A New Way to Commemorate the Holocaust - Even Remotely
Yom HaShoah begins the evening of April 7.
It's a moment to commemorate another dark time in our history, and this one has an urgency to it. With fewer living witnesses able to tell their stories firsthand, we need a new way to fulfill the responsibility that Holocaust survivors have entrusted to us - to remember, to tell the story, and to act.
"As this fragile window of witness closes, we need a new way to relate to the Holocaust. If we want to ensure that this story does not fade into history as the survivors fade into memory, then we need a commemoration that does not require survivors," says Deborah Fripp, an educator who created the beautifully designed Light from the Darkness: A Ritual for Holocaust Remembrance with fellow educator Violet Neff-Helms.
Light from the Darkness is a powerful new approach. It's designed as a 45-minute, seder-like experience that can be used as a stand-alone program or scheduled as part of a series of community or school activities for Holocaust commemoration. Its language is appropriate for both Jewish and interfaith groups, and for teens, young adults, or intergenerational events. You can commemorate the Holocaust together with your community - whether in-person or virtually - in this new way.
The program includes:
• Questions designed for personal reflection or group discussion
• Stories of the lost Jewish communities of Europe
• Blessings and songs
• First-person accounts of daily life before, during, and after the Holocaust
Light from the Darkness includes a Leader's Guide and full list of materials to aid planning. We've also created a guide to help you organize this program and engage participants remotely. Download the guide here.
“Light from the Darkness offers a powerful tool to help future generations bear witness, to understand the history of the Shoah, and to apply its universal themes to modern times.”
-Abraham H. Foxman, National Director Emeritus of the Anti-Defamation League
“A poignant and ultimately hopeful ritual. Using the words and visual artwork of the victims and survivors creates a deep and humanizing connection, reminding us to preserve and share the echoes of this tragedy to inspire future generations to ensure this history never repeats."
- Lindsay Friedman, director of Echoes & Reflections, a Holocaust education program of ADL, USC Shoah Foundation, and Yad Vashem
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Light from the Darkness is available at behrmanhouse.com or on Amazon. A digital version is also available on Kindle and Apple Books.
Quantity discounts are available through Behrman House for use with groups. Contact us with questions or for more information.
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