2007 - United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

The Yorktown Jewish Center builds interest in the study of the Shoah throughout the year and promotes remembrance
of the victims by creating a new, original program for each year’s Yom Hashoah commemoration. Planning for each
Yom Hashoah program begins in the Fall of the preceding year with the selection of a theme to be researched and
developed into the final program. We then proceed to research appropriate material and decide how to most effectively
present the program using a combination of oral delivery, live choral and instrumental music, slides and video as
appropriate. We also try to identify and incorporate the personal experiences of our congregants or their families
whenever these stories fit in with the selected theme.
While our synagogue has given the Adult Education Committee responsibility for the Yom Hashoah
commemoration, it was felt that Holocaust remembrance had to involve the entire synagogue. All arms of the
synagogue including Sisterhood, Men’s Club and the Religious School are therefore asked to participate in the planning
and presentation of the program. Exhibits associated with the program give congregants an opportunity to browse as
they arrive and help set the tone for the evening. A table set up with Yahrzeit candles provides each attendee the
opportunity to light a personal memorial to the victims.
This submission describes Pieces of a Lfe, Is There Justice in Forgiveness? and If Not Now, When?, the
commemoration events for 2005/5765, 2006/5766 and 2007/5767, respectively, along with other activities in the
synagogue which are related to these programs and which contribute to Holocaust study throughout the year. We have
found that our congregants have been profoundly moved by these programs and by the synagogue activities which are
linked to them. This entry is submitted with the hope that other congregations will be able to adapt elements of our
approach to their own Holocaust programs with equally .effective results.
The accompanying program booklets for Pieces of a Life, Is There Justice in Forgiveness? and If Not Now, When?
along with a DVD of Is There Justice in Forgiveness? are part of this submission.
SILVER
TEMPLE BETH-EL
500-901 Poughkeepsie, NY
Submitted by Beth Richardson 845-454-0570
Anne Frank – A Living Legacy was a fund raising event that helped to create a community-wide awareness of Anne
Frank and of the Holocaust. The venue was the Franklin D. Roosevelt Estate, Wallace Visitor Center.
Community involvement included a wide variety of guest speakers, such as a U.S. senior ambassador, college
president, cantor from the Netherlands, temple high school students and interfaith choirs.
Temple community members wrote messages of hope that were published and given out so their voices can be
heard now and in the future.
HONORABLE MENTION
TEMPLE ISRAEL OF ALBANY
500-900 Albany, NY
Submitted by Rabbi Paul Silton 518-438-7858
1. Volunteers and the Rabbi determined that, in keeping with the meaning of Yom Kippur, a Day of Atonement, a day
of finding meaning to our lives in the forthcoming year, it would be inspirational to hear from individuals who have
moved beyond their average life to a life of deeper meaning, a life through which a legacy of caring beyond the
norm will be noted. In combination with these heroes and heroines speaking to what amasses to a crowd of
approximately 1200, they receive a Shofar on a stand with an inscription depicting this award and the date, and
receive recognition with a bronze plaque which is mounted upon a large decorative stone in our pathway of trees,
our “Forest of the Righteous.” To our knowledge, this is the only one of its kind in the United States. This last point
of recognition is modeled after the Yad Vashem’s “Avenue of the Righteous among the Nations”.
To produce this event, underwriters were solicited and a named contribution was established as part of an
endowment campaign.
2. The theme(s) are developed by Rabbi Silton in concert with volunteers, usually participants in the Holocaust,
Religious, and Adult Education committees. Through discussions with the head of our community Holocaust