Beginning on the evening of Wednesday, April 7th, and ending on the evening of Thursday, April 8th, Jewish communities throughout the world will commemorate Yom HaShoah — Holocaust Remembrance Day. It is a holy day — one in which we remember the approximately six million Jews who were murdered during the Holocaust. It is our sacred duty to remember the victims of the Holocaust. We do that in a variety of ways — whether by prayer, lighting candles, or attending informational programs or (in this Zoom world) webinars. In this way, we give meaning to the words “Never Again” — because those victims cannot bear witness to what happened in the Holocaust, it is incumbent upon us to learn what happened and share the lessons with others.
Yom HaShoah is a very personal day for me, particularly when it comes on the heels of Passover. I am the son of two Holocaust Survivors — my Fatherz”l from Auschwitz and my Motherz”l from Bergen Belsen. And when, during the Seder, my family recites, “In each generation, a person is obligated to regard himself/herself as though s/he actually left Egypt…Tell your {children}…,” we remember and our children and our grandchildren will remember.
It is also our sacred duty to honor and care for the survivors of the Holocaust. We are living at a time when the Survivor generation is passing away in rapidly growing numbers. Those who still survive are struggling with the physical effects of their old age as well as emotional and psychological scars of their wartime experiences. While we cannot replace those souls who perished in the Holocaust, we can attempt to tend to those who survived by providing for their daily needs for food, shelter, counseling, and physical health.
Our Federation has elevated that sacred duty to one of its highest priorities in the work that we do for the Holocaust survivors both here and in Israel. We deliver hot meals, provide in-home care, and ensure these sacred members of our community live their lives with dignity — but we cannot do it without you. We need your gift.
Please remember the Survivors. Please, give today. Now is the time to turn our attention to our beloved Survivors and give them the gift of knowing someone cares.
To help you guide your gift, below is just a small sample of the critical help your generosity will provide:
- $250 provides a week of in-home care
- $500 provides emergency cash assistance for survivors in crisis
- $1,000 provides a month of home-delivered meals
Thank you in advance for your support. As we look ahead to this weighty day on the calendar, I wish you a joyous and healthy remainder of the Passover holiday.
