Harry Borden." expand=1]"The best time of my life is when I am with my family." Photo by Harry Borden.

10. Relli Robinson

"It is our moral and conscientious obligation of the survivors of The Holocaust, and of Jews all over the world, to carry the torch of remembrance of The Holocaust and The Heroism of this Human Earthquake in 'Cultural Europe' (1939–1945), from generation to generation, to those generations — when none of us — survivors of the flames of hell will be alive anymore." Photo by Harry Borden.

11. Janek (Yona) Fuchs

[rebelmouse-image 19530789 dam="1" original_size="1349x1012" caption=""Having today 3 children and 14 grandchildren, I think I won the war against Hitler!" Photo by Harry Borden." expand=1]"Having today 3 children and 14 grandchildren, I think I won the war against Hitler!" Photo by Harry Borden.

12. Eve Kugler

[rebelmouse-image 19530790 dam="1" original_size="1349x1012" caption=""I am a child survivor. Those of us who survived were not more worthy than those who perished. Nor were we braver, richer, smarter or more resourceful. We were not. We were just luckier." Photo by Harry Borden." expand=1]"I am a child survivor. Those of us who survived were not more worthy than those who perished. Nor were we braver, richer, smarter or more resourceful. We were not. We were just luckier." Photo by Harry Borden.

13. John Balan

"As a hidden child I frequently lecture to children about my experiences. My great concern is who will continue to tell our stories when we’re gone in not too many years?" Photo by Harry Borden.

14. Mirjam Finkelstein

[rebelmouse-image 19530792 dam="1" original_size="1349x1012" caption=""I think of myself as a person, a wife and mother first and a survivor last." Photo by Harry Borden." expand=1]"I think of myself as a person, a wife and mother first and a survivor last." Photo by Harry Borden.

As each year passes, fewer and fewer survivors are left to share their stories.

Borden's book features portraits and written statements from 200 survivors, as well as biographies, preserving their stories forever.

Each photo and message is a reminder of our collective responsibility to never forget the horrors of the past, to honor those who did not survive, and to ensure this never happens again.

Watch the video below for a behind the scenes look at the making of the book:

Hands are more than just a useful part of the body.

Human hands helped to develop tools that pushed civilization forward. Our hands help us do everything from working and communicating to creating art and making music. Each hand can tell a story about a person's life.

That's exactly what photographer Omar Reda is showcasing in his new series, "Hands: The Story of Life," in which he explores the beauty found in the hands of people from all walks of life. Reda traveled across Tanzania, Ethiopia, Nepal, and Saudi Arabia to capture these portraits.


1. Like this beautifully detailed hand of a 3-year-old boy from the Masai Tribe in Africa.

All photos by Omar Reda.

2. This worn hand that belongs to a gardener.

3. And this hand that belongs to a mechanic.

4. This hand may be small, but it belongs to a woman who's worked many years on a farm.

5. These deeply wrinkled, calloused hands tell the story of an elderly tribal woman.

6. This skillful hand of a barber is covered in tiny hair clippings.

7.  A capable hand of a plumber.

8.  This seasoned hand of a baker.

9. This soldier's hand is covered in deep lines with a lifetime of stories to tell.

10. The sagely hand of a local holy man.

11. This calloused, worn, and stained hand tells the story of a blacksmith.

12. The ring-adorned hand of an elderly tribal man.

13. The confident and strong hand of a girl from a tribal village.

14. The competent, worn hand of a driver.

15. This carpenter whose experienced hand shows off a hard days work.

16. The clay covered hand of a potter perfecting their craft.

Each hand tells a unique story.  

These portraits of hands show that the beauty and richness of humanity can be glimpsed even in the simple lines on our hands.

"I am trying to capture the beauty of human hands around the world and from the different scope of life. People from tribes, villages, and cities," Reda explained of the series on his website.

What story do your hands tell?

You can see more of Omar Reda's work on Instagram and on his website.

This post was updated on 3/31/2017.

When David Linstead was about 9 or 10, he pestered his parents for a microscope.

It sparked a lifetime of scientific curiosity. David is now a retired research scientist with over 20 years of experience. In 2016, he captured an incredible slice of life in a microscopy photo that borders on fine art. The blue hues and fluorescent oranges and pinks burst through in a kaleidoscope of colors. To the uninformed eye, this image could be seen as evidence of alien life. But it's actually a photo of cat skin with hair and whiskers.

A polarized light micrograph of a section of cat skin, showing hairs, whiskers, and their blood supply. This sample is from a Victorian microscope slide. Blood vessels were injected with a red dye called carmine dye (here appearing black) in order to visualize the capillaries in the tissue, a newly developed technique at the time. This image is a composite made up of 44 individual images stitched together to produce a final image 12 millimeters wide. Image via David Linstead/Wellcome Image Awards.


The Wellcome Image Awards have been highlighting amazing images like this one for 20 years. This year's 22 finalists were chosen from photographs, illustrations, and other visual renderings from the sciences that showcase the beauty in their fields.

Here are 12 more images from this year's finalists that show the beauty behind science.

1. Hawaiian bobtail squid.

Image via Mark R Smith, Macroscopic Solutions/Wellcome Image Awards.

Native to the Pacific Ocean, Hawaiian bobtail squid are nocturnal predators that remain buried under the sand during the day and come out to hunt for shrimp near coral reefs at night. The squid have a light organ on their underside that houses a colony of glowing bacteria called Vibrio fischeri. The squid provide food and shelter for these bacteria in return for their bioluminescence.

2. Language pathways of the brain.

Image via Stephanie J Forkel and Ahmad Beyh, Natbrainlab, King’s College London; Alfonso de Lara Rubio, King’s College London/Wellcome Image Awards.

The brain is composed of two types of matter. Gray matter contains cells and is responsible for processing information. White matter connects these areas of grey matter, allowing information to be transferred between distant areas of the brain. Areas responsible for speech and language have been mapped to two different brain regions. This image shows a 3D-printed reconstruction of the white matter pathway connecting these two areas (here shown from the left), which is called the arcuate fasciculus.

3. Surface of a mouse retina.

Image via Gabriel Luna, Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara/Wellcome Image Awards.

The retina, located at the back of the eye, contains light-sensitive cells responsible for converting light into electrical nerve signals that the brain can process. As a result of aging or injury, the retina can lose this function, causing vision loss. This image was created by digitally stitching together over 400 images to form one large image, so as to show the entire surface of a mouse retina.

4. Vessels of a healthy mini-pig eye.

Image via Peter M Maloca, OCTlab at the University of Basel and Moorfields Eye Hospital, London; Christian Schwaller; Ruslan Hlushchuk, University of Bern; Sébastien Barré/Wellcome Image Awards.

A 3D model of a healthy mini-pig eye. The dent on the right side of the image is the pupil, the opening that allows light into the eye. The blood vessels shown are bringing energy and food to the muscles surrounding the iris, which controls the amount of light entering the eye. The smallest vessels seen here are 20–30 micrometers (0.02–0.03 millimeters) in diameter. The other large vessels are feeder vessels for the retina, the light-sensing region at the back of the eye.

5. The placenta rainbow.

Image via Suchita Nadkarni, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London/Wellcome Image Awards.

The placenta rainbow highlights differences in mouse placental development that can result from manipulation of the mother’s immune system. These placentas were investigated at day 12 of the 20-day gestation period — the point at which a mouse’s placenta has gained its characteristic shape but is still developing.

6. Developing spinal cord.

Image via Gabriel Galea, University College London/Wellcome Image Awards.

Our spines allow us to stand and move, and they protect the spinal cord, which connects all the nerves in our body with our brain. The spinal cord is formed from a structure called the neural tube, which develops during the first month of pregnancy.

This series of three images shows the open end of a mouse’s neural tube, with each image highlighting (in blue) one of the three main embryonic tissue types. On the left is the neural tube itself, which develops into the brain, spine, and nerves. On the right is the surface ectoderm — the word "ectoderm" comes from the Greek ektos meaning "outside" and derma meaning skin — which will eventually form the skin, teeth, and hair. The middle image shows the mesoderm (also from Greek, meaning "middle skin"), which will form the organs.

7. Zebrafish eye and neuromasts.

Image via Ingrid Lekk and Steve Wilson, University College London/Wellcome Image Awards.

This four-day-old zebrafish embryo has been modified using two mechanisms — borrowed from the fascinating worlds of bacteria and yeast — that are widely applied in genetics research. A DNA-editing technology called CRISPR/Cas9 was used to insert a gene called Gal4 next to the gene that the researchers wished to study. These Gal4 fish were then bred with special reporter fish to create fish where the gene of interest displays red whenever it is activated.

8. Intraocular lens "iris clip."

Image via Mark Bartley, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust/Wellcome Image Awards.

This image shows how an "iris clip," also known as an artificial intraocular lens, is fitted onto the eye. An iris clip is a small, thin lens made from silicone or acrylic material with plastic side supports to hold it in place. An iris clip is fixed to the iris through a three-millimeter surgical incision and is used to treat conditions such as myopia (nearsightedness) and cataracts (cloudiness of the lens). This particular patient, a 70-year-old man, regained almost full vision following his surgery.

9. #BreastCancer Twitter connections.

Image via Eric Clarke, Richard Arnett and Jane Burns, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland/Wellcome Image Awards.

This is a graphical visualization of data extracted from tweets containing the hashtag #BreastCancer. Twitter users are represented by dots, called nodes, and lines connecting the nodes represent the relationships between the Twitter users. Nodes are sized differently according to the number and importance of other nodes they are connected with, and the thickness of each connecting line is determined by the number of times that a particular relationship is expressed within the data.

The "double yolk" structure at the top of the image indicates common mentions of two accounts. This area of the graph provides a graphical expression of trending data in Twitter, as it represents one tweet that was retweeted thousands of times.

10. Brain-on-a-chip.

Image via Collin Edington and Iris Lee, © Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)/Wellcome Image Awards.

Neural stem cells have the ability to form all the different cell types found in the nervous system. Here, researchers are investigating how neural stem cells grow on a synthetic gel called PEG. After just two weeks, the stem cells (magenta) produced nerve fibers (green). These fibers grew away from the cell due to chemical gradients in the gel, teaching researchers about how their environment affects their structural organization.

11. MicroRNA scaffold cancer therapy.

Image via João Conde, Nuria Oliva and Natalie Artzi, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)/Wellcome Image Awards.

Researchers are investigating short genetic sequences called microRNAs, which control the proper function and growth of cells, as a possible cancer therapy. However, their potential use is limited by the lack of an efficient system to deliver these microRNAs specifically to cancerous cells. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed such a system, combining two microRNAs with a synthetic polymer to form a stable woven structure that is a bit like a net. This synthetic net can coat a tumor and deliver the two microRNAs locally to cancer cells.

12. Unravelled DNA in a human lung cell.

Image via Ezequiel Miron, University of Oxford/Wellcome Image Awards.

In order for plants and animals to grow and remain healthy, cells need to have the ability to replicate. During cell division, also known as mitosis, the entire DNA content of the cell is copied, with half going to each new cell. DNA is found in the nucleus, which acts a bit like the brain.

This picture shows the nucleus of one of two new daughter cells. The DNA in this cell has somehow become caught and is being pulled between the two cells. This has caused the DNA to unfold inside the nucleus, and DNA fibers can be seen running through it. As the new cells have moved apart, the tension distributed by the rope-like DNA has deformed the nucleus’ usually circular envelope.

There they are, in all their majesty.

Looking at the sheer brilliance of these images, it's easy to see why funding for science is fundamentally important to society. They show the value of science to better understand our world by revealing the quiet beauty behind the universe's veil. That's the power of scientific exploration.

To learn more about the Wellcome Image Awards and see all of this year's and previous years' winners, visit their website. All caption info via Wellcome Image Awards.

2016 may have technically been 366 days long, but for some, it felt like an eternity.

There have been countless political struggles, protests, and conflicts that have left an indelible mark on our collective psyche. From the U.S. presidential election to the Dakota Access Pipeline protests to the many unfortunate deaths, this year has certainly left a permanent mark in history.

Despite these events, there have been many overlooked moments of humanity, empathy, and love.

These 23 incredible photos capture moments from this year that prove it wasn't a complete dumpster fire.


1. We celebrated love...

Photo by Mark Bugnaski/Kalamazoo Gazette /AP.

Ed and Betty Hartman renew their vows after 65 years of marriage Oct. 8 on Western Michigan University's Heritage Hall Grand Lawn to break the Guinness World Record for most vow renewals in one place. The Hartmans met at Western Michigan — Ed graduated in 1949, and Betty in 1951. A record 1,201 couples renewed their wedding vows at the ceremony.

2. ...in every way possible.

Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images.

Marjorie Enya (right) and rugby player Isadora Cerullo of Brazil kiss during their marriage proposal after the Women's Gold Medal Rugby Sevens match between Australia and New Zealand at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games on Aug. 8.

3. We celebrated life...  

Photo by Shula Kopershtouk/AFP/Getty Images.

Yisrael Kristal in his Haifa, Israel, home on Jan. 21. Yisrael, a Holocaust survivor, may be the world's oldest man at 112, Guinness World Records said, providing he can find the documents to prove it. His family says he was born in Poland on Sept. 15, 1903, three months before the Wright brothers took the first airplane flight.

4. ...and its small triumphs.

Photo by Carsten Koall/Getty Images.

A refugee from Syria holds his daughter at a shelter for migrants and refugees run by the Berliner Stadtmission charity on Jan. 9 in Berlin. Fast Retailing Co., the parent company of Uniqlo, donated about 50,000 articles of clothing to help refugees in Germany stay warm through the winter. Germany took in about 1.1 million migrants and refugees in 2015 and expected about 300,000 more in 2016.  

5. We mourned those we lost.

Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images.

Jiffy Lube employee Ralph Nieves shows support for the Orlando, Florida, community following the shootings at the Pulse nightclub on June 16. This small but significant gesture helped the Orlando area and the country to heal from one of the worst mass shootings in American history. It showed that with all our progress, we still have much to achieve for future generations.

6. We tried to find ways to work through our differences...

Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images.

In a year full of tension over civil rights, this brief moment of calm during a protest between police officers and protesters in the early hours of Sept. 21 in Charlotte, North Carolina, showed that our right to assemble is as important as ever. The protests began the night before after a police officer fatally shot Keith Lamont Scott near UNC Charlotte.

7. ...and take a moment to reflect on our losses.

Photo by Mary Turner/Getty Images.

The Brexit vote was one of the most nerve-wracking examples of democracy in 2016. This moment of protesters awaiting the results of the vote in London on June 24 shows how important reflection can be before our expectations are subverted.

8. But we helped each other get back up again.

Photo by Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters.

Nikki Hamblin of New Zealand helps fellow competitor Abbey D'Agostino of the United States after she suffered a cramp on Aug. 16 during a women's 5,000-meter race at the Rio Olympics. This kind act proved that friendship and empathy are what the Olympics are really about.

9. We stood strong together...

Photo by Hatem Moussa/AP.

Four Palestinian friends who were injured during conflicts walk by the sea at Gaza's small fishing harbor on Oct. 24. Fighting has left thousands of people with disabilities or missing limbs in this Palestinian enclave. The heart-wrenching scars of conflict are a reminder that war is still present in our world but that we can stand tall together in its face.

10. ...for our heritage and our future.

Photo by Tom Stromme/The Bismarck Tribune/AP.

This powerful image of Kat Eng holding 2-year-old Wiconi Suta Win Hopkins while painting a banner at the Seven Councils Camp on Aug. 18 during protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline shows that our environment and our heritage still need to be fought for.

11. We went on new adventures...

Photo by Aaron Sheldon, used with permission.

Photographer Aaron Sheldon was at the doctor's office with his son when he stumbled onto the perfect metaphor for childhood. "[Harrison] was scared to sit on the exam table because it's a little high up for a 3-year-old," Aaron recalled. "So I'm talking with him about being brave, and what types of people are brave and have to sit on exam tables. And we're talking about policemen and firemen and he said, 'Hey, how about astronauts? Are they brave?'" When Harrison had to go back for another checkup a few months later, Aaron brought his camera. And a space suit.

12. ...even if they may seem a little silly.

Photo by Michael Dwyer/AP.

Thomas Thwaites accepts the Ig Nobel prize in biology from economics Nobel laureate Eric Maskin at Harvard University on Sept. 22. Thwaites, of the United Kingdom, won for creating prosthetic extensions of his limbs that allowed him to move like a goat.

13. We'll get there any way we can...

Photo by Richard Vogel/AP.

Ivory McCloud maneuvers his horse, Diamond, down a street in Compton, California, on Aug. 7. Although best known as the birthplace of gangsta rap and the hometown of tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams, Compton has a long and vibrant equestrian history.

14. ...and cherish the moments we have together.

Photo by John Moore/Getty Images.

A family embraces at the U.S.-Mexico border fence during an "Opening the Door of Hope" event on April 30 in San Diego. Five families, with some members living in Mexico and others in the United States, were permitted to meet and embrace for three minutes each at a door in the fence, which the U.S. Border Patrol opened to celebrate Mexican Children's Day. It was only the third time the fence, which separates San Diego from Tijuana, had been opened for families to briefly reunite. The event was planned by the immigrant advocacy group Border Angels.

15. We vowed to always stand up for our rights...

Photo by Olivier Morin/AFP/Getty Images.

Ethiopia's Feyisa Lilesa protests the Ethiopian government's crackdown on political dissent by crossing his arms over his head at the finish line of the men's marathon at the Rio Olympics on Aug. 21.

16. ...no matter what obstacles are in our way...

Photo by Mohammed Elshamy/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images.

"My family and friends have continuously pushed me to face adversities and succeed despite them. I am not afraid of failure and push myself to try to be the best at everything," Nagla Bedir, who is Muslim and works as a social studies teacher, told the Andalou Agency during an interview about hate speech and Islamophobia ahead of the U.S. presidential election on Oct. 29. These issues were major dividing lines during the election, and Bedir was one of many who spoke out about the real struggles they dealt with every day this year.

17. ...to put our best foot forward...

Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.

These models walking the runway during New York Fashion Week on Sept. 12 were the first to wear hijab at the event. This moment showcased the importance of respecting each others' beliefs and traditions. The designer, Anniesa Hasibuan, received a standing ovation at the event for her stunning work.

18. ...soak in those triumphs...

Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images.

Ibtihaj Muhammad of the United States celebrates during the women's saber team semifinal against Russia on Aug. 13 at the Rio Olympics. She was the first American Olympic athlete to wear the hijab during competition, and despite being knocked out during the competition, her performance left a powerful mark.

19. ...but always be mindful of the progress that's yet to be made.

Photo by Patrick Baz/AFP/Getty Images.

Activists from Abaad (Dimensions), a resource center for gender equality, dress as brides and wear injury patches during a protest in Beirut on Dec. 6 against a law that shields rapists from prosecution on the condition that they marry their victim.

20. We try to hang with our pals...

Photo by Mike Groll/AP.

Jim Kowalczik plays with Jimbo, a 1,500-pound Kodiak bear, at the Orphaned Wildlife Center in Otisville, New York, on Sept. 7. Our complicated relationship with the natural world had many ups and downs this year. This quiet moment between two friends shows the importance of compassion between us and the animal world.

21. ...stretch our legs...

Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images.

Maja, a 40-year-old elephant, checks out a bakery on July 1 in Berlin. Maja performs daily at Circus Busch, and circus workers take her on walks among the nearby apartment buildings to vacant lots, where she likes to eat the grass. City authorities sanction the outings and federal regulations reportedly encourage activities for elephants to stimulate the animals' cognitive awareness.

22. ...and our arms too.

Photo by Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images.

A Sumatran orangutan plays at the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme's rehabilitation center in Kuta Mbelin, North Sumatra, Indonesia on Nov. 11. The orangutans in Indonesia are on the verge of extinction as a result of deforestation and poaching.

23. Together, we can hope for a better new year.

Photo by Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty Images.

A woman adds a sticky note to the art piece "Subway Therapy" at the Union Square station in New York on Nov. 17. This powerful display of compassion and empathy helped a city to heal after a divisive presidential election. It offered New Yorkers a collective outlet to reflect and move forward together in the new year.