„

-

Orchestra Hall resounded with

the-beauty and sadness of Cantor

Daniel Gross' a cappella cantata

Believe - A Shoah Requiem.

I Believe world premiere offers soul-satisfying blend of moving music and liturgy.

C

antor Daniel Gross' stirring a cappella cantata for cantor, soloists, choir and
children's choir was dedicated to his late grandmother Masha Gross, the only
member of her immediate family to survive the Holocaust.
I Believe — A Shoah Requiem composed as a graduate thesis by Gross, cantor at Adat
Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills, had its world premiere before a capacity audi-
ence at Orchestra Hall in Detroit on Sunday, April 7, as the centerpiece of a commu-
nitywide interfaith Yom HaShoah observance. It was broadcast live on Detroit Public
Television, and now is available at www.dptv.org/ibelieve.
The composition draws on traditional prayers recited during a memorial service plus

powerful additional pieces written by Holocaust survivors, writer Primo Levi and poet
Paul Celan. Interfaith clergy members read translations before each movement.
Orchestra Hall, bereft of musical instruments save for the human voice, lent an
appropriate solemnity and grandeur to the observance. And when all voices in the hall
were raised in unison for the Kaddish and Shema, that sense of hope so necessary in
every generation truly emerged in I Believe.
In his program notes, Gross thanked the audience for "showing support on a day
when solidarity is paramount. May we learn from the past, relish the present and go
forth into the future with peace, hope and unity." - Ken Guten Cohen

Far left: Holocaust
survivors Maggie
and Marcel Thirman
of West Bloomfield
receive a yarmulke
from Barbara Kappy
of Orchard Lake.

Left: Cantor Gross
conducts the
children's choir.

HMC draws crowd for formal program commemorating Holocaust victims.

T

he Holocaust Memorial Center (HMC) Zekelman
Family Campus in Farmington Hills welcomed
almost 400 from the Jewish community to its
annual Yom HaShoah Commemoration Day April 7.
Events began at noon with the project "Unto Every
Person There Is A Name.” Volunteers from both the Great
Lakes Region B'nai B'rith and the HMC shared the read-
ing aloud of the names of some of those whose lives were

Right: Survivor Zoli Rubin
lights a memorial candle
with Bobby Friedman and
Linda Friedman.

Far right: Jodi Beals,
Marc Beals, Auschwitz
survivor Leo Beals,
Marcia Siergerman and
Marnie Beals, all of West
Bloomfield.

22

April 11 • 2013

taken in the Holocaust.
The formal program began with Posting of the Colors
by members of the Jewish War Veterans, United States of
America. HMC Executive Director Stephen M. Goldman
led an original Kaddish as a responsive reading. Holocaust
survivor Michael Weiss of Oak Park followed, leading
the traditional candle lighting. HMC Past President Alan
Zekelman served as master of ceremonies.

Attendees were invited to kindle personal Yahrtzeit
candles in the museum at the Eternal Flame.
This year, generous support came from Lisa and Gary
Shiffman, Lori and Alan Zekelman, Trudy and Arthur
A. Weiss, Gabriella and Alex Karp Family, Gary Karp,
Shari (Ferber) and Alon Kaufman, Judy and George Vine
Family, Robin and Leo Eisenberg Family, and Marsha
and Harry Eisenberg Family.

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