On Jom Hashoa (Holocaust Remembrance day)
lit six candles to remember:
Two small candles in memory of the children,
two medium ones in the memory of the parents,
and two large ones in memory of the grandparents.
Over twenty years ago in Petach Tikva on the morning of Holocaust Remembrance Day, Rachel Mandula had the spark of an idea that would eventually lead to the creation of an organization that uses Jewish history as a source of strength for families trying to cope with difficult situations. On that day, a single word from a passerby spoken after the national moment of silence in memory of the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust caused Mandula to begin reading small, lesser known journals and memoirs of survivors.
Mandula found that "Those who survived not only had luck, but also an ability to maintain their dignity. They didn't focus on what the Nazis did, but rather the positive moments. They found periods of pride and strength. They found ways to guard their individuality." Five years ago, the spark that was lit years before became a reality and Mandula together with a few committed friends founded Od Derech Lz'kor,
Another Way to Remember, a non-profit organization.
The 100% volunteer organization's membership is comprised of Holocaust survivors, children of survivors and people connected with the Holocaust. Through schools and other alliances the organization provides a short program that families can do in their homes to motivate discussion about the Holocaust in a non-threatening manner. The program focuses on Chanukah, Purim and Passover, three holidays where Jews remember and celebrate survival despite the threat of extinction. Remember-Together seeks to build Jewish traditions using games and building on symbolism that can be carried forth from generation to generation. The ceremony takes place within the family to provide a source of power and security and mitigate any sense of trauma to the children. It helps to give families the strength to cope with difficult situations by finding strength in Jewish history. The program which can be found at the website is also distributed through schools, synagogues and community centers in Israel, Korea, Columbia and Brazil.
As mentioned, the ceremony is held on the eve of the Holocaust Remembrance Day and consists of two elements; lighting six candles and reading from a short Hagada. Both elements help parents open a discussion with their children about the Holocaust, just as they tell their children about the history of our people in Hanukkah, Purim and Passover. Of course, this is not a holiday- it is an evening for uniting with the memory of the heroism of those who perished, of the survivors and of the righteous among the
nations, within the intimate and protective environment of the family. Before reading the Hagada, six candles may be lit in the memory of the six million who perished. Two small candles in memory of the children, two medium ones in the memory of the parents, and two large ones in memory of the grandparents. Lighting the six candles serves as an active 'companion' to the Hagada. The children feel pride, gaining faith and trust in the survival power of the Jewish people, and of themselves. It is an active way of commemoration, in which the participants express their will and most inner intentions to remember.
The Holocaust "Hagada"
By Rachel Mandula
"And thou shall choose life" (Dvarim Chapter 30 Verse 19)
On this evening we gather and tell the story,
In memory of the six million who chose life,
But their lives were taken.
In memory of the six million who perished,
The memory of every man, woman and child,
Day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute
They chose life, defying those who were seeking their death.
In honor of the dead, in honor of the survivors
In honor of the perished, in honor of the saved,
In honor of those who survived the camps,
And of those who were not reached by the evil spirit.
In honor of each man, woman and child
Who were marked for the final solution
In honor of every man, woman and child
Who continue the chain of generations,
And In honor of the generations to come,
In the name of them all we now say:
"The people of Israel lives on"
It is recommended that families will talk about the Holocaust, about the
heroism of those who perished, of the survivors and of the righteous among
the nations, in accordance with the age of the children in the family.
TO READ AT THE END OF THE EVENING:
May I never endure the experience of being a non- person
May I never regard another as non- person
May my human dignity always be preserved
May everyone's human dignity always be preserved
May all of us maintain our honor as human beings.
For information: http://www.remember-together.org or mandular@zahav.net.il
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