In honor of Yom Hashoah, Magen David Yeshivah held a moving memorial program. As each year passes and the survivors of the Holocaust grow few, it becomes even more important to share their memories and stories— significant parts of our history that we must never forget.
Before the program began, guests were invited into the gym to view a special presentation compiled by the 8th grade students. Working in groups, the students created artwork, multi-dimensional museums, PowerPoint presentations and dioramas that were truly outstanding, and a credit to the students and their teachers. Special exhibits were displayed from the Afikim Foundation.
The evening began with an introduction by Mrs. Esther Tokayer, assistant principal in Magen David High School, reminding us to “Remember, honor and commit to the Jewish nation.”
Four adults, Mr. Abe Maleh, Mrs. Ilana Alouf, Ms. Elyse Nadjar and Rabbi David Elnadav, spoke with great passion and detail of the arduous experience of visiting Poland on Magen David’s Annual Heritage trip to Poland this past February.
The keynote speaker was Mr. Ezra Berkowitz, a survivor of Dachau, who painstakingly remembered this terrible time. Mr. Berkowitz accompanied the Magen David Yeshivah students on the 2008 Heritage Trip. When organizing this year’s Yom Hashoah program, Mr. Berkowitz was invited to tell his story.
No story is easy to tell, especially one as solemn as a story from the Holocaust. With great description, he spoke about that awful time. Amazingly, while viewing the projects, Mr. Berkowitz was able to recognize himself in a black and white photo mounted on a tri board. He remembered the day clearly. An American soldier who helped liberate Dachau had taken the picture. What are the chances that he would spot himself in the photo, and that it was the chosen picture by the students, unknowingly? After the war Mr. Berkowitz was able to find two of his brothers, several cousins, and an aunt and uncle. Sadly, many of his relatives perished.
A candle lighting ceremony was followed by high school students remembering the six million Jews who died in the Holocaust and the millions more that were, and still are, affected by its memory in a march of the living. The candle lighting ceremony was followed by a prayer of remembrance by Rabbi Shimon Alouf.
A special thanks goes to Rabbi Sultan, Charles Anteby and the Judaic faculty from Magen David High School in assisting the students in their projects. Many thanks should also go to Lauren Harary, Sophia Mizrahi and Morris Dabah, for their help in preparation of the evening.
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Ramdi Shomer is a community member, mother of four children and a freelance writer for IMAGE Magazine
