04/25/2024
Cleveland Community Prepares for Yom Hashoah, Yom Hazikaron, Yom Ha’aztmaut
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Students from Fuchs Mizrachi School lead a flag dance at IsraelFest May 14, 2023, at the Mandel Jewish Community Center in Beachwood. CJN Photo / Courtney Byrnes
ABIGAIL PREISZIG | CJN
Article reprinted with permission from Cleveland Jewish News
The Jewish Federation of Cleveland and area congregations will host programming in May to commemorate Yom Hashoah V’Hagvurah, Holocaust Remembrance Day; Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day; and Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day.
The first of three free programs will commemorate the Holocaust and heroism at 4:30 p.m. May 5 through stories of Holocaust survivors and awards for the Creative Arts Contest at B’nai Jeshurun Congregation in Pepper Pike.
“Yom Hashoah is one of the most meaningful days in the Jewish community,” Erika B. Rudin-Luria, president of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, said in a news release. “Through this collective experience, we provide honor and dignity to those killed by the Nazi regime while reinforcing our commitment to one another.”
The annual program, in collaboration with the Kol Israel Foundation in Pepper Pike, invites six Holocaust survivors and their families to share their stories with the next generation, light candles and participate in a “March of Generations,” a procession of Holocaust Torah scrolls.
“With antisemitism reaching record heights worldwide, we must seek every opportunity to deliver the message from one generation to the next to ‘never forget’ the horror of the Holocaust, when intolerance of Jews led to mass murder,” Hallie Duchon, executive director of the Kol Israel Foundation, said in the release. “It must never be repeated.”
Families participating in the candle lighting are:
- The family of Esther Gelbart Frank. Her story will be presented by her son, Mark Frank, her granddaughter, Jordan Walman, and her great-granddaughter, Remy Walman.
- The family of Jacob Hennenberg. His story will be presented by his son, Michael Hennenberg, his granddaughter, Julie Kronenberg, and his great-granddaughters, Lily and Hannah Kronenberg.
- The family of Edith Kalus Perl. Her story will be presented by her daughter Debby Chudakoff, her granddaughter, Lindsay Friedman, and her great-granddaughter Lily Friedman.
- The family of Steven Slomovitz. His story will be presented by his son, Eric Slomovitz, his grandson, Justin Slomovitz, and his great-grandson, Maxwell Slomovitz.
- The Family of Ida and Samuel Zelwin. Their story will be presented by their son, Harry Zelwin, their granddaughter, Ashley Boro Garrard, and their great-grandson, Ari Zelwin.
- Erika Gold and family. Gold will present her story with her daughter, Marilyn Zaas, and her granddaughters, Sarah Zaas and Jazzy Gold.
The works of the Creative Arts Contest winners will be on display at the event. The theme this year was “L’Dor, V’Dor,” meaning “from generation to generation.” The contest was open to all Northeast Ohio schools to highlight the remembrance of the Holocaust and its heroism.
Winners of the Creative Arts Contest are:
- First Place Poetry - High School: Ava Ptahia, 12th grade, Beachwood Schools, for “Rock Bottom.”
- First Place Art -High School: Cecelia O’Leary, 10th grade, St. Joseph Academy in Cleveland, for “Memories from Oma’s House.”
- First Place Poetry -Middle School: Amira Evans, 7th grade, Laurel School in Shaker Heights, for “Lost Generations.”
- First Place Art- Middle School: Shay-Lee Hameir, 8th grade, Gross Schechter Day School in Pepper Pike, for “Always Blooming.”
To commemorate Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, at 7 p.m. May 12 at Green Road Synagogue in Beachwood, the community is encouraged to partake in the Israeli tradition of wearing a white shirt.
Attendees will show gratitude and respect and honor the lives, legacy and sacrifice of Israel’s fallen soldiers and victims of terror through music and prayer at Green Road Synagogue in Beachwood.
In celebration of Israel’s 76th Independence Day, Yom Ha’atzmaut, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 14 at B’nai Jeshurun, the community is encouraged to wear blue and white and other Israeli-themed items to show their pride.
Programming will include an opening flag ceremony honoring the heroes of Israel today, followed by meaningful crafting for all ages and “Israeli light bites” in observance with kosher dietary laws.
The community gathering is meant to showcase resilience and the beauty of Israel as well as celebrate, create and strengthen community bonds in solidarity with Israel.
If You Go
WHAT: Yom Hashoah V’Hagvurah
WHEN: 4:30 p.m. May 5
WHERE: B’nai Jeshurun Congregation, 27501 Fairmount Blvd., Pepper Pike
TICKETS & INFO: The event is free, registration is requested. To register, visit bit.ly/4d5yTgV.
WHAT: Yom Hazikaron
WHEN: 7 p.m. May 12
WHERE: Green Road Synagogue, 2437 S. Green Road, Beachwood
TICKETS & INFO: The event is free, registration is requested. To register, visit bit.ly/3xQSmla or contact Elle Henig at ehenig@jewishcleveland.org or 216-593-2900, ext. 180.
WHAT: Yom Ha’atzmaut
WHEN: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 14
WHERE: B’nai Jeshurun Congregation, 27501 Fairmount Blvd., Pepper Pike
TICKETS & INFO: The event is free, registration is requested. To register, visit bit.ly/3w6EUZX or contact Elle Henig at ehenig@jewishcleveland.org or 216-593-2900, ext. 180.
