- April 15, 2024
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Jewish Federation co-Presidents Marvin Miller, left, and Steve Unatin, right, stand with Holocaust survivor and guest speaker Gene Klein (Photo courtesy of Gloria Max)
Bea Schemer, Claire Soria, Abe Wasserstriom, Abe Bockish, and 97-year old Bertha Wohl, her daughter and son, Gene Klein, Holly Hill pastor Matt McKeown and Gloria Max (Photo courtesy of Gloria Max)
Nearly 300 people attended a community-wide a Holocaust Memorial Service, known as Yom HaShoah, and lit candles with six survivors at Temple Beth-El April 30.
Gene Klein, who survived a year at the Auschwitz death camp in Germany during World War II, was the guest speaker and said he survived by luck and smart thinking — and because a German contractor who was building a road outside the camp gave him morsels of food, which he shared with other prisoners.
The service, organized by the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties, brought together six Holocaust survivors: Klein, Bea Schemer, Claire Soria, Abe Wasserstriom, Abe Bockish, and 97-year old Bertha Wohl, who was helped by her daughter and son.
Holly Hill pastor Matt McKeown lit one candle on behalf of the "righteous Gentiles and liberators who saved the Jewish people." Six million Jews were murdered by the Nazis during World War II, including 1.5 million children.
"Once a year, we gather as a community for a Day of Remembrance to mourn for those who perished in the Holocaust," said Gloria Max, executive director of the Jewish Federation.
