The City of Carmel’s Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony will be held this year on the City of Carmel’s Facebook page. The ceremony, set for Friday, April 24, will begin at noon and last approximately a half hour.
The composer of Vedem, Lori Laitman, will deliver the keynote presentation in a pre-recorded talk. She will speak about the Terezin concentration camp and the experience of those who created the underground newspaper, Vedem, and how Holocaust survivor Sidney Taussig buried the manuscript and later dug it up. Laitman developed a strong, personal friendship with Taussig while writing the music 10 years ago. Taussig attended the world premiere in Seattle and was part of a documentary film made about the experience.
The program will include Mayor Jim Brainard; Rabbi Benjamin Sendrow of Congregation Shaarey Tefilla; Rabbi Stanley Halpern of Congregation Beth Shalom; Rabbi Justin Kerber of Congregation Beth Shalom; City Councilman Miles Nelson, representing the Mayor’s Advisory Commission on Human Relations; and Carmel Clay Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Beresford.
Musical performances will include Cantor Arnie Lewin, Shaarey Tefilla member; Cantor Melissa Cohen, the Carmel United Methodist Church Bell Choir; the University High School of Indiana Vocal Quintet; and Indianapolis Opera Resident Artists: Laura Zahn, Mezzo-Soprano, Felipe Prado – Tenor, Andrew Pham – Pianist.
Background
The City of Carmel’s annual Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony remembers and honors the victims of the Holocaust. This historical event includes a Civic Proclamation by Mayor Brainard and other special guest speakers. Every year, students from area schools participate in the event, which also features special musical performances.
The Carmel commemoration is part of Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), an international holiday for remembering the victims of the Holocaust. It reminds us, as Americans, of what can happen to civilized people when bigotry, hatred and indifference reign.