By Amy Unger
On Sunday, April 6, Congregation Or Atid held its 3rd annual Yom Ha Shoah Holocaust Remembrance and Commemoration event (with brunch), which was attended by over 80 community members.
The theme was “For a Better Future.”
Cantor Sarah Beck-Berman from Congregation Beth Ahabah led the community-wide event in meaningful prayers and songs. The program began with a “welcoming prayer from the heart” with an emphasis on seeking meaning together.
Cantor Beck- Berman concluded the program with Oseh Shalom, a song for peace, which served to weave the various parts of the program together.
Ben Kutner, co-President, Emek Shalom Holocaust Memorial Cemetery, introduced the candle lighting service with Rena Berlin, a Holocaust educator, who recited the “yellow” candle blessing.
Local Survivors who participated in the candle lighting service included Alex Keisch, Esther Ipson Minter, Halina Zimm, Roger Loria (accompanied by his daughter Rachel), and Brian Meyer with his wife Sharla. Rabbi Josh Jeffries, chaplain and Director of Religious Life at the University of Richmond and Sheri Rodman, Interim Executive Director for Hillel from Virginia Commonwealth University, lit the last memorial candle, along with the winners from the event’s related poetry contest (see names below).
VCU student, Sarah Martin, served as an escort for the Holocaust Survivors as they lit candles.
Young poetry winners from area elementary schools to high schools recited their poems during the event. reflecting upon the theme of “Building a Better Tomorrow.” Winners, who earned prizes, include 3rd place winner, Eli Mollen; shared 2d place winners, Joshua and Sarah Korshin; and shared 1st place winners, Olivia Pustilnik and Toby Mollen.
Holocaust Refugee Alex Keisch honored his family and the memory of his family who perished in the Holocaust. Alex is very active in our community where he is committed to provide education to people, of all ages, to honor our collective past. He emphasized the way to confront Jewish hatred is through education and to have shared meaningful conversations. Alex also spoke about the importance of acceptance and tolerance to combat persistent hate in our world today.
Alexandra Mendez-Zfass and Terry Schultz, co-chairs, related Or Atid’s participation in the program, which included the Sam and Helen Kornblau’s religious school’s “Butterfly Project,” featured at the Virginia Holocaust Museum.
They also spoke about Congregation Or Atid’s memorial garden, called, “Project Daffodil,” which has continued to be a prominent feature in the Gan Chesed Garden.
The brunch featured dishes made from recipes that were taken from Holocaust Survivors’ recipes from throughout the world, some of which were handwritten. Caterer Amy Beth Lehman, donated several baked cakes and a dairy dish.
A raffle supporting future Yom Ha Shoah programming was held with generous donations from William Jeffries Jewelry for a stunning diamond Star of David gold necklace and AB &R Catering, LLC for a “1:1 Baking Thyme” with Amy Beth Lehman.
A huge thank you goes out to Rabbi Sherry Grinsteiner; co-chairs of the program, Alexandra Mendez-Zfass and Terry Schultz; Sam Richardson, Director of the Jewish Community Relations Committee, Federation, who served as Master of Ceremonies; Michael Marcus, who provided IT support; as well as a dedicated group of volunteers who prepared the food and provided logistical support.
Or Atid is committed to creating memorable Yom Ha Shoah community-wide events to remember our past, with the hope of a better tomorrow and future.
