Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on July 14, 2022

Jul 13, 2022, 9:44pmUpdated 26m ago

By: News 12 Staff

Young Israel of White Plains held an event Wednesday to honor the life and legacy of Holocaust survivors.

About 70 Holocaust survivors gathered for the second annual Holocaust Survivor Day hosted by the Westchester Jewish Community Services.

The event was not only a time for the survivors to enjoy food and music, but also to socialize with others who have similar stories.

Hanne Holsten says she, her parents, her brother and her sister all survived the Holocaust. She says the event was about celebrating life.

"We were hunted and tried to evade concentration camps for two years, and we did, Holsten says. "I'm grateful for my life, I love my life, even though we went through horrors. I was only 7 or 8 years old."

For others, they say celebrations like this are a bittersweet moment of realization.

"The reason we're here is because we are survivors, says Jerry Kaidanow. "It's very touching to see people our age and olderthat every year we come, there's less of us."

Holsten says it's important to ensure their stories and legacy are eternal.

"We did survive, and we have to tell our story, she says.

Earlier this year, the state passed a bill ensuring that the Holocaust is taught in every New York school classroom to make sure history is never forgotten.

Read the original here:

'We have to tell our story.' Holocaust survivors honored at Westchester Jewish Community Services - News 12 Brooklyn

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