Submission #348 by Temple Ramat Zion Men's Club - Northridge, CA (1020)
I have read the General Guidelines, "Nuts and Bolts" and Program Advanced Planning (Excel Spreadsheet) Documents
Yom Hashoah Yellow Candle Program - Holocaust Remembrance Day
Yom HaShoah / Yellow Candle
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Temple Ramat Zion's Yom Hashoah program this year set a new standard in our community. We put together an interfaith program, recognizing those that were killed in the Shoah that were not Jewish as well. We had our local Minister and Priest at the program, who gave insight as to the effect the Shoah had on them as well. The theme of our program was "Remembering the Past, Securing the Future". The event attendance was more than 400 people.
The program consisted of our 40 member choir, a Reverand Steven Petty, a Father David Loftus, Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Dana Erlich, Israeli consul for culture, media and public diplomacy in Los Angeles, TRZ's own Rabbi Sela and Cantor Friedman, our Congressman Brad Sherman, Councilmember Mitchell Englander, Councilmember Dennis Zine, and our Program Chairperson Jack Kosoy and Men's Club President Rick Mark.
An 18 person procession consisted of the above dignitaries and community members and clergy, as well as 2 Holocaust Survivors, the Executive Board of our USY Chapter, and the TRZ Mens' Club Executive Board and program committee. The USY'ers carried large signs showing well known pictures and names of concentration camps and the quantity of people killed at them. In between the signs, others carried large 3" wide and 12" tall Yellow Candles, all while the choir and a violinist performed Ani Ma'amin.
We have a large Holocaust Memorial in our Sanctuary on a large wall. We had a special shelf installed and the first 7 candles through the procession were put on the shelf next to the memorial. The signs were stood up on tables with the remainder of the candle lighting them up for all to see throughout the program.
The balance of the program consisted of alternating inspirational readings, choir performances, and our guest speakers comments, including our keynote by Rabbi Abraham Cooper.
Closing comments by our Men's Club President included information about the candles for all attendees. We provided 2 candles - 1 Yellow and 1 White. The Yellow for the Jews who who were killed and the White for the non-Jews who were killed; further enforcing the remembrance of all who died.
After the final Choir song, the guests simply emptied from the Sanctuary and were able to take both a White and Yellow candle on their way to their cars as they left. A letter and donation form was included with the candles.
We had a $10,000 budget for the program, including advertising, programs, signs, custom made candles in the color of yellow we wanted, custom glass holders for the procession and display, the shelf, refreshments and audio system upgrades to ensure that the quality of the audio for the program was the best it could possibly be for all who attended. We came in under budget at just below $9,000. We funded the program with donations from several committee members who were committed in their support from the first day of discussion. They have chosen to financially support the program indefinitely. Future programs are estimated to cost approximately $3,000 or less, as the audio system improvements will not be needed going forward.
We advertised within our Temple, the two Churches, and a city wide media release.
An 18 person procession consisted of the above dignitaries and community members and clergy, as well as 2 Holocaust Survivors, the Executive Board of our USY Chapter, and the TRZ Mens' Club Executive Board and program committee. The USY'ers carried large signs showing well known pictures and names of concentration camps and the quantity of people killed at them. In between the signs, others carried large 3" wide and 12" tall Yellow Candles, all while the choir and a violinist performed Ani Ma'amin.
We have a large Holocaust Memorial in our Sanctuary on a large wall. We had a special shelf installed and the first 7 candles through the procession were put on the shelf next to the memorial. The signs were stood up on tables with the remainder of the candle lighting them up for all to see throughout the program.
The balance of the program consisted of alternating inspirational readings, choir performances, and our guest speakers comments, including our keynote by Rabbi Abraham Cooper.
Closing comments by our Men's Club President included information about the candles for all attendees. We provided 2 candles - 1 Yellow and 1 White. The Yellow for the Jews who who were killed and the White for the non-Jews who were killed; further enforcing the remembrance of all who died.
After the final Choir song, the guests simply emptied from the Sanctuary and were able to take both a White and Yellow candle on their way to their cars as they left. A letter and donation form was included with the candles.
We had a $10,000 budget for the program, including advertising, programs, signs, custom made candles in the color of yellow we wanted, custom glass holders for the procession and display, the shelf, refreshments and audio system upgrades to ensure that the quality of the audio for the program was the best it could possibly be for all who attended. We came in under budget at just below $9,000. We funded the program with donations from several committee members who were committed in their support from the first day of discussion. They have chosen to financially support the program indefinitely. Future programs are estimated to cost approximately $3,000 or less, as the audio system improvements will not be needed going forward.
We advertised within our Temple, the two Churches, and a city wide media release.
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Original Program