Yom HaShoah

I hope everyone took a few moments today, or will take, to think of the 6 million Jews that were massacred during the Holocaust, the Righteous Amongst the Nations, such as Irena Sendler, who risked their lives to save others, and the survivors who live each day with nightmares of the past, but are devoted to educating younger generations.

Alexander Eisen, Holocaust survivor, and his
memoir "A Time of Fear". (Daily Gleaner photo).

Today, Holocaust Remembrance Day or Yom HaShoah, I attended a memorial service at Fredericton's Sgoolai Israel Synagogue, with guest speaker and Holocaust survivor Alexander Eisen.

I was thrilled to see the Synagogue at near capacity as members of the clergy, Mayor Brad Woodside and Lt. Governor Graydon Nicholas, as well as non-Jewish members of the community attended and solemnly participated in the memorial prayers and candle service.

Eisen, originally from Austria, ended up in Israel after WWII where he served in the Army and Air Force before immigrating to Canada with his wife.

I was so pleased the service had a survivor speaking, and I was thrilled to speak with several members of the Royal Canadian Legion during the reception and tell them about my trip. I could tell that hearing about this trip, especially from the younger generation, was very important to them, as several expressed through their thanks and best wishes.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to speak with Eisen or Israel Unger (a survivor living in Fredericton), but hope to read Eisen's book and be in touch with Unger at some point in the future; whether before or after my trip.

For the original story, from The Daily Gleaner, on Eisen's presentation at the Synagogue today, click here.

For a story on Unger, from 2009, and published in The Daily Gleaner, click here.

"All it takes is one bloom of hope to make a spiritual garden" - Terri Guillemets