The program included remarks from Jewish Federation CEO Eileen Freed, and an address by the family of Holocaust survivor, Frieda Langnas. Freed shared that the world Jewish community still has not reached pre-WWII population levels, and that much culture and potential was lost. “We have a strong motivation to build and sustain flourishing Jewish communities,” she said. She added that “even as we endeavor to focus on the joys of Jewish culture, practice, and peoplehood…we find it necessary to focus ever more resources on addressing antisemitism and protecting our communities from those who deny our history, distort our peoplehood, and seek to kill us.” She called on those present to commit to greater education about the lessons of the Holocaust, advocating to fight the scourge and proliferation of online hate, condemning and fighting against the trampling of civil rights in the U.S. and providing more support for marginalized communities to protect their institutions and members.
Michigan State University student Skyler Elbinger, representing Michigan State Hillel, spoke about the growing danger of antisemitism in American and around the world, and Rabbi Eli Mayerfeld, CEO of the Zekelman Holocaust Center, shared the Center’s educational model which focuses on the pyramid of peace and a pyramid of hate. In the pyramid of hate, normalization of hate speech is followed by increasing levels of discrimination and violent action. He suggested that the pyramid of peace could have the opposite effect.
The fourteen legislators present helped light six candles representing the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust. Those present included, among others, Senate Majority Leader Senator Winnie Brinks, local legislators Senator Sue Shinks and Representative Jen Conlin, and Jewish caucus members, Senator Jeremy Moss and Representative Noah Arbit, who both spoke eloquently.
Community Relations Director Rabbi Asher Lopatin reflected, “In these times when many Jews are afraid to be open about their Jewish identity because of the rise of antisemitism, it meant so much that 14 members of our state legislature came together, on short notice, to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day.”
State Representative Jason Hoskins wrote, “I was honored to attend an event at the Michigan Capitol to observe this day of remembering the victims of the Holocaust and recommitting to confronting hatred.”
Rabbi Mayerfeld invited those present to complete reflection cards, committing to fighting hate in our communities and state. The ceremony concluded with the singing of “Ani Ma’amin” which was sung by thousands of Jews as they were transported and herded into gas chambers by the Nazis and their allies.
Additional cosponsors included Michigan Jewish Council, MSU Hillel, and the Jewish Federation of Detroit. For more information about the JCRC, contact Rabbi Asher Lopatin at asher@jewishannarbor.org.