Leaders mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Though the Holocaust occurred nearly 70 years ago, the memories of one of the worst genocides perpetuated by mankind remain strong, especially for the cultures that were persecuted during that horror.

International, national and local religious leaders and political leaders joined together at the Italian Consulate in Manhattan with General Consulate Francesco Maria Talo on Jan. 27 in remembering the 8,000 Jewish-Italians who died in the Holocaust. Each person’s name was read aloud.

“I applaud the Italian Consulate of New York General Consulate Francesco Maria Talo for ensuring that though the lives of eight thousand Italian Jews were mercilessly killed in man’s greatest act of inhumanity that through his effort their memory and names remain alive,” said Temple Israel’s Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum, who attended the event.

January 27 is International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the date was when Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration camp was liberated by Allied troops near the end of World War II.

In a continuing effort to connect young Jews from Europe to their American peers, Rosenbaum noted that the third annual Italian-Jewish student exchange will take place March 8-15.

The North American Board of Rabbis, the American Jewish Congress, Temple Israel of Lawrence and Davis-Renov-Stahler (DSR) Yeshiva for Boys in Woodmere of the Hebrew Academy of Long Beach will partner to sponsor the visit of 28 Orthodox students from the Rienzo Levi Yeshiva in Rome.

According to Rabbi Rosenbaum, this Jewish community in Rome dates back to 161 B.C., or more than 2,100 years ago. “Together we are fulfilling one of the central commandments of Judaism of welcoming our guests as members of our extended family,” the Rabbi said.

Half the students and a chaperone will be housed by congregants of Temple Israel and the remaining 14 and a chaperone will housed by families from DSR.

The Italian consulate will host a special program for the students and they will see the sights of New York City.

“The Italian students will benefit from the rich Jewish community in the Five Towns,” Rabbi Rosenbaum said. “We see ourselves as partners and junior ambassadors helping to shape the world in the 21st century.”

The students have visited each other’s communities and remained in contact, added the Rabbi, who called the exchanges, “an enriching experience.”