Ceremony open to all ages, faiths; to feature spiritual, educational elements
Texas Border Business
After the horrors of the Holocaust, the world vowed to never let such a thing happen again. For that reason, the City of McAllen and Temple Emanuel have joined together to host the first ever McAllen Holocaust Remembrance Day Ceremony, to be held at the McAllen Public Library Auditorium, 4001 N. 23rd St., on Thursday, May 23, 2019, with a reception starting at 6:00 p.m. and the program to begin at 6:30 p.m. The event is free, open to the public, and welcome to people of all faiths and most importantly, ages.
“It is important for all of us, people of all faiths and races, to remember the Holocaust because it shook the foundations of modern civilization,” said McAllen Mayor Jim Darling. “Its unprecedented character and horror will always hold universal meaning. We must vow to never forget this sin against humanity. However, one only has to look around the world to recognize that the lessons of that horrible time in the collective history of human beings seem to have been forgotten. This ceremony will help spread the message that in McAllen, we have not forgotten.”
The program will feature both secular and spiritual elements, featuring various members from throughout the McAllen community participating in significant presentations, including Boy Scouts Troop #68 from Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church and students from McAllen I.S.D.
The first part of the program will feature speaker, Tim Lorsch, who is the son of Holocaust survivors and has created a musical memoir in honor of his family and their experience during this time. Lorsch performs The Suitcase, a one-man, one-hour show based on his German Jewish heritage. Through music and story, the performance shares his relatives’ lives in Germany, their experience of the Holocaust, how they fled the Nazis, became immigrants, and established a new life in America. All of the music is original and performed live with looping technology on violin, octave violin, and cello. The piece reflects the vulnerability, hopes, dreams, and resilience of immigrant families.
“I am so honored to share my family’s story of tragedy, sorrow, escape and ultimately, triumph with the entire McAllen community, both Jewish and non-Jews,” said Lorsch. “This is a universal story for all of us children of immigrants who escaped persecution and triumphed with the next generation here in America.”
Immediately following Lorsch’s presentation, a candle ceremony will follow to honor and remember the six million Jews who were slaughtered during the Holocaust. A prayer will
be read by a member of the larger McAllen community, while a member of Temple Emanuel congregation will light the candle. The prayer ceremony will include:
for the children: prayer read by Joaquin & Julian Garcia, 6th graders at Cathey MS, McAllen I.S.D.;
for the mothers: prayer read by Dr. Shirley Reed, president of South Texas College;
for the fathers: prayer read by Oscar Adame, Anchor, KRGV-Ch. 5;
for the elders: prayer read by McAllen Mayor Jim Darling;
for the warriors: prayer read by McAllen Police Chief Victor Rodriguez; and
for the righteous: prayer read by Mike Blum, Social Justice Chair, Temple Emanuel.
The candle ceremony will conclude with a chanting by the congregation of the Kaddish, the Jewish prayer for the dead.
“We are honored to join the City of McAllen in hosting the first annual Holocaust Remembrance Day celebration,” said Phil Brown, Temple Emanuel president. “Especially in light of recent attacks against synagogues in the United States, it is important to take few minutes to remember the terrors of the past so that they can be avoided in the future. We must not forget; this ceremony helps to that end. “
A reception, sponsored by Macaroni Grill and Tony Roma’s will be held prior to the start of the ceremony, where the exhibit, The Texas Liberator Exhibit, on loan from the Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission, will be on display. The Texas Liberator Exhibit features Texas veterans of the Second World War and who played a role in the liberation of concentration camps across Europe. Developed by Texas Tech University, the display captures d the extremes of savagery and fanaticism, humility and humanity of World War II from the perspective of the American soldier. Students from the IB Academy will also be on hand to answer questions or give information regarding the exhibit.
During the reception, a musical performance by Dr. Mike Gersten, a history professor at South Texas College, and his wife Meredith Gersten, as well as Patrick Hopkins, will showcase original music composed by Dr. Gersten with a grant he received from the Texas Holocaust & Genocide Commission. Additionally, books and resources regarding the Holocaust and other genocides committed throughout the world will be on display. Attendees will be able to decorate or write messages on special butterflies that will later be on display at Temple Emanuel and the McAllen Public Library.
Other event sponsors include Cobalt Digital Marketing, McAllen Public Library, South Texas College and Courtyard by Marriott.
“I am honored to be invited to participate,” says Sydney Ramon, a senior at Memorial High School and member of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council, who will be performing the National Anthem during the program.
Holocaust Remembrance Day was officially on May 2, 2019, while International Holocaust Remembrance was held earlier this year in January; City officials proclaimed May 23, 2019, as Holocaust Remembrance Day in McAllen. Organizing officials hope to make this ceremony an annual event. Seating is limited, so those planning on attending should arrive early. For more information, contact (956) 681-1202.
