Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Memorial Day, commemorates one of the most heartbreaking and tragic events to happen to the Jewish people. The Yeshivah of Flatbush memorialized the six million who perished with three separate programs, each reinforcing the message, “Never Forget.”
The Joel Braverman High School commemorated the event with both a community and school program. The seriousness of the day was enhanced when instead of being called down to the auditorium, classes were escorted by students holding candles, and walked down in silence.
Liesel Appel, a German child during the war, spoke about discovering that her parents were members of the Nazi party. Maurice Katz, a Holocaust survivor, stressed the importance for future generations to remember the Shoah, long after its survivors pass away. He told students, “The Holocaust deniers are not sleeping,” and it is the priority of the students to always remember.
A dramatic presentation, directed by Ms. Sally Shatzkes, featured three short plays written by students, telling the stories of their grandmothers and grandfathers who survived the Holocaust. After the memorial prayer Kel Maleh Rahamim was recited by Dean of Students Rabbi Naftali Besser. The entire auditorium sang “Ani Maamin,” sung over 60 years ago by thousands of Jews as they marched to the gas chambers. “By singing this song we are continuing what they could not,” said Rabbi Besser.
A special photo exhibit by Jonathan Gati, “From Darkness to Light, the Tunnel of Life,” and a student choir presentation, under the direction of Mr. Brian Gelfand, completed the meaningful program.
The YOF Middle Division commemorated Yom Hashoah with a moving assembly, directed by Mrs. Margalit Greenstein, featuring three Holocaust survivors. Mrs. Henchu Fogle, Mr. Zvi Engelman and Mr. Abraham Tracy answered questions about their experiences, and how they were able to survive in the face of unspeakable horror. This was followed by a choir presentation by the 8th grade girls, directed by Mrs. Lilia Mauskop, and a candle lighting ceremony in memory of the millions of lives lost.
The Lower Division’s Yom Hashoah assembly, directed by Mrs. Barbara Schuh, featured two Holocaust survivors, Mrs. Ruth Gamzer Gruener and her husband, Jack Gruener, whose children and grandchildren attended the Yeshivah of Flatbush. Elementary School Principal Rabbi Lawrence Schwed introduced them, saying that Holocaust survivors are true examples of heroes. Instead of running away from what happened and trying to forget, they remember and tell their stories, even though it is very painful. Mrs. Gruener was only six years old when her parents smuggled her out of the ghetto and hid her in a friend’s house. She was recently reunited with the woman who hid her, and a video featuring their teary, emotional reunion was shown to students. Her message was one of tolerance, saying, “Look at how difficult life can be if we don’t learn to tolerate people.” Mr. Gruener survived two death marches and transportation to numerous concentration and labor camps, and showed the students the number tattooed on his arm, a testament to his ordeal.
Many YOF students and faculty have family members who were directly affected by the Holocaust. Rabbi Schwed spoke, showing students the yellow star his grandfather was forced to wear. Third grade teacher Helen Ender read a poem written by her father, a Holocaust survivor. Lower Division Principal Leonard Zeplin told students about his recent trip to Berlin and the emotion he felt upon seeing the Jewish shops destroyed on Kristalnacht, riddled with bullet holes still present today. The program ended with Hatikvah, reinforcing Rabbi Schwed’s point that we do have something to be grateful for, because out of the horrible events of the Shoah came the miracle of the State of Israel, three short years later.
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Annie Lubin is a freelance writer.
