Recently, communities gathered in two of Texas' largest cities to honor the memory of
the millions who perished in the Shoah (Holocaust) 80 years
ago.
HOUSTON and DALLAS, May 11, 2024
/PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The March of Remembrance in Texas is a memorial walk taken annually since
2012 on or near Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) to
commemorate Genocide Awareness Month to "Remember, reconcile and
take a stand." Two marches recently took place in Texas: Dallas
on Sunday, April 16th, and Houston on
Sunday, May 5th.
"This is the most important march we've
ever done. It's just shocking how the landscape has radically
changed, where antisemitism and radical propaganda is front page,
front and center. I think the last time it was like that would have
been the Holocaust."-Rozalie Jerome, Executive Director of
HRA18
The March of Remembrance Houston bravely proceeded despite
severe weather, drawing families across Greater Houston in collaboration with the
Israel-American Council (IAC), Run for Their Lives, and One With
Israel at Three Brothers Bakery. Leizer and Rose Horowitz Holocaust
Remembrance Association Scholarship applicants were also present.
Together, they honored the millions lost in the Holocaust and the
133 hostages still in captivity, reflecting on the urgency of
confronting such atrocities. Attacks on Jews are attacks on our
collective humanity, underscoring the imperative to remember, not
merely for the past, but to safeguard the future.
It was the indifferent silence of the majority that made the
Holocaust possible - an indifference that even today paves the way
for anti-Jewish hatred and bigotry. As we look across the nation,
pro-Hamas protests and riots continue to carry on at college
campuses across the country. University administrators shamefully
cave to terrorist sympathizers, allowing pro-Hamas encampments to
spread like a brushfire among institutions of higher education, as
university buildings have been taken over, Jewish students have
been viciously attacked, and the American flag has been replaced
with the Palestinian flag flown by Hamas terrorists. When we saw
the community come together for the March of Remembrance, it was a
glimmer of light in a dark time highlighting the need for more
people to stand up.
Amidst nationwide campus unrest, the March of Remembrance Dallas
joined forces with Southern Methodist
University's Office of the Chaplain and Religious Life, SMU
Jewish Studies, SMU Perkins School of Theology, AEPi, Mishelanu,
and ADL Texoma at SMU's Hughes-Trigg
Student Center. Together, they heard poignant Holocaust survivor
testimonies and embarked on an Honor March throughout the campus,
each participant bearing a stone engraved with the name and age of
a Holocaust victim. This act served as a solemn tribute to the lost
and a united stance against anti-Jewish bigotry. The event
culminated in the announcement of The Nathaniel Foundation
Scholarship recipients, marking a profound moment of remembrance
and solidarity.
Holocaust Remembrance Association (HRA18) Founders Mitch and Rozalie Jerome offered a heartfelt
welcome, followed by government proclamations from Houston City
Council Member Julian Ramirez and Brandon
Kiser representing State Senator Brandon Creighton. Houston First Chairman and THGAAC Commissioner
Jay Zeidman emphasized the pressing
need to recognize that NEVER AGAIN IS NOW. Emotional testimonies
from second-generation Holocaust survivor Bobby Jucker, a repentant descendant of Nazi
perpetrators Claudia Kiesenger, and retired Texas A&M Professor
David Lawhon underscored the event's
gravity and significance.
Hebraic music and dance infused the gathering with hope amid its
solemn purpose. From young to old, Jew to Gentile, all united for
the March of Remembrance. As the music tapered off to make way for
the speaking program, organizers swiftly moved participants indoors
to take shelter from an approaching storm, with the gracious
permission of Bobby Jucker, owner of
Three Brothers Bakery. Inside, amid the comforting aroma of freshly
baked cookies, attendees found shelter and camaraderie, their
spirits uplifted as they sang together, "AM YISRAEL CHAI!"
The audience hung on every word, fostering a profound sense of
community. The message reverberated: silence in the face of
persecution is complicity with the oppressors. Applause erupted as
speakers urged against silence and for solidarity with the Jewish
community. The program concluded with blessings from Jewish and
Christian clergy, punctuated by the haunting blasts of the
shofar.
Following the program, participants gathered with banners and
signs outside the bakery, marching to the Citywide Yom HaShoah
Observance at Congregation Beth
Yeshurun nearby. For many, it marked their first visit to a
synagogue, yet their presence was seamless, reflecting a deep sense
of unity. This unity transcended individual differences, rallying
behind the Jewish community's right to thrive and Israel's right to defend itself. Together, as
brothers and sisters, they stood for light and justice. Amidst
diverse backgrounds, collective remembrance of the Holocaust
strengthens resolve for solidarity and righteousness. As the
Psalmist eloquently stated, "Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity!"
Media Contact
Jeffrey Craig, Holocaust
Remembrance Association, 1 (888) 546-8111, admin@hra18.org,
https://holocaustremembranceassociation.org/
Basya Benshushan, Good Fortune
Agency, 1 832.331.3908, basya@goodfortune.agency,
https://www.goodfortune.agency/
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SOURCE Holocaust Remembrance Association