Holocaust memorial service planned at B’nai Israel May 1

Congregation B’nai Israel in sponsorship with Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church in Peachtree City will present a “Yom Hashoah” Holocaust Remembrance Day service Sunday, May 1 at 4 p.m. at Congregation B’nai Israel, Ga. Hwy. 54 and Corinth Road, in Fayetteville. A reception will follow the service.

“We at Congregation B’nai Israel feel it’s very important to reach out into the community,” said Art Ross, a member of B’Nai Israel, “and our relationship with Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church is just one example of our commitment to not only reach out, but to also help educate.”

An article on Yom Hashoah written by Jennifer Rosenberg appears on the Web at http://history1900s.about.com/cs/holocaust/a/yomhashoah.htm.

The article states: “Jewish history is long and filled with many stories of slavery and freedom, sorrow and joy, persecution and redemption. For Jews, their history, their family, and their relationship with God have shaped their religion and their identity. The Hebrew calendar is filled with varied holidays that incorporate and reiterate the history and tradition of the Jewish people ...”

The article goes on to say that after the horrors of the Holocaust, the Jewish people wanted a day to memorialize the tragedy, but could not decide on a particular day. The Holocaust spanned years with suffering and death spread throughout. No one day stood out as an accurate representative.

Then, On April 12, 1951, the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, proclaimed Yom Hashoah U’Mered HaGetaot (Holocaust and Ghetto Revolt Remembrance Day) to be the 27th of Nissan.

Later, the name became known as Yom Hashoah Ve Hagevurah (Devastation and Heroism Day) and even later shortened to Yom Hashoah.

This year, Yom Hashoah will be on May 6.

For more information on the service at B’nai Israel, call 678-817-7162.