Beth Ezekiel Synagogue (Photo by Nathan Shubert)
The Beth Ezekiel Synagogue is inviting residents to a special service this Sunday to mark Yom Hashoah, the day commemorating the lives lost and those who survived the holocaust.
President Jeff Elie says the service on April 16 will feature readings and poetry as well as recollections and silent reflections, with a reception afterwards.
“There will be writings by people who survived the holocaust, there will be writings and poetry by people who died in the holocaust and their poems were found in their pockets or in notebooks after the liberation of the camps,” says Elie. “We will have a brief reading from the Diary of Anne Frank, we will have some songs about people who survived the holocaust and some traditional music as well.”
Elie adds this is the first year they are opening up the service to residents, and will also have a private event before hand, which will be more traditional of Yom Hashoah.
“We are inviting the public in the afternoon because now is a particularly precarious time for minorities of all kinds,” says Elie.
He adds the scapegoating that was seen during the holocaust, which targeted those of the Jewish faith, people part of the LGBTQIA+ community and others, is also happening now.
“We are taking a risk doing this. The Jewish way of confronting hardships is frequently just to keep our heads down, but not this time, this time it is time we stood up and we stood up with not only our own Jewish community, but also with other faith groups, the general public and anybody who shares the distaste of hate,” says Elie.
This first come first seated service will open its doors at 12 p.m. and will start at 1 p.m.