Martyrdom and Resistance, May/June 1999

ID Transcript mare2505_01 "Vol. 25 - No. 5 ISSN 0892-1571 May-June 1999 - lyar-Sivan 5759 Remembrance in Israel... Eternalizing the Victims As the 50th anniversary of Israel statehood came to a close, the observance of Yom Hashoah V'Hagvurah continued to focus on maintaining a strong Israel as a deterrent in the Holocaust. As for the future, the Israeli remembrance sounded a call of commitment to remember the martyrs of the past by intensifying efforts to gather Pages of Testimony (see page 8). As in past years, the central ceremony was at Yad Vashem, Israel's Remembrance Authority in the presence of Israeli President Ezer Weizman and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The flame of remembrance was lit by Dr. Joseph Burg, chairman of the Yad Vashem Council. ""The Holocaust taught us an unforgettable lesson,"" said President Weizman. ""The fact that the Jewish people were defenseless and at the mercy of its tormentors made possible this greatest of tragedies which left in its wake the testaments of six million victims declaring, 'Never Again!' Never again will the Jewish people stand helpless before those who seek its destruction."" But the stress of his remarks was on the campaign to commemorate the names of the martyrs, which is being carried out at Yad Vashem by Pages of Testimony. GATHERING NAMES OF VICTIMS ""This year,"" the President said, ""a national campaign was declared to gather and commemorate the names of those who perished during the Holocaust. An historical opportunity exists today to recover these names from survivors and their families, and to preserve them for eternity — both for the victims' sake, and for the sake of future generations."" The linking of the Holocaust and Israel was accentuated by Prime Minister Netanyahu: ""Had the State of Israel been in existence,"" he said, ""the Holocaust would never have taken place... Secondly, it is only by virtue of the existence of the State of Israel that our people will continue to survive... And the third lesson (Continued on page 8) % RESERVE THE DATE Sunday, November 7, 1999 Fifteenth Annual Dinner of the American and International Societies for Yad Vashem New York Hilton Hotel & Yom Hashoah V'Hagvurah 5759-1999: The Last Programs for This Century How will Yom Hashoah V'Hagvurah be observed in the next century? No one can give an authoritative answer. However, if the programs of this year are a guide, they will draw large audiences and reflect the professionalism and commitment of those who organized the observances. Always looking for contemporary tie ins, many programs drew parallels and differences between events today in Kosovo and atrocities of the Holocaust. Yom Hashoah V'Hagvurah 5759-1999 was observed on 27 Nissan, Monday evening, April 12, and Tuesday, April 13. Observances began Monday evening, April 12. With anxiety and keen awareness that the numbers are declining, those who organized program made special efforts to enlist survivors as principal speakers at observances. The participation of survivors offered compelling proof that there is no more effective resource for remembrance than that of a survivor. Themes: St Louis Anniversary, Plundered Properties, Resistance Very visible this year — once more — was the leadership and direction provided by the second and third generations in planning and chairing the programs. A central theme this year matched an anniversary: the 60th year of the fated voyage of the S.S. St. Louis. A number of stories have received much attention in recent years: the plundered funds, stolen insurance claims, and looted art treasures. As expected, their discussions were heard at the observances. A variety of other themes and concerns were addressed: the martyrdom of 1.5 million Jewish children; the courage of those who resisted the Nazis and their collaborators; the humanity of the Righteous Among the Nations; the pursuit of justice against Nazi war criminals; the continued vigilance against anti-Semitism in the U.S. and abroad; the battle against Holocaust deniers. Participants at the WAGRO Commemoration at Temple Emanu-El in New York included New York State Governor George Pataki; New York's U.S. Senator Charles Schumer; Israeli Ambassador Shmuel Sisso; New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani; New York City Comptroller Alan Hevesi; Sam Bloch, vice president, American Gathering. At the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, the National Civic Commemoration focused on the national theme ""Refuge Denied Voyage of the SS St. Louis. Among participants were Minister Lenny Ben-David, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Israel; Miles Lerman, chairperson, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council; Benjamin Meed, chairperson, Days of Remembrance Committee. Kaddish was chanted by Leonard Wilf, Council member, son of survivors Judith Wilf and the late Harry Wilf. A LESSON FROM HOLOCAUST The state commemoration of Michigan in Lansing took place with the participation of Lt. Governor Dick Posthumus and speaker Charles Perricone. Remarks were offered by Michigan Insurance Commissioner Frank Fitzgerald and Evelyn Crane, cochair of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission. ""If one lesson can be drawn from the Holocaust,"" she said, ""is that all it takes for hatred and horror to flourish is for good people to do nothing."" Addressing Congregation B'nai Moshe, Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer said that he has ""enormous respect for the families of Holocaust survivors... The will to succeed among Holocaust victims."" He called on the Jewish community ""to remind us all why we should never forget."" He linked his message to the events in Kosovo. ""If you hadn't continued to remind us of the horrors of the Holocaust, I wonder if NATO would have turned its back."" The Memorial Academy was sponsored by Shaarit (Continued on page 6) Israeli President Ezer Weizman addresses the observance of Yom Hashoah V'Hagvurah at Yad Vashem. The President stressed the campaign to commemorate the names of the martyrs which has been launched at Yad Vashem. through the Pages of Testimony. "