20th Annual Holocaust Day Of Remembrance Was A 'Success'

Press Release provided by the Interfaith Human Relations Committee of the Cranford Clergy Council.

About 150 people of all ages attended the 20th annual Holocaust Day of Remembrance on Wednesday, April 30th. The event, held at Hillside Avenue School, 125 Hillside Ave, Cranford, in the auditorium, focused on the theme Confronting the Holocaust: American Response, as set forth by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museumin Washington, DC.

The event, a part of the National Days of Remembrance April 27th to May 4th, consisted of presentations from Cranford Public School students, St. Michael’s School students, Holocaust survivors, and a presentation from Dr. Natasha Zaretsky, Aresty Visitng Scholar at the Bildner Center for the Study of Jewish Life at Rutgers University and teacher of the class Genocide, The Holocaust, and Legacies of Violence. Students from various schools contributed artwork, which was on display in the hallway before and after the event. The main message of the night was to never forget what occurred and to make efforts to never allow it to happen again. 

“In Israel, on Holocaust Remembrance Day, sirens sound and everyone just pauses,” stated Pastor Tom Rice of the Cranford Clergy Council and Pastor of the Cranford Alliance Church, in his welcoming. The audience participated in their own moment of silence to extend respect to those affected by the genocide.

Mayor Andis Kalnins was also present for the event, presenting the Township Proclamation for the Day of Remembrance. Superintendent of Cranford Public Schools Dr. Gayle Carrick proceeded with opening remarks, proclaiming that Cranford was at that moment “one community, one beating heart, one collective conscious.” She touched upon the current anti-Semitic propaganda being distributed in the Ukraine, advising all Jewish people to register in the country and pay a tax, or face deportation with loss of property.

President of the Cranford Clergy Council and Rabbi of Temple Beth El Mekor Chayim Ben Goldstein then spoke, stating that “Our memory is supposed to spur us to action,” but then reminded the crowd of the current genocides happening in the world. “We say never again and yet we see it over and over.”

Principal of Hillside Avenue School Dr. Curtis Fogas, Principal of St. Michael School Sandy Miragliotta, Holocaust survivor Kurt Steiner, Cranford First Aid Squad member Arthur Nathan, Holocaust survivor Mollie Sperling, Cranford Human Relations Committee member Linda Leifer, and Cranford High School student Sara Matlosz participated in a candle-lighting ceremony before Dr. Zaretsky’s speech, On the Boarders of Memory: Confronting American Responsibility and Response to the Holocaust.

Zaretsky focused on the imagined boarders between the self and others, identifying it as one of the roots of the Holocaust. She challenged the audience to think about what remembrance means, and reflected upon the various genocides occurring throughout the world now.

Survivor Mollie Sperling presented a poem A Mountain of Shoes, written by an unknown Holocaust survivor.

Students from Cranford High School and St. Michael’s School then presented readings and reflections both on the night and on hearing survivors speak in their classes. Emotions varied but all reflected on the impact that hearing actual survivors had upon them. Cranford High School student Sabrina Huwang helped to bring the program to a close by playing Beethoven’sPathetique Sonata 2nd Movement.

Finally, Supervisor of Social Studies, Business Management and Information Systems of the Cranford Public Schools Judith Podbelski closed the program, mentioning that next year, Cranford will be hosting the State Holocaust Day of Remembrance.

ABOUT INTERFAITH HUMAN RELATIONS COMMITTEE OF THE CRANFORD CLERGY COUNCIL:

The Interfaith Human Relations Committee of the Cranford Clergy Council consists of members from all houses of worship in Cranford, and Osceola Church in Clark. The group has sponsored anti-bullying events, service days, and interfaith religious services. In 2013, the group held theSept 11th Memorial Service, an interfaith Thanksgiving service and raised $10,000 of funds for the Cranford CROP Walk. This year, the group plans to hold many interfaith events meant to foster tolerance and peace.

To learn more about the Interfaith Human Relations Committee of the Cranford Clergy Council, contact Cindy Hannen at cindy@patwin.com, or call her at (908) 272-9133.