MONTGOMERY PARK – The Jewish commemoration ceremony of Yom Hashoah saw many come to pay tribute to victims of the holocaust.
The ceremony was held under the 'Six Million Monument' in West Park Jewish Cemetery.
Many members of the Jewish faith and the community gathered at West Park Jewish Cemetery for the annual Yom Hashoah Holocaust Commemoration Ceremony.
The ceremony pays tribute to the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, and is held under the memorial monument, ‘The Six Million Monument’ in the cemetery on 23 April.
“Six Million souls perished during the Holocaust, and we do not know where, when and how they all died. YomHashoah provides us with a particular day on the global Jewish calendar to collectively remember and mourn them,” said Charisse Zeifert, head of communications for the South African Jewish Board of Deputies.
This year, the ceremony began with the reading of names, ages, place of origin, place of death and the estimated death year of individuals who died in the Holocaust.
An extract from the play Boys from the Ashes was recited and the song, Eli Eli, was performed by Debbie Joffe. The King David Victory Park Choir performed a rendition of Hallelujah.
The King David Victory Park choir sings at the ceremony.
After a short break, Holocaust survivor, Don Krausz, shared his memories of his 14-year-old self in the Ravensbruck and Sachsenhausen concentration camps.
Rabbi Yossy Goldman shared his memories of his father, who passed away last year. His father was a survivor who was saved by the Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara and found refuge in Shanghai, China.
Rabbi Yossy Goldman speaks on his late father’s behalf at the ceremony.
“Every Tuesday morning, 1000 Jews would embark on trains. Their destination was no secret. Proudly displayed on each cattle truck was the word, Auschwitz,” said Don Krausz in his speech about his life in concentration camps.
Many members of the Jewish community gathered at West Park Jewish Cemetery on 23 April.
King David High School Victory Park continued to commemorate Yom Hashoa on 24 April in an emotional school assembly presented by the Student Representative Council.
The school boys’ choir gave a moving rendition of The Partisan Song in Hebrew and Yiddish.
During the assembly, tribute was also paid to the Righteous Gentiles who courageously saved Jews while risking their own lives.
Soloist, Debbie Joffe, and Rachel Raff from the SA Union of Jewish Students pose for a photo after their recitals.
Lieutenant Colonel, William Bergman, Chairman of the Johannesburg and Reef Branch of the South African Jewish Ex-Service League poses next to the monument.
Don Krausz speaks on his experiences in the concentration camps.
Lieutenant Hilton Kaplan, of the Johannesburg and Reef Branch of the South African Jewish Ex-Service League holds the league flag.
Holocaust survivor, Lionell Fliss, lights a candle for the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust.
