In an emotionally charged gathering in Miami Beach, members of South Florida’s Jewish community joined together to observe Holocaust Remembrance Day. The ceremony was held at the Holocaust Memorial of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, where dozens paid their respects to the six million Jewish victims who died during the Nazi genocide, as reported by WSVN.
Given recent events, including a spike in antisemitism and the ongoing conflict involving Israel, this year's commemoration felt particularly resonant, "This year, of course, it takes on an added and even more disturbing meaning as we confront antisemitism, the war in Israel and just enormous concern that the Jewish community is experiencing these days,” Jacob Solomon, president and CEO of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation said, as per WSVN.
Survivors also shared their harrowing experiences during the ceremony. According to CBS News Miami, Holocaust survivor Anita Karl recounted her chilling childhood memories. "I knew hunger, I knew fear, and I knew hatred," she told attendees. As one of her family’s few survivors, Karl recalled how the brutality of the Holocaust claimed the lives of her relatives, leaving only her mother and siblings.
In a harrowing tale, Karl described how, as a child in a ghetto, she witnessed the murder of her cousin by a German officer over a piece of chocolate. This brutality was not just a mere tale of survival, but a painful reminder of innocence lost, and an example of the indiscriminate cruelty faced by Jews during the Holocaust. Solomon also highlighted the community's solidarity with hostages currently held by Hamas expressing determination for their safe return, "We will not rest, we will pray for them, we will bring them home," he announced according to CBS News Miami.
Amidst the potent memories and tributes, the broader Jewish community's unity and determination to combat antisemitism was underscored. Solomon urged that the phrase 'never again' must retain its significance for the future, “These days, with the rise of anti-semitism, the rise of Jew hatred, it's more important than ever for the community to come together and take strength from one another, celebrate our resilience and make sure the words 'never again' are not just in history but have relevance and meaning for the future," he emphasized in a sentiment captured by CBS News Miami.
