The Power of ONE

This week has been declared Holocaust Memorial Week by President Obama.  In this southwestern part of Wisconsin there will be 3 official remembrances one at Fort McCoy, one at UW-L's Neuman Center and one at the Congregation  Sons of Abraham. The latter held their program of music, poetry and reflection this past Sunday .

Memorial Candles lit and stones placed lest we forget.

Each year the Congregation Sons of Abraham in La Crosse bestows recognition on Holocaust educators.  Last year's recipient, Sue Hessel, historian, gave a provoking reflection on the Actions by One.  The actions of just 'one' person make a difference.  Through writing personal histories Sue's interest in the Holocaust has become more prolific. She has completed 3 books for Wisconsin residents whose heroic WWII acts all mattered.  "Squirrel Is Alive:  A Teenager in the Belgian Resistance and French Underground" about Mary Rostad, who lived in Houston, Minnesota.  "Every Day in My Mind I Have This: A story of Survival," is about Dora Russek's experience. She  resides in Mequon, a Milwaukee suburb. "Denying the Deniers: A Soldiers Intersection with the Holocaust,"(book signing Thursday) about Stevens Point John Regnier, a Sargent who made a conscientious decision to be witness to the first U.S. liberation of a camp recognizing the importance of dispelling future allegations of its severity /very existence. 
( BTW all 3 books can be obtained through Amazon.)

Congregant members,  Maureen Freedland, daughter of Holocaust survivors, and husband Bob shared their efforts having established a Holocaust Education fund through the Public Schools. Not only do our educators now have grants to attend Holocaust workshops and order materials but monies have also been donated to have Holocaust curriculum in all the middle schools. 

Sonja Larson, Viterbo senior Vocal major and poet

Viterbo University senior Sonja Larson integrated her interest in the Holocaust and musical studies in investigating the positive effect of music during horrible situations. She recited her own Holocaust poetry on Sunday and will sing the music she wrote for these lyrics at the Neuman Center on State Street this Thursday at 7pm. 

The synagogue's program's musical renditions included a haunting melody by the Cowan trio of 2 harps and a bassoon and Busya Lugovier playing the moving Kaddish (mourners prayer) by M. Ravel on her viola.

This year's recipients of the Gregory P. Wegner Excellence in Holocaust Education Recognition were the cast and crew of Appleseed Community Theatre’s January 2014 multimedia production, "And Then They Came for Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank" by James Still.  The Historical Director was Darryle Clott, a past recipient of the award.

Darryle's in orange

Not quite everyone could be present  but many made it to receive a personal plaque in addition to a leaf being adding to the Tree of Life on the synagogue's wall.

The award leaf plaques also serve as I-pod holders.

Each play participant enabled their audiences to be witness to the horrors of the Holocaust. Thank you all for your important  presentations and making a difference. The future seems brighter as a result of all these individual efforts... 

 Elie Wiesel said, "Thou shalt not stand idly by. " Zahor, we all need to remember the power of 1.

* Clip of Busya and Kaddish thanks to Jennifer