Several presentations moved approximately 1,000 guests at the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach’s Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) observance on May 1.
The attendees present at the Holocaust Memorial, a committee of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, honored both survivors and remembered the six million Jews who perished in the Shoah throughout this observance. The program, titled “From Holocaust to Homeland,” also acknowledged the need to protect and secure the State of Israel and Jews worldwide by recognizing the sacrifices of the men and women of the Israel Defense Forces.
Wendy Reiss Rothfield, the event chair, told the audience: “We are here tonight, all of us, in solidarity to prevent such evil, such carnage from ever occurring again. We will tell our Holocaust history not only for the past, but for the future.”
Andrew C. Hall, the memorial’s chair, echoed Rothfield’s sentiments while addressing the crowd during his opening remarks.
“We come together on days like today to remember the exact loss [of those perished in the Holocaust] and to personalize that loss,” Hall remarked. “We all have one thing in common, and that is to remember that time [Holocaust] and its effect not only in the past, but in the future so it doesn’t happen again.”
Hall also mentioned the event’s recognition of the IDF and its strength while also praising the friendship between the United States and Israel.
“Today the State of Israel is a beacon of freedom to all Jews,” Hall remarked.
Tibor Hollo, a Holocaust survivor and prominent Miami real estate developer, provided an eyewitness account to the Shoah. Hollo, who was born in Hungary, moved to France when he was six years old. Eight years later, the Nazis overran France and they arrested his family and sent them to the Drancy Internment Camp outside of Paris before transferring them to Auschwitz. While Hollo’s mother died in Auschwitz, he and his father survived the infamous death.
Hollo spoke about the Holocaust in a geographical and chronological perspective, including mention of the rise of the Nazi party, the death marches, the date of his liberation on May 5, 1945 and his experience after the war. He received a thunderous applause following his presentation.
Another speaker who moved the audience was First Sgt. Izzy Ezagui of the IDF. Ezagui, 27, lost his arm in combat but told the crowd that he continues to presently serve as a reservist in the military and will continue to do so as long as his body allows. He received applause following those words.
“I’m a very, very fortunate human being, and not just because I survived, not just because I managed to turn something so negative as a source of inspiration for myself and hopefully for others, but because even now, every time negative forces threaten the people that we care about, whether it’s here or in Israel, I get to be a part of the positive force and to watch the brave men and women of the IDF in action as they continue to ensure that ‘never again’ remains more than just a hopeful slogan. Am Yisrael Chai!,” Ezagui concluded to even more thunderous applause.
A candle-lighting ceremony in memory of the six million Jews who perished in the Shoah followed Ezagui’s speech. Following the candle-lighting, local Rabbis Jeremy Barras of Temple Beth Am in Pinecrest, Mark Kula of Bet Shira Congregation in Miami and Alan E. Litwak of Temple Sinai of North Dade who is also the president of the Rabbinical Association of Greater Miami, provided reflections to the crowd.
“Millions and millions of our brothers and sisters were murdered and we must speak up,” Kula urged the crowd. “We must not let the deniers of the Shoah be louder than those of us who know the Shoah happened. We know the evil of the Shoah.”
The program included the attendance of Holocaust survivors.
David Mermelstein, a survivor in Miami who participated in the Kaddish during the event, said in an interview: “It’s nice to see so many people come out because the survivor population becomes less and less ever year.”
Jacob Solomon, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation’s president and chief executive officer, called the survivors “courageous and wonderful, inspirational people” in an interview.
“The survivors are still eager to come and they know how important this event is,” Solomon said.
Solomon also added : “What you’re seeing here is a passing of the guard.”
“You’re seeing more and more people here who didn’t live through the Holocaust as they were not alive yet, but because of all the programs we have, including the educational programs, the internship programs, the matching program, the volunteer program and the March of the Living, people have received the stories from the survivors and are committed to passing it on,” Solomon noted.
