Though most of those murdered were Jewish, the Nazis also targeted the LGBTQ community, various sects of Christians, the Roma/Sinti community, and those with physical or mental disabilities. The United States Congress established the Days of Remembrance as the nation’s annual commemoration of the Holocaust, during which local governments, schools, religious organizations, and civic centers host observances and remembrance activities for their communities.

A committee of students has organized this week’s events. Committee members are: Nikki Gelfand, Vanessa Vargo, Alanna Fridfertig, Jamie Buren, Hailey Fleishman, Amber Bates, Allie Bennett, and Melanie Insley.

Elon programs this week include the following:

Tuesday, April 14
College Coffee Table
9:40 a.m. to 10:20 a.m.

Stop by the Holocaust Remembrance Week table to get a ribbon to wear throughout the week. Ribbons are available in different colors, which represent different groups that were targeted by the Nazis.

Wednesday, April 15
“A Story and a Name”
11-3 p.m.
Moseley Table

Cards from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum will be available with the story of a survivor or victim. These stories help to personalize the events of the Holocaust, and that no two experiences were the same.

Wednesday, April 15
Screening of “One Survivor Remembers” and Panel Discussion
7-9 p.m.
McBride Gathering Space

The documentary short “One Survivor Remembers” will be shown and following the short film, we will be having a panel discussion with first and second generation Holocaust survivors, including Elon Professor Yoram Lubling, Esther Lederman, Dr. Marlene Appley, and Adrianne Stone. Sharon Halperin, founder of the Center for Holocaust Genocide and Human Rights Education in NC (Holocaust Speakers Bureau), will be moderating the discussion.

Thursday, April 16
Yom HaShoah Reading of the Names
7 a.m. – 5:45 p.m.
Moseley front steps

This is an annual Elon event where the campus comes together to read the names of some of the millions who were killed during the Holocaust; volunteers will read for 10 minutes each. to read names at some point throughout the day.

Friday, April 17
Indian Shabbat
6:30 p.m.
Lakeside 212

Before dinner, there were be a commemoration of the Holocaust with readings and the lighting of a Yarhzeit candle.

The Seder includes the traditional retelling of the story of the Exodus from Egypt (the reading of the Haggadah).  We will serve a traditional Passover meal of matzoh ball soup, beef brisket, vegetables, and Passover desserts, with vegetarian and vegan options available.  The Seder and meal will be finish by 7:00pm.

Non-Jewish faculty, staff, families, and students are always welcome.

The cost is $8/student, $10/adult, and $5/child and tickets and reservations are required.  The Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life has funds available for those for whom the cost of the Seder is a hardship.

Tickets can be purchased and spaces reserved for the Seder at the front desk of the Numen Lumen Pavilion with cash, check, or phoenix cash or by emailing elonpassover2015@gmail.com. Checks should be made out to Elon Hillel. You can pay at the door if you make a reservation through email beforehand.

The Seder coordinators are Ariel Mittleman ‘18 and Elena Goldman ’17.

For more information, contact Ginny, Acting Director of Hillel, at x7729

Srur will be leading a discussion on the kibbutz movement, from its beginnings as major component in forming Israel’s values to the threat that privatization poses in building communal kibbutz communities today. The session will also explore the green living movement within kibbutzim, and how they are utilizing sustainability in their communities.

Srur was born and raised on Kibbutz Snir in Israel’s Upper Galilee. For two years, she worked in the Division of Public Relations at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where she was also a student for her BA in Political Science and Latin American Studies. Liat also interned in Israel’s Ministry of the Interior in the Office of the Vice Director General. This is her second year as NC Hillel’s Israel Fellow.

The program will take place on Wednesday, October 16 from 5-6pm in the McBride Gathering Space in the Numen Lumen Pavilion. If you have any questions, please contact Ginny Vellani. 

Srur will be leading a discussion on the kibbutz movement, from its beginnings as a major component in forming Israel’s values to the threat that privatization poses in building communal kibbutz communities today. The session will also explore the green living movement within kibbutzim, and how they are utilizing sustainability in their communities.

Srur was born and raised on Kibbutz Snir in Israel’s Upper Galilee. For two years, she worked in the Division of Public Relations at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where she was also a student for her bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Latin American Studies. Liat also interned in Israel’s Ministry of the Interior in the Office of the Vice Director General. This is her second year as N.C. Hillel’s Israel Fellow.

The program will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 16 from 5 to 6 p.m. in the McBride Gathering Space in the Numen Lumen Pavilion. If you have any questions, please contact Ginny Vellani. 

Along with touring Israel, the students will have an opportunity to learn Israeli politics, society and history from Jewish leaders such as Avrham Infeld. The students will participate in a variety of experiences such as swimming in the Dead Sea, touring archeological digs, kayaking in the Jordan River and visiting the Western Wall.

Taglit-Birthright Israel provides the gift of first-time, peer group, educational trips to Israel for Jewish young adults ages 18 to 26. The gift is funded through private philanthropists, the government of Israel and local Jewish communities around the world.

This is the 10th group of students Elon has sent to Israel through the Taglit-Birthright organization. The group is made up of Asher Lipsitz, Sarah Baydush, Zachary Csillag, Sam Ackerman, Kayla Abdou, Sam Jones and Danielle Scheinman. For a second time, Ginny Vellani, Hillel development and Jewish life associate, will be staffing the Elon trip.

Challah for Hunger is having an interest meeting on Wednesday the 13th at 6:30 in the Sklut Hillel Center (white house across from the tennis courts).

Taglit-Birthright Israel provides the gift of first time, peer group, educational trips to Israel for Jewish young adults ages 18 to 26. The gift is funded through private philanthropists, the government of Israel, and local Jewish communities around the world.

This is the ninth group of students Elon has sent to Israel through the Taglit-Birthright organization.

Ginny Vellani, Hillel Development and Jewish Life Associate, will be staffing the Elon trip.
 

Enjoy hot fresh latkes (potato pancakes) and traditional sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts) while you play dreydel games and try to win some gelt (chocolate coins). The event will feature a symbolic lighting of Hanukah menorahs. There will be edible-dreydel-making, too!

The party is free and open to all students, faculty, staff, and families.

The Jewish holiday of Hanukah begins this year on the evening of December 8, and continues on for seven nights.

Hanukah is a Jewish festival commemorating the rededication and cleansing of the Temple after an uprising against the Syrians the 2nd century BCE. When Jews, headed by the Maccabee family, went to light the Temple’s menorah, they found only one small flask of oil with which to light it. However, the light burned miraculously for 8 days. On each night of Hanukah Jews light candles on a hanukkiah, the proper name for an eight-flamed menorah, to celebrate this miracle.

For more information, please contact Kim Gersh.

The planning committee also includes Millie Rosen, Johanna Rosen, and Allison Roteman.