Falling on the 82nd anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, this year’s Yom Hashoah community commemoration reminded Tidewater’s Jewish community of how important it is to remember those who perished in the Holocaust and honor those who survived.
More than 350 people gathered at Ohef Sholom Temple on Wednesday, April 23 for an inspiring and moving evening, which was presented by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Holocaust Commission. The program included a very stirring D’var Torah by Rabbi David Bockman, which reflected on the atrocities of both the Holocaust and the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
One of the evening’s highlights was the presentation of awards for the Elie Wiesel Writing and Visual Arts Competition to middle and high school students who were challenged to reflect on the best ways to address and maintain the historical accuracy of the Holocaust as the world moves into a more digital environment. The Holocaust Commission received more than 1,300 submissions this year, which included essays, poems, pieces of artwork, and video presentations. While many students from Tidewater entered, there were also entrants from as far away as Washington, Oklahoma, Texas, California, and Pennsylvania, and even from Afghanistan. To share a sample of some of the winning pieces, Holocaust commission member Elyse Cardon read Experience vs. Interpretation, the first-place winner in the senior poetry category by, a 10th grader at the San Jacinto Leadership Academy in San Jacinto, Calif.
Two dedicated teachers, Megan McKittrick of Norfolk Academy and Jenna Conner-Harris of Lake Ridge Middle School, were honored with the Esther Goldman and Ruthie Sherman Kroskin Awards, respectively, for their innovative approaches to teaching the Holocaust to their students. A record number of entries for these awards were received, which speaks to the influence and value these educators place on this important history.
The keynote speaker was Dr. Irving Berkowitz, a Holocaust scholar and the son of Holocaust survivors. Most recently retired as the dean of Academic Affairs at Palm Beach State College, Berkowitz gave an inspiring speech that wove together personal reflections, the history of antisemitism and the Holocaust, and how they spearheaded the creation of the state of Israel. Berkowitz stressed that it is more important than ever for Jews to remember this brutal era and to stay united in the face of rising antisemitism.
The evening ended on a solemn note as six candles were lit and the names of those who perished and those who survived scrolled on a large screen.
Wendy Auerbach and Ellen Rosenblum were the co-chairs for the Holocaust Commission’s 2025 Yom Hashoah event.
