IN MELBOURNE, CANDLE STILL BURNS FOR SIX MILLION
- Published May 6 2024
- Events
A crowd of more than 1,000 Jewish Victorians gathered at Robert Blackwood Hall for the JCCV Yom Hashoah Commemoration on Sunday evening.
JCCV Vice President Hayley Southwick, a descendant of Holocaust survivors, opened the commemoration.
She pointed out that despite the evening focusing on the horrors of the Shoah, we could not ignore that we are currently experiencing an unprecedented resurgence in antisemitism. Southwick then turned to the survivors in the audience and pledged to them “…we will continue to do all that we can to protect a Jewish way of life for all of us here in Victoria. We are here because of you. We have learnt the lessons of the past. We are not afraid. Our community will stay strong.”
The evening came together thanks to a committee of dedicated volunteers, with the help of The Chai Collective and Ellie Roth, who provided creative direction and stage management services
Host Annette Charak, the daughter of Holocaust survivors who moved to Melbourne, beautifully guided the audience through the theme of the evening “We Are Here”. The theme was taken from the last line of Zog nit keyn mol (The Partisan Hymn) written by Yiddish poet Hirsch Glik. She told of the journey of Jewish people during the Holocaust, who wrote in the most uncertain of times – and reflected their primal need to be heard and the wish to rise above the depravity around them. Then to the survivors – now so few left to recount their stories. Then on to the generations who followed and now carry the memories and the recollections passed on to them.
Youth movement representatives read out excerpts from poems and letters written by Jewish adults and children from inside the ghettos, camps and while fleeing. The audience also heard a moving excerpt of Kaddish By the Ruins by the talented Bashevis Singers accompanied by Yoni Ringelblum.
It was very emotional watching the six survivors light memorial candles for the six million Jewish fatalities, accompanied by their family members. Each of the candles, lit by Stephen Chemke, Stephen Fleiszig, Michele Huppert, Gilah Leder, Jack Leder and Roza Riaikkenen, commemorated family members that are no longer here. The survivors remained on stage to hear Rabbi Chaim Cowen perform El Maleh Rahamim, and Chazzan Brett Kaye recite Kaddish.
The audience was honoured bear witness to Dr Henry Ekert AM’s story. His remarkable life journey embodies resilience, compassion, and unwavering dedication to improving the world around him. Dr Ekert also reflected on the concept of luck and fortune. While those who survived appear to be the fortunate ones, the depravity, the trauma and the sub-human conditions they were exposed to scarred them for life.
His testimony was followed by a touching musical number, Mein Shvester Khaye sung by Freydi Mrocki, accompanied by Tomi Kalinski.
In a moving display of memory and pride, students from Jewish day schools and UJEB reflected on how the past has formed their identity, and their future. Honouring those who perished, those who survived and the lives that were established in Australia, the young students all declared in their own words, that they would continue to celebrate their Jewish identity, despite any obstacles they may face.
“It was important for us to feature young voices during the evening, because they are the new custodians of the stories of the past,” said Naomi Levin, JCCV CEO. “As time passes, there are fewer survivors that can pass on the lessons, and we must honour their legacy by involving the younger generations in commemoration.”
After hearing the heartwarming words of the students, Shir Tikvah, a song of hope was performed by Hilla Inbar, accompanied by Yael Zamir, and Adam, Nooshi and Sebi Starr. The song’s lyrics reflected on the hardships of the past and future unknowns, but conveys the strength of the survivors and the Jewish people, by saying that we will always have hope, even in the darkest of times.
The evening ended with the re-established multi-school choir, accompanied by Tomi Kalinski, who proudly and triumphantly sung the Partisan Hymn, ending with the words: Mir zyden do! We are here!
“We also want to express our gratitude to Monash University, Victoria Police and CSG who ensured that the event proceeded safely and with the peace and quiet it deserved. Their support was truly appreciated.” Levin concluded.
