Enduring Voices: Living Memories

Transcription

1 Enduring Voices: Living Memories Yom Hashoah 2011 The Friedman Center May1, 2011

2 Magen David for Yom Hashoah I have taken the yellow Magen David that would have been sewn on the clothing of Jews in Nazi-occupied Europe and turned it into a statement of pride and continuing life. It s a camellia inside the star, which to me represents spring and new beginnings. Inside the flower petals is a chai: and the veins of each leaf have the Hebrew letter shin, representing G-d. Nina Bonos Artist Yom Hashoah 2011 page 2

3 Enduring Voices: Living Memories Program Niggun... David Rubinstein Introduction...B ob Raful Invocation...Reb Irwin Keller accompanied by Lorenzo Valensi Candle Lighting Ceremony... Rabbi George Schlesinger Survivors Light Candles for the Six Million Mary Esther Fuhs Lillian Judd Vera Korkus Betty Kale Susy Raful Sandy Shepler & Larry Fuhs 7 th candle Olivia Harris-Bloom Susy Raful Essay Contest... Bruce Raful Enduring Voices: Living Memories... Corisa Aaronson, Director Betty Kale, narrator Dan Bornstein, narrator Jeremy Lipsin, narrator and singer Miriam Susan Dregey, narrator Kira Findling, narrator and singer Leah Kaufman, singer Gale Kissin, musical accompanist Closing Remarks...Bob Raful Eli, Eli and El Molei Rahamim...Fredi Bloom, Cantorial Soloist Mourner s Kaddish...Rabbi Bella Bogart Benediction... Lorenzo Valensi Hamakom Yenachem Etchem Yom Hashoah 2011 page 3

4 Susy Raful Essay Contest Olivia Harris-Bloom is a multi-talented, super-active sophomore at Montgomery High School in Santa Rosa. She participates in two athletic programs - Soccer and Basketball. She also continues her almost eight years of playing piano by enrollment in the High School Piano class at Montgomery. Her family belongs to Congregation Shomrei Torah, through which she continues as a member of the Chaverim Youth Group. Last summer was Olivia s first year as a Counselor at Camp Chai. Note: The Essay Contest judges were also impressed with the quality of the essay written by Ryan Himel, and have awarded him a Second Prize, with an appropriate honorarium. Permanent Wound By Olivia Harris-Bloom The Holocaust is a prominent, deep, and painful wound that is branded on every Jew. It is a wound that needs to be taken care of properly: cleaned, watched over, and healed to its natural state again. However, this wound is not one you can just cover up with a band-aid, like it never happened; rather it needs attention and will never heal back to its original color. This wound scars onto the skin and reminds us everyday why we must protect ourselves to never let this damage be done again. This scar not only brings back the memories of the torment and suffering, but something larger: we must always remember the Shoah. As I sit in my World History class, my teacher announces that we will be learning about the Holocaust for the next two weeks. We have history class for five hours each week, barely enough time to take a glimpse at this unimaginable atrocity. The statistics of the deaths in the Holocaust are repeated like a weather report. Those outrageous numbers are not just figures to memorize in my notes. Over six million Jews dead. They are all humans, relatives, all with their own history and story to tell the world. The same world that let Hitler almost exterminate an entire race of people. These are my people that died though, my ancestors that perished for no reason, my heritage that was almost completely wiped out. Yom Hashoah 2011 page 4

5 The Shoah is at a different, personal level, and attracts my attention unlike any other conflict that we learn about. As the only Jewish person in my class, it amplifies the fact that I am a minority and need to be counted. The number of Jews across the world are around 13.2 million, barely one percent of the world s population, a number that is dramatically smaller from what it should be. Peers know I am the only Jew and have the nerve to ask, doesn t this make you uncomfortable talking about this? The instinct to lash out and defend my heritage comes forward. However, this upset just confirms the isolation I feel and that I am left alone in the endless sea of ignorant teenagers. None of the other bodies in the room seem to feel personal pain from this tragedy like I do, as I cry home from school with the interview of a survivor etched on my heart. The Jews made it out of the camps to tell their stories, but the next generation must carry forward their experiences. We must speak aloud of their hardships and echo their determination to survive. My peers are right, I am uncomfortable talking about the Holocaust. My body starts to curl in, my heart starts beating out of my chest, and grief takes control of my emotions. This is part of the process of remembering the Shoah, being at a loss for explanations and hurt for the Jews, my ancestors. When we remember those who died, we honor their lives today by acknowledging their existence, and insisting this never happen again. Genocide happens all over the world, but many go without notice and are never talked about. Talking, learning, and remembering the Holocaust is critical to making sure genocide anywhere is intolerable. The graves Jews literally dug for themselves to be shot in, bodies tossed around as if they had no purpose, and families separated in ghettos--these are some of the facts that introduce the unit in history class. Judaism and the Jewish people must live on and remind the world not to forget this genocide and not to let such a severe gash stab Jews again. It is my generation s responsibility to keep the traditions alive and to never let a genocide happen to our people. We cannot let the wound heal over and be invisible on our skin. My scar pulses everyday and is a rhythm that beats proudly as a Jew. Throughout my life, I will do everything in my power to speak of and to remember the Shoah. Yom Hashoah 2011 page 5

6 Acknowledgements The Yom Hashoah Committee gratefully acknowledges the following individuals who contributed their time and talents: Yom Hashoah Planning Committee Members Corisa Aaronson, Alfred Batzdorff, Susanne Batzdorff, Suzan Berns, Gesher Calmenson (Chairman), Betty Kale, Leah Kaufman, Barbara Lesch McCaffry, Blair Pleasant, Bob Raful, Rachel Simkovitz, and Sylvia Sucher, member Emerita And the support of Congregations Beth Ami, B nai Israel, Ner Shalom, Shir Shalom, and Shomrei Torah, the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties; Jewish Family & Children Services; the Alliance for the Study of the Holocaust and Genocide at Sonoma State University (SSU); the Jewish Community Relations Council ( JCRC); Remember Us: The Holocaust B nai Mitzvah Project; and Chevra Kadisha of Sonoma County. Karen Gould, arranging text in program The Friedman Center Magen David for Yom Hashoah artwork by Nina Bonos Ken Emery, Beth Cuniberti and the Maria Carrillo High School history students Yom Hashoah Observance is a program of the Jewish Community Center, Sonoma County, the Alliance for the Study of the Holocaust and Genocide at Sonoma State University (SSU) and the Jewish congregations of Sonoma County. Co-Sponsoring Organizations The Alliance for the Study of the Holocaust and Genocide at Sonoma State University (SSU) is proud to continue to co-sponsor this year s Yom Hashoah Commemoration. It was formed in 1982 on behalf of the victims and survivors of the Holocaust and the need to tell their stories and learn from their experiences. Its current mission is to honor the experience and preserve the memory of the innocent victims, survivors, and rescuers impacted by the tragedy of genocide and to support Holocaust and Genocide education in conjunction with the Center for the Study of the Holocaust and Genocide at Sonoma State University. Its vision is to inspire a never again moral stance that focuses on our common humanity and to promote personal action and proactive prevention awareness of the causes of intolerance, genocide, and denial. For more information on the Alliance, please contact its President, Christyne Davidian at or Alliance@sonoma. edu. Yom Hashoah 2011 page 6

7 The Jewish Community Center ( JCC), Sonoma County is a volunteer-based organization whose mission is to build Jewish community in Sonoma County. It works with all Jewish organizations and synagogues in our county, across organizational boundaries to bring speakers, educators, films and entertainment to our community. The JCC provides compelling opportunities for engagement with the local organized Jewish community including programs such as the Jewish Film Festival, Camp Chai, the Chaverim, Shorashim and Sonoma Valley teen groups, Simcha Sunday, Friendship Circle 55+ Program and this Yom Hashoah Commemoration. For more information, contact Beth Goodman, Executive Director at bethg@jccsoco.org or The Jewish Community Relations Council ( JCRC) is the central public affairs arm of the organized Jewish community. It represents 80 congregations and organizations in the Bay Area. JCRC envisions a more just society by sustaining a strong and vibrant Jewish community in the United States and in Israel and by enhancing that strength through collaboration with other communities. JCRC s mission is to educate and advocate on issues of vital importance to the organized Jewish community, based on consensus, civility and an expanded commitment to living Jewish values of social justice. For more information, visit With questions and concerns, please contact Suzan Berns, director of the North Bay Region at or sberns@jcrc.org. Remember Us: The Holocaust B nai Mitzvah Project invites children who are preparing for Bar/Bat Mitzvah to remember individual children who were lost in the Holocaust before their call to the Torah and to act in their names. This invitation has been accepted by over 9,000 children and adopted at 400 congregations of all denominations nationwide. It was originally created in Sonoma County six years ago. The program is offered free of charge and supported by voluntary donations and grants. More information is available at Chevra Kadisha of Sonoma County, ( Jewish Burial Society) To honor the dead and strengthen the living Yom Hashoah 2011 page 7

8 2011 Annual Holocaust and Genocide Lecture Series Sonoma State University, Warren Auditorium, Ives Hall, 4-5:30 pm Upcoming Events Please join the Alliance for the Study of the Holocaust and Genocide and The Center for the Study of the Holocaust and Genocide for three outstanding lectures on Tuesdays at 4 p.m. in Ives Hall (Warren Auditorium). The theme for the University's 28th Annual Lecture Series is Perspectives on the Holocaust and Genocide is entitled: History, Memory and Testimony" On May 3rd, Jeannette Ringold, Ph.D., Chair, Bay Area Hidden Children s Group will be speaking about HIDDEN CHILDREN DURING THE HOLO- CAUST On May 10th, Michael Berenbaum, Ph.D., Director of the Sigi Ziering Institute at the American Jewish University (Los Angeles) will deliver the 2011 Robert L. Harris Memorial Lecture entitled REFLECTIONS ON HISTORY, MEMORY AND TESTIMONY There will be a reception following Dr. Berenbaum s lecture from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at Congregation Ner Shalom located at 85 La Plaza in Cotati. RSVPs appreciated by May 2nd to Christyne Davidian, Alliance President, at or christyne@callatg.com. On May 17th, Greg Sarris, Ph.D., Endowed Professor at Sonoma State University and Chairman of Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria will be speaking about GENOCIDE BENEATH OUR FEET. All of these events are free and open to the public. For more information, please contact: Myrna Goodman, Ph.D., Director of the Center for the Study of the Holocaust and Genocide at or centerh@sonoma.edu. Short-term parking on campus is $2.50 per day. Many lectures in the series are archived and available for viewing. See sonoma.edu/holocaust/lectures/previous.html The Yom Hashoah committee is always looking for new members. If you re interested in joining our committee, please call Gesher at