Submission #28335 by Anshe Emet Men'S Club - Chicago, IL (608)

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Submission information
Submitted by gpollack
Thu, 2023-04-27 16:55
73.75.56.142
2023
I have read the 2023 Torch Awards Program Guidelines.
Club Name
Anshe Emet Men'S Club - Chicago, IL (608)
Yom Hashoah Commemoration - Voices of the Generations
Club Representative
Person completing form
Dr. Jeff Shore
Gregg
Pollack
Club President at time of convention if known at this time
Alan
Mintz
Club President Now
Alan
Mintz
Yom HaShoah Yellow Candle

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Our annual Yom Hashoah commemoration in 2022 featured Julie Kohner, child of survivors and Founder / CEO of Voices of the Generations, a non-profit organization with a mission to bear witness as a second generation. In as little as ten years there may no longer be a Holocaust survivor to share stories in person. We offered this program in person at the synagogue and livestream. The program included a candle lighting ceremony as well as Julie's presentation.
Julie told her parents' stories and we showed a video (see link below) from "This is Your Life" filmed in the early 50's. It's an incredible story and the video is amazing. I could watch it over and over (and I did). See link below as well as PDF attached.
https://youtu.be/8PbuDSynfIU
The program was offered in person at the synagogue and via livestream. Yellow candles were mailed out in advance of the program, and we had a "public" candle lighting ceremony during the program. We also publicize that we donate profits from yellow candle donations to Holocaust related causes (typically the featured organization for the subject Yom Hashoah program).
Attachments
gmail_-_mens_club_event_-_yom_hashoah_commemoration_4-27-22.pdf
gmail_-_link_to_this_is_your_life_-_yom_hashoah_april_2022.pdf
_yomhashoah2022flyer.pdf
Self Assessment
Julie's mission and her parents' stories are very powerful and critical to preserving the memory of the Holocaust as survivors pass away. We were proud to bring Julie to our congregation and further her mission to educate younger generations. And the video was a perfect vehicle for telling the story - no one who sees it will forget Hannah Kohner.
Shoah commemoration is an important aspect of Jewish life, and we help our membership and congregants to "remember" the events of WWII and the people who perished at the hands of the Nazis and their accomplices. By sending yellow candles to our members, we provide one more avenue to observe this important day. Lastly, by purchasing yellow candles, we support FJMC in its programming and leadership activities in the Masorti movement and broader Jewish community.
We encourage clubs to seek out impactful programming for Yom Hashoah. There are many organizations who can assist with such programming such as Voices of the Generations and the IL Holocaust Museum. If the cost is too high, consider partnering with other auxiliaries at the synagogue to share the cost of this critical programming. It's important that the content and format of such programming leave lasting impressions on the attendees - videos and testimonials help to do that.

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Original Program
Previous Submission
Yes
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