Yom HaShoah observances in our communities
A listing
Sunday
April 28
New York City: Yom HaShoah — The annual Gathering of Remembrance at Congregation Emanu-El, co-chaired by Rita Lerner of Englewood Cliffs, includes her uncle Wolf Durmashkin’s long-lost song “Won’t Be Silent,” performed by the HaZamir Choir. Wolf Dermashkin was a rising star in the musical world; he wrote the song in Klooga, the concentration camp where he was murdered, as a song of resistance to the Nazis. 2 p.m. Fifth Avenue and East 65th Street. mjhnyc.org or WontBeSilent.com.
New City, NY: Historian Peter Hayes, who specializes in Nazi Germany and focuses on the conduct of the nation’s largest corporations during the Third Reich, speaks at the Rockland community Yom HaShoah commemoration at the New City Jewish Center, 5 p.m. 47 Old Schoolhouse Road, New City, NY. (845) 574-4099 or
holocaustrcc@gmail.com.
Englewood: Flutist Barbara Siesel and singer, songwriter, and storyteller Keith Torgan present “Now We Can Sing,” music banned to Jewish musicians by the Nazis in 1930s Germany, at the Englewood Public Library, 7 p.m. 31 Engle St. (201) 568-2215 or englewoodlibrary.org.
Tuesday
April 30
Suffern, NY: As part of Jewish Heritage Month and Holocaust commemorations at Rockland Community College, Holocaust survivor Toby Levy, 86, tells her story of survival in RCC’s Ellipse Technology Center, 12:15 p.m. 145 College Road. Rabbi Dov Oliver, (845) 574-4422 or doliver@sunyrockland.edu.
West Point, NY: The Center for Holocaust & Genocide Studies and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point screens “In Darkness” at 3:30 and again at 7 p.m., in Bartlett Hall 454. Dan Paisner, co-author of “The Girl in the Green Sweater,” will lead a discussion at 6. Survivor Christine Keren, the subject of the film, will be there. Light refreshments. Michael Arden, (845) 938-1181 or michael.arden@westpoint.edu.
Wayne: Holocaust survivor Erwin Ganz of Warren discusses “Growing Up in Nazi Germany, Before, During, and After the Holocaust” at a Wayne community commemoration at Temple Beth Tikvah, 7 p.m. Candle lighting, music, readings by representatives of Chabad Center of Passaic County, Temple Beth Tikvah, Shomrei Torah, and the Wayne YMCA, who are all sponsors. 950 Preakness Ave. (973) 595-6565 or templebethtikvahnj.org.
Wednesday
May 1
Fort Lee: Visiting scholar Dr. Eric Goldman concludes a series, “Looking at the Holocaust Through the Lens of Cinema,” at the JCC of Fort Lee/Congregation Gesher Shalom, for its CSI Scholar Fund and Sisterhood Series, with films after 1990. Refreshments at 12:30 p.m.; program at 1. 1449 Anderson Ave., Fort Lee. (201) 947 1735.
Englewood: Congregation Ahavath Torah, the East Hill Synagogue, Kehillat Kesher, and Congregation Kol HaNeshamah present “Remembering Those Who Perished in The Shoah, Paying Tribute to Those Who Survived” at Ahavath Torah. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; gallery viewing of artifacts, 5:30– 7:30. Mishnayot in memory of 525 Holocaust victims and survivors who have died at 6:30; commemoration begins at 7:30. 240 Broad Ave. (201) 568-1315 or ahavathtorah.org.
Fair Lawn: The Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey Holocaust commemoration is at the Fair Lawn Jewish Center/CBI. “Letters From The Shoah” exhibit opens at 6 p.m.; program at 6:30. Six area Holocaust survivors will be honored — Renee Goldman of Paramus, Lev Sverdlov, Riva Erlich, and Rose Lieberman of Fair Lawn, Norbert Ripp of Teaneck, and Ralph Gerber of River Edge. Keynote speaker Gideon Taylor of the World Jewish Restitution Organization discusses “Holocaust Restitution: The Struggle For Justice.” Candle procession with Torah scrolls that were hidden in Czechoslovakia during World War II and now are in local shuls. 10-10 Norma Ave. (201) 873-3263.
Mahwah: The Gross Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies of Ramapo College joins Temple Beth Haverim Shir Shalom for a joint Yom HaShoah commemoration, 7 p.m. Service conducted by Rabbi Illana Schwartzman with a program of chorale music performed by the adult choir of Temple Beth Haverim Shir Shalom, under Cantor David Perper. 280 Ramapo Valley Road. (201) 794-1017 or bethhaverimshirshalom.org.
Discovery Channel: Alan Moskin of Rockland County, a Nazi camp liberator, is featured prominently in the film “Liberation Heroes: The Last Eye Witnesses,” on the Discovery Channel, 7 p.m. Directed by Vanessa Roth and produced by June Beallor and Andy Friendly, and in association with Shoah; the documentary highlights heroic veterans as they share their World War II liberation.
New York City: The Manny Cantor Center at the Educational Alliance in Manhattan holds an ASL-interpreted commemoration, 7 p.m. 197 East Broadway. (212) 677-0368V, tandv.org, or email bramweiser@usa.net.
Closter: Photographer Brian Marcus helps commemorate Yom HaShoah with a discussion and presentation of his book “Still Here” which features Holocaust survivors and their families at Temple Emanu-El, 7:15 p.m. 180 Piermont Road. (201) 750-9997 or templeemanu-el.com.
Teaneck: The Teaneck Holocaust Commemoration Committee and the Jewish Community Council of Teaneck hold the annual Holocaust commemoration at Teaneck High School, 7:30 p.m. Toby Levy is the keynote speaker. There will be a pre-event dessert/musical reception for survivors and families at 6.100 Elizabeth Ave. teaneckyomhashoa.org.
Woodcliff Lake: Temple Emanuel of the Pascack Valley and the Hadassah chapters of the Pascack Valley and Northern Valley hold a Yom HaShoah commemoration at the shul, 7:30 p.m. Denny Herzberg, who was carried in a suitcase with his mouth taped shut by his father as he boarded a ship to travel to safety from Berlin, is the speaker. Denny was the first baby settler to arrive in Sosua in the Dominican Republic in 1940 during the Holocaust. 87 Overlook Drive. (201) 391-0801 or tepv.org.
Orangeburg, NY: The Orangetown Jewish Center holds a Keepers of the Flame daylong Yom Hashoah commemoration for 24 hours, beginning at 8 p.m., through Thursday evening’s minyan, which follows the Yom HaShoah program. Sanctuary is for candle lighting, quiet meditation, and prayer. 8 Independence Ave., Orangeburg, N.Y. (845) 359-5920 or theojc.org.
Thursday
May 2
Teaneck: Samuel Judkiewicz Bradin tells his story at Torah Academy of Bergen County, 10:15 a.m. He was his family’s only survivor; his story was dramatized in “Bare Witness,” a TABC Holocaust studies class production. There will also be a candle-lighting ceremony, poetry, a senior’s perspective on the Shoah, and a musical performance. The Yom HaShoah program will be live-streamed on TABC-TV, at http://tabctv.simdif.com. 1600 Queen Anne Road. (201) 837-7696
New City, NY: The Justice Brandeis Law Society, Holocaust Museum & Center for Tolerance and Education, and Rockland County Bar Association have a Yom HaShoah commemoration, 3 p.m., in the Rockland County Courthouse, Jury Room, 2nd Floor, 1 South Main St., in New City. Linda Christopher, keynote speaker, discusses “Rockland legal heroes deliver justice at Nuremberg.” Bring a photo ID. (845) 574-4099, or holocaustrcc@gmail.com. Events are hosted by the Holocaust Museum & Center for Tolerance and Education in Suffern.
Orangeburg, NY: The Orangetown Jewish Center’s Holocaust committee and religious school hold a Yom Hashoah commemoration at 5:30 p.m. Brenda Weisman and Amy Edelstein, the daughter and granddaughter of the youngest Bielski brother, will discuss the family’s story as partisans as portrayed in the movie “Defiance.” 8 Independence Ave., Orangeburg, N.Y. (845) 359-5920 or theojc.org.
Bayonne: Bayonne’s annual Holocaust memorial program features a video interview with Albert Hepner, a Jewish child hidden in World War II, and the author of a memoir, “Avrumele.” He will also be at the program. Prayers and reflections will be offered by representatives of Jewish, Christian, and Islamic congregations, candle-lighting ceremony, and presentation by Elizabeth Hanna, winner of the Holocaust writing contest at Bayonne High School, who will receive an award. Service at 6 p.m., in the Dorothy Harrington City Council Chambers at 630 Avenue C. Sponsored by the United Jewish Appeal Federation of Bayonne and the Bayonne Interfaith Clergy, and is hosted by the City of Bayonne. Mayor Jimmy Davis is the honorary chair. (201) 858-6033.
Paramus: The JCC of Paramus/Congregation Beth Tikvah joins Temple Avodat Shalom of River Edge for a Holocaust memorial service, at the JCCP/CBT, 7 p.m. Julie Kohner, daughter of Holocaust survivor Hanna Bloch Kohner, presents “Voices of the Generations.” Hanna’s life story is in a memoir, “Hanna and Walter: A Love Story,” which will be available at a book signing after the program. E. 304 Midland Ave. (201) 262-7691.
Pearl River, NY: Beth Am Temple dedicates a Holocaust memorial with a service and musical narrative program telling the story of Beth Am Temple’s second Holocaust Torah. Rabbi Daniel Pernick will do the narrative and the Yorktown Heights Jewish Center choir will perform Holocaust and Eastern European songs in Yiddish, 7:30 p.m. The memorial is menorah-styled with six branches representing the six million lives lost and two cloud-shaped plaques etched with the names of Eastern European villages and concentration camps. 60 East Madison Ave., Pearl River, NY. bethamtemple.org or (845) 735-5858.
Sunday
May 5
Emerson: Milton Esterow, author of “The Art Stealers,” speaks at Congregation B’nai Israel’s Yom HaShoah program, 10:30 a.m. Mr. Esterow will discuss his research for his Vanity Fair story about Nazi-plundered literature during WWII and the attempt to return these publications to their rightful families. 53 Palisade Ave. (201) 265-2272 or bisrael.com.
Jersey City: Temple Beth El and Congregation B’nai Jacob of Jersey City and the United Synagogue of Hoboken gather for a Yom HaShoah program at Beth El, 2:30 p.m. Holocaust survivor Ernest Mathias will speak and show parts of the film “The Last Refuge,” about the community of Jewish emigres who found refuge in Shanghai. Music by the USH Choir. 2419 Kennedy Boulevard. (201) 333-4229 or hobokensynagogue.org.
Wednesday
May 8
River Edge: River Dell Hadassah, the Friends of the River Edge Library, and the River Edge Cultural Center host a screening of “An Apartment in Berlin” at the River Edge Public Library, 7-8:30 p.mm. Dr. Michael Riff, director of the Gross Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Ramapo College in Mahwah, will introduce the film and lead a post screening discussion. 685 Elm Ave. (201) 261-1663, ext. 4.
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