Holocaust victims remembered through virtual Yom HaShoah memorial

By Bayley Carl
JFLV Marketing & Engagement Associate
 
The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley’s 2020 Yom Hashoah Memorial took place virtually on April 20. Shari Spark, the Holocaust Resource Center Coordinator, worked together with many members of the Lehigh Valley Jewish community to present this year’s memorial from home.

The virtual event contained all of the key elements of past in-person Yom Hashoah Memorials. The event contained Readings from Megillat HaShoah, candle lightings and more.

Like many events taking place right now, this was once scheduled to be an in-person memorial. But like with everything else, those involved had to adapt.

Shari Spark played a major role in helping this video come together. She shares that, “What we ended up with was not what we had imagined even after we had decided to do a remote program. Nevertheless, the goals for the outcome for Yom HaShoah were always the same:  to preserve memory, to create meaning and to keep dignity for the sake of those who perished in the Holocaust.”

With the help from members of the community, Spark was able to accomplish her goal.

“We continue to look forward to the day when we can be a community in person together, but we appreciate the fact that we were able to provide a compromise in these difficult times,” she said.
 
Editor’s note: The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley gives thanks to everyone who contributed to the production of the 2020 Yom Hashoah Memorial video.