“To our six million brothers and sisters murdered because they were Jews, grant clear and certain rest with you (Adonai). In the lofty heights of the sacred and rue. Whose brightness shines like the very glow of heaven. Source of mercy: Forever enfold them in the embrace of Your wings; Secure their souls in eternity.” Translation of El Malei Rachamim
Last month, members of Nashville’s Jewish community gathered on Yom HaShoah at the Gordon Jewish Community Center, where they heard stories from family members of Holocaust survivors, and songs about the journey Jewish people endured. Over one-hundred members of the community were in attendance to honor the lives of the 6 million Jews lost in the Holocaust.
Throughout the evening, you could feel the somberness in the room. It was almost like we all knew we were feeling the same things. Sadness, pain, fear, and also hope. Hope for ourselves and hope for our future generations. Rabbi Shana Goldstein Mackler opened the commemoration by leading the crowd in prayer, followed by powerful speeches from Robert Krakow, Cathy Lewis, and Noah Forrest, a Hillel student at Vanderbilt University.
During Krakow’s speech, he spoke on how important it is for us to all stick together, especially in times so trying. “It is these events that bring us hope and inspiration, because we Jews, as people, cannot allow ourselves to despair, and the only way we do that is through reuniting a sense of unity within our people,” he said.
Cathy Lewis, an author who presented on the S.S. St. Louis, shared the ship’s impactful story. The S.S. St. Louis set sail on May 13th, 1939, carrying 937 German Jewish refugees seeking freedom. The Nazis gave the world one last chance to rescue the refugees, and to give them a better life. But unfortunately, the world refused them, showing the refugees that they were not wanted anywhere.
They were told to sail back to Germany, and that is what they were going to do. Until one man, the ship's captain, Gustav Schroeder, stepped in and did the right thing. Finally, someone stood up for the refugees. He defied the orders he was given telling him to steer the ship back to Germany. Because of Schroeder, a solution was found with the help of the Morse Trooper and the Jewish American Joint Distribution Committee. Passengers were allowed to disembark in Antwerp, and split up between England, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
“They were given more time, more life, more chances to see their families, to build a life and to exist. Because one man chose to act, not a government, not a conference of nations, not a powerful institution. One person,” Lewis said.
Lewis asked the crowd to think about what they would have done in 1939, or even more importantly, what will you do when your moment comes? Everyone has had a moment in their life when they see something, and they are presented with a choice. The choice to speak up, step in, or walk away.
“One person can make the difference between silence and action, between fear and courage, between life and death. So, I ask you, when your moment comes, will you look away, or will you be the one who says yes?” Lewis said. “Never again requires action, not just remembrance. Will you speak out? Will you choose courage when it matters most? Be that one person.”
The night carried on with a candle lighting by members of our community, including students, survivors, and allies. The candles were lit to show strength, honor, justice, gratitude, community, and resilience of our people. Each year, the candles are lit for the 1.5 million children, for the murdered victims, for the resistance fighters, for the righteous among the nations, for the survivors, and for the future.
Contributing to the evening were also rabbis Michael Danziger, Laurie Rice, Mark Schiftan, Saul Strosberg, and cantors Tracy Fishbein and Josh Goldberg.
The Yom HaShoah Program is made possible thanks to generous donors to the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville’s Annual Campaign, and to our community partners.
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