“To forget (the Holocaust) would be not only dangerous but offensive; to forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time.” – Elie Wiesel.
On Thursday, 28 April at Pinelands Jewish Cemetery No. 2 we held our annual Yom HaShoah veHagvurah ceremony, commemorating the 6 million Jews who perished during the Holocaust at the hands of the Nazis and their collaborators. We were joined by over 600 guests, including first, second and third-generation survivors; members of our community and religious leaders; fellow interfaith and intercommunity leaders; senior officials of the SA armed forces; and, government officials and diplomats.
The ceremony included an address by second-generation survivor, Michal Roozendaal; third-generation survivor and Deputy Israeli Ambassador, Hila Rose Fridman; Ambassador Belotsercovsky, Embassy of Israel (SA); Chief Rabbi Dr Warren Goldstein; and, the placing of Magenei David and wreaths by senior officials of the SA Armed forces. We also had an interval calling for attendees to write the names of survivors on white pebbles and place them by the memorial statue. This practice of placing pebbles is symbolic of the permanence of a stone and how the names of survivors, and their legacy, will always be honoured. We thank all those who attended and helped make this event successful.
As said by Ms Fridman “Remembrance is our eternal duty.”
We remember so the world won’t forget. Watch the full ceremony here.
