Yom Hashoah 2010

Today, Sunday, April 11th 2010, was a very memorable and emotional day on many levels. We were invited by a new found friend at our synagogue here in Joplin, MO, to go with her to Overland Park KS to attend the commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day, aka Yom Hashoah.

After getting on the road to Overland Park, which is a suburb of Kansas City, MO we made it up there with time to spare. There was initial doubt as we more or less got a late start. Emotions ran high during the service, with me and several others, including my wife Vanessa. Part of the memorial had them light Six candles, each reperesenting one million of the Six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. They also requested certain people to stand when the candles were lit. The first candle was lit and people who were actual survivors were asked to stand. They did. The 2nd candle was lit and the people who they called the 2nd generation, or what I called first generation American, were asked to stand. I stood. I stood for my parents who were longer with us and for other loved ones who are no longer with us. I stood so all who were not there could be honored and remembered. There were songs sung and speeches made. Some of the songs were The American National Anthem (which I still say should be G*D Bless America) The Israeli National Anthem (Hatikvah, which means hope) and the Partizaner hymm, both in Yiddish and English. We also watched a film about survivors who were videotaped as witnesses.

After all this, the service was moved outdoors to a monument to those who perished. There were some closing remarks, and the Mourner's Kaddish, which is a prayer honoring the sanctity of G*D and life.

After the service had concluded, we decided to look for, and found a Kosher Subway Deli. “It was like coming out of the wilderness, to find there was a promised land.” :)