Two Important Days of Remembrance in May at the Federation
Programs planned for Yom HaShoah on May 5th & Yom Haatzmaut on May 19th
In a powerful speech given in March 2000 by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak to mark the visit of Pope John Paul to Yad Vashem, he said, “Mine is a nation that remembers. However onerous the burden of memory, we may not avoid it because, without memory, there can be neither culture nor conscience.”
This month, our community will have two important opportunities for remembrance.
On Sunday May 5th at 3:00 PM, our Federation will host the annual Yom Hashoah Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony. This year, children from South Bend’s Lasalle Academy will conduct the memorial ceremony under the leadership of their teacher, Ms. Cindi Baumgartner.
Our keynote speaker will be Judy Batalion, author of the bestselling book The Light of Days: The Untold Story of Women Resistance Fighters in Hitler’s Ghettos.
According to the author’s website, the book tells:
“One of the most important stories of World War II, already optioned by Steven Spielberg for a major motion picture: a spectacular, searing history that brings to light the extraordinary accomplishments of brave Jewish women who became resistance fighters…”
The event is co-sponsored by the Federation’s Okon Family Fund for Holocaust Education and Temple Beth El’s Kurt and Tessye Simon Fund for Holocaust Remembrance.
On Sunday, May 19th, at 11:00 AM, the Federation will host the annual Yom Haazmaut Israel Independence Day event organized by our shaliach, Omer Karavani.
As in years past, we will begin the program with a memorial ceremony for fallen soldiers and victims of terror. With the horrific attack by Hamas on October 7th and the ongoing war, this year’s program will take on special significance.
To make the memorial ceremony more personal, we will remember fallen soldiers and civilians who were friends of former shlichim and of the family of Omer Karavani.
We will also be hosting a delegation of three residents of our Partnership region in Western Galilee, who will also remember their fallen friends.
Following the ceremony, we will have a unique opportunity to hear first-hand accounts from the delegation members about the extreme difficulties they face living near the border with Lebanon.
Due to the ongoing fighting with Hezbollah that began on October 7th, two of the three delegation members and their families have been evacuated from their homes, along with 80,000 other Israelis, for over six months.
The day would not be complete without a fabulous Israeli lunch being organized by Judy Sassler.
Following lunch, we will hear a message of hope and inspiration from a special guest. Gadeer Kamal-Mreeh is a member of Israel’s Druze sect who now works as a Senior Envoy for the Jewish Agency. She is a former member of the Knesset and the first Druze woman to be a member of the Knesset.
It’s important to note that all male members of the Druze community in Israel volunteer to serve in the Israeli army. Their service and sacrifice to the defense of Israel is invaluable, especially in Israel’s war with Hamas and Hezbollah.
Gadeer will speak on “The Incredible Potential of Israel’s Rich Mosaic and Complex Society.” In her talk, we will hear about Israeli society from Gadeer’s authentic point of view as an Israeli Druze woman.
The Yom Haazmaut program is cosponsored with generous support from Partnership2Gether Western Galilee and The Jewish Agency for Israel.
To RSVP for both programs, please visit TheJewishFed.org/Events.
Bob Feferman
Community Relations Director
574-233-1164 x1815
RFeferman@TheJewishFed.org