Monmouth County Commissioner Erik Anderson
Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day, was established by the Israeli Knesset as a day to pause, remember, and honor the memories of the six million Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust. It marks the beginning of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943, which was one of the first and largest acts of rebellion against the Nazis. While Yom HaShoah originated in Israel, it is observed worldwide as a day to remember the victims of the Holocaust.
Last month, I had the opportunity to join county and state leaders, to experience a mobile Holocaust exhibit and original artifact collection organized by the Jewish Federation in the heart of New Jersey. The goal of the exhibition, housed in an exact replica of a cattle car used to deport Jews to the concentration camps, was to allow attendees the opportunity to witness a chapter in history that is typically reserved for history books and museums. Nearly 1,000 students from Marlboro Township and Freehold Regional Schools also participated in this moving experience.
As elected leaders, it is so important to remember the victims of the Holocaust, and to share the stories of the survivors, to ensure that “never again” is not just a slogan but a call to action. Let us take this opportunity on Yom HaShoah to call out anti-Semitism and race/religion-based hate which is on the rise in the United States and around the world, and promote an inclusive and welcoming community for all. q
Erik Anderson is currently serving his first, three-year term on the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners. Prior to joining the Commissioner Board, Commissioner Anderson served on the Shrewsbury Borough Council from 2016 – 2019 and served as Mayor from 2019-2024.
