At this year’s Yom Hashoah commemoration on April 13, Megan Zuckerman and Elyse Cardon, Holocaust Commission co-chairs, reminded the community that memory is not just something to hold onto, but something that commands action, asking each person to reflect on their choices, their treatment of others, and their place within an interdependent world.
That theme shaped the evening’s program, which wove together personal testimony, education, and ritual. Through the voices of clergy, students, and educators, and the participation of descendants who serve as living links between past and future, the commemoration demonstrated how Holocaust memory is carried forward and given meaning in the present.
Dr. Milton Zweig, the evening’s guest speaker, brought this theme to life through the story of his mother’s family, sharing their experiences during the Holocaust and the refuge they ultimately found in Colombia. Zweig spoke about how their survival often depended on human connection and compassion. His remarks emphasized that remembrance carries an ethical dimension.
Education remained a central focus of the event with the presentation of awards to student honorees connected to the Elie Wiesel Writing and Visual Arts Competition. Student winners were recognized for their thoughtful engagement with Holocaust history and memory, demonstrating how young people continue to grapple with both the weight of the past and its relevance today.
Teachers Kindra Mosher and Lisa Kilczewski were also recognized for their dedication to Holocaust education, highlighting the critical role educators play in fostering historical understanding, critical thinking, and empathy. Their work was acknowledged as essential to ensuring that Holocaust education remains rigorous, meaningful, and responsive to the challenges of the present moment.
One of the most moving moments of the program was the lighting of six memorial candles by descendants of Holocaust survivors. Stepping forward as representatives of their families and generations, they expressed remembrance through ritual – embodying the continuity of memory as something carried, shared, and sustained over time.
The evening concluded with a moment of reflection and intention. As attendees quietly exited, they were offered yahrzeit candles to light at home.
Elka Mednick is director of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Holocaust Commission.
