Past And Future

Photos by Jos h Now lc kl

metro >> around town

Yom HaShoah event

recalls 6 million; dedicates new exhibit.

he annual Yom HaShoah
(Holocaust Remembrance
Day) commemoration was held
May 1 at the Holocaust Memorial Center
Zekelman Family Campus in Farmington
Hills.
In addition to the annual candle-light-
ing ceremony, the event culminated in the
dedication of a new interactive multime-
dia exhibit called "Portraits of Honor: Our
Michigan Holocaust Survivors."

The exhibit tells the stories of more
than 400 local survivors, with another 100
to be added in the near future. The project
was initiated in 1999 by Dr. Charles Silow,
who directs the Program for Holocaust
Survivors and Families as part of Jewish
Senior Life, and executed by a large cadre of
volunteers.
"Many survivors have already passed
away, and now we have their living lega-
cies," Slow said. LI

Survivor Martin Water of Livonia lights a candle as
his grandson, Zachary Water, and survivor Abraham
Weberman of West Bloomfield look on.

Scouts* Honor

or the ninth year, Boy Scouts and
Cub Scouts from Metro Detroit
participated in the Governor's
Holocaust Memorial Ceremony at the
State Capitol in Lansing.
The Scouts served as Honor Guard and
escorts to the more than 50 Holocaust
survivors who attended this meaningful
event.
This annual ceremony is planned and
organized by Susan Herman, execu-
tive director of the Michigan Jewish
Conference. She represents Jewish com-
munities from throughout Michigan on
issues of importance being discussed in
state government.

The multimedia exhibit allows HMC visitors to link to
maps, images and information on specific places such
as Auschwitz or the Lodz ghetto.

Cantor Leonard Gutman chants Eil Malei Rachamim
(funeral prayer) at the Yom HaShoah commemoration
at the Holocaust Memorial Center.

Capitol Holocaust ceremony brings Scouts and survivors together.

Many members of the Michigan
Legislature as well as the Governor's
office attend the event, where each survi-
vor's history is told briefly during a mov-
ing candle-lighting ceremony.
As a new generation of Jews, these
young Scouts are reminded of the impor-
tance of serving as witnesses to their
stories and experiences.
Afterward, the Scouts and survi-
vors enjoyed lunch at East Lansing's
Congregation Shaarey Zedek before
departing for home. It is the one of the
Scouting community's greatest honors
to participate and assist in this annual
ceremony. LI

Scouts Ben Tushman and Ethan Perlman assist at the Capitol elevators.

18

Dr. Charles Silow, center,
speaks at the dedication
of the new interactive
"Portraits of Honor:
Our Michigan Holocaust
Survivors" exhibit.

Jewish Community Relations Council intern Laura Katsnelson, Webelos Scout
Ben Tushman and Boy Scout Ethan Perlman (in the background) escort arriving
survivors into the Capitol.

Survivors fill the Capitol Rotunda at the 2011 Holocaust Memorial Ceremony.