Remembering the Holocaust
It is the story of our people – passed down from generation to generation for thousands of years.
It is a symbol of hope – a meticulously crafted document which we read every week.
It is preserved and protected – placed in our sacred Ark and carefully tended to every moment it is entrusted to any individual blessed to read from it.
It is The Torah.
Temple Etz Chaim is grateful to have received many scrolls, each with their own special meaning. But none of the scrolls in our care possess more importance or reverence than our Holocaust Remembrance Scroll.
In 1991, Temple Etz Chaim received its Holocaust Remembrance Scroll on behalf of the Memorial Scrolls Trust; Elie Wiesel gave the dedication.
As a community and a congregation, we remain honored to house it within our walls. This Torah is only occasionally read from and is placed in a position of reverence at the entrance to our Paskow Sanctuary. It occupies a special place along with a donated frame of relics, pictured Above Right, graciously given to Temple Etz Chaim by The Wank Family.
Temple Etz Chaim’s Holocaust Remembrance Scroll shines as a beacon of hope and optimism, that no matter what obstacles, struggles – and even horrors – challenge the Jewish people, that the stories of our people will live on, preserved and enshrined in a place of holiness and respect. For any member of our congregation or visitors to our place of worship, it exists as a stalwart reminder that the symbols of our faith must be protected and revered. Just above it, a partial listing of surnames of those who endured the torment of the Holocaust are engraved – an additional reminder that the Torah contains not just stories of our past, but the stories of our people.
Every year, Temple Etz Chaim observes Yom HaShoah – a day of commemoration for the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust during World War II. We remember and honor those who bravely faced one of the worst atrocities of human history, those who suffered at the hands of the Nazis as well as those who were able to survive.
On October 7, 2023, our Holocaust Remembrance Scroll took on an additional meaning, as Jews were reminded that the hatred and cruelty of the past occasionally returns in new forms.
If you are a member of TEC – or one of our valued visitors – we encourage you to take a moment to view our incredible Holocaust Remembrance Scroll in Remembrance Hall and learn more about its incredible history.