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Commemorations
Yom HaShoah 2019
Remembering Hungary’s Jews on Yom Hashoah
The focus of Wellington’s Yom HaShoah observance on 1 May was the sad fate of Hungarian Jewry 75 years ago, when hundreds of thousands were deported to their death in Auschwitz-Birkenau between May and July 1944.
An audience of about 80, including diplomatic representatives from Israel, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and USA, Tim McIndoe MP, and interfaith leaders, heard moving accounts from two survivors of the Nazi German aktion against Hungary’s Jews. Steven Sedley MNZM survived in a safe house within the Budapest Ghetto; being passed off as the child of a Christian nanny saved Mary Mowbray-Erdös.
The point was made, that as well as a day for mourning the deaths of six million, Yom HaShoah is also an occasion for remembering the heroism of the Jews who revolted, against all odds, against Nazi oppression – in the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto uprising, and at Treblinka and Sobibor, and even within Auschwitz.
The other face of heroism referred to during the Yom HaShoah service was that of the Righteous among the Nations. Specific examples in Hungary were given – the Papal Nuncio, Monsignor Rotta; the diplomats Carl Lutz (Switzerland) and Carlos Branquinho (Portugal); and Scottish orphanage matron Jane Haining.
A group of children and members of Habonim and Bnai Akiva, led by Prue Hyman, sang “Eli, Eli” – whose words are written by Hungarian Hannah Szenes – and prayers were recited by Wellington’s two rabbis, Ariel Tal and JoEllen Duckor.
Referring to the recent massacre of Muslims in Christchurch mosques, it was suggested that New Zealand society is now well aware that hatred of a minority group can lead to violent death, in the same way that Nazi hatred of Jews led inexorably to the horrors of the Shoah.
The overriding message, strongly promoted by the Holocaust Centre of NZ in all its activities, is that we can all make the individual choice to be Upstanders, not Bystanders, and help prevent the repeat of racist-based violence.
David Zwartz
The focus of Wellington’s Yom HaShoah observance on 1 May was the sad fate of Hungarian Jewry 75 years ago, when hundreds of thousands were deported to their death in Auschwitz-Birkenau between May and July 1944.
An audience of about 80, including diplomatic representatives from Israel, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and USA, Tim McIndoe MP, and interfaith leaders, heard moving accounts from two survivors of the Nazi German aktion against Hungary’s Jews. Steven Sedley MNZM survived in a safe house within the Budapest Ghetto; being passed off as the child of a Christian nanny saved Mary Mowbray-Erdös.
The point was made, that as well as a day for mourning the deaths of six million, Yom HaShoah is also an occasion for remembering the heroism of the Jews who revolted, against all odds, against Nazi oppression – in the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto uprising, and at Treblinka and Sobibor, and even within Auschwitz.
The other face of heroism referred to during the Yom HaShoah service was that of the Righteous among the Nations. Specific examples in Hungary were given – the Papal Nuncio, Monsignor Rotta; the diplomats Carl Lutz (Switzerland) and Carlos Branquinho (Portugal); and Scottish orphanage matron Jane Haining.
A group of children and members of Habonim and Bnai Akiva, led by Prue Hyman, sang “Eli, Eli” – whose words are written by Hungarian Hannah Szenes – and prayers were recited by Wellington’s two rabbis, Ariel Tal and JoEllen Duckor.
Referring to the recent massacre of Muslims in Christchurch mosques, it was suggested that New Zealand society is now well aware that hatred of a minority group can lead to violent death, in the same way that Nazi hatred of Jews led inexorably to the horrors of the Shoah.
The overriding message, strongly promoted by the Holocaust Centre of NZ in all its activities, is that we can all make the individual choice to be Upstanders, not Bystanders, and help prevent the repeat of racist-based violence.
David Zwartz
(Left) Prue Hyman and Wellington Jewish youth, accompanied by Rabbi Ariel Tal, sing “Eli, Eli” at Wellington’s Yom Hashoah observance.
Photo credit: HCNZ
(Centre) Budapest Ghetto survivor Steven Sedley MNZM lighting one of the six candles, with Shlomit Tal, at Wellington’s Yom HaShoah observance .
Photo credit: HCNZ
(Right) (L - R) Ambassador Scott Brown (United States of America), Ambassador Dr Itzhak Gerberg (Embassy of Israel), & Hon Tim Macindoe MP.
Photo Credit: Embassy of Israel In NZ
Photo credit: HCNZ
(Centre) Budapest Ghetto survivor Steven Sedley MNZM lighting one of the six candles, with Shlomit Tal, at Wellington’s Yom HaShoah observance .
Photo credit: HCNZ
(Right) (L - R) Ambassador Scott Brown (United States of America), Ambassador Dr Itzhak Gerberg (Embassy of Israel), & Hon Tim Macindoe MP.
Photo Credit: Embassy of Israel In NZ
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Deportation from Kecskemét: Elisheva Zimet Stern and Rita Weiss’
The challenge of commemorating the Shoah is to reflect on a collective tragedy while acknowledging the myriad diverse stories and voices that form its history. This short video testimony edited from Yad Vashem’s collection focuses on the experiences of the Jews of Kec, through the words of Elisheva Zimet Stern and Rita Weiss. The Jews of Kec were subjected to exceptional brutality before being deported to Auschwitz in the Spring 0f 1944. The community, which had numbered 1346 in 1941, counted only 40 in 1970. Rabbi Joseph Schindler, who had marched to the deportation train at the head of his community, was among 150 who returned from Auschwitz, to reprise his office until 1950. |
At Auckland Hebrew Congregation
Image: Holocaust survivor Ruth Filler, her daughter Esther Haver and HCNZ CEO Chris Harris light candles in memory of the 6 million Jews who perished in the Holocaust.
Photo credit: Shadows of Shoah, Perry Trotter.
More details and images to be found on Shadows of Shoah website
United Nations International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Sunday 27th January 2019
UN International Holocaust Remembrance Day: Public Ceremony in Makara Cemetery, Wellington |
UN International Holocaust Remembrance Day: Parliament Reception |
