Yom HaShoah - 5767
The Survivors of the Holocaust Are Dwindling – Will the Memories Last Beyond Them?
by Israel HighWay Staff

Since the beginning of the school year, a group of girls in Israel has been hard at work on the Button Project, an effort to memorialize the 1.5 million children who were killed in the Holocaust. The group, from the Aseh Chayil school in Efrat, chose buttons because the unique size, shape and color of each button represents the uniqueness of every child who was lost in the Holocaust and because the round button represents the circle of life that was so violently ended by the Nazis. The project has taken on a life of its own with volunteers from the entire Efrat community helping to collect, count and store the buttons. The volunteers have even included Holocaust survivors who live in the surrounding area. In addition to collecting the buttons, the girls who are organizing the project also asked contributors to share their personal and family stories from the Holocaust. These stories have opened the girls' eyes to a world that was lost over 60 years ago.

The Israeli project mirrors the Button Project conducted by the Peoria IL Jewish Federation several years ago. Eleven million buttons were collected, representing the six million Jews and the additional five million "enemies of the German state" who were murdered by the Nazis. The Peoria Federation's motto was "Joining our past to our future."

Both programs are inspired by the rural community of Whitwell TN and its 1998 "Paper Clips" project and Children's Holocaust Museum.
View Visit to Whitwell Paper Clip Memorial.

This year Yom HaShoa v’HaGvura (Holocaust Martyrs and Heroes Remembrance Day) will be commemorated in Israel and in Jewish communities throughout the world on Monday, the 27th of Nissan (corresponding to April 16).

Issue of the Week is continued below

A Pub to Call Their Own by Michal Berdugo

In response to the growing trend of teenage alcohol use, alcohol-free pubs for youth have opened in various countries around the world. In Israel, the first pub of this kind opened at the Lugar Bar and Restaurant in downtown Jerusalem. The pub is also scheduled to host special arts and culture events and serves decorative, non-alcoholic cocktails for all. The establishment and facilitation of the pub is a joint effort of the Lev Ha'ir Community Center and the Jerusalem Municipality, which share the budget. The municipality's involvement is key, as it indicates Kikar Safra's recognition that more activities for youth are needed in central Jerusalem. (Jerusalem Post)

Israel, PA Agree to Open Trade Passages to Gaza by Avi Issacharoff

Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) have agreed on opening trade passages to the Gaza Strip. A terminal for imports to Gaza will operate via the Kerem Shalom passage. The Palestinians will be able to import and export goods from Egypt and other countries via the Rafah passage alone. The plan was initiated during the Second Lebanon War by Peretz's political aide, Hagai Alon. It was completed by an inter-ministerial team headed by Amos Gilad, head of foreign policy and security in the Defense Ministry, in an attempt to solve Gaza's economic straits caused by the obstructions in the Karni passage. The passages will be operated by the Airport Authority. Peretz has agreed to the plan in principle but has yet to issue his final approval. (Ha'aretz)

How Israel Saved Intel by Ian King

The chip Intel is counting on to recover from a battering by Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) wasn't invented in Silicon Valley. Instead, Intel is betting on a group of Israeli mavericks and a design bureau 7,400 miles away. "Do they (Intel) ever regain the prominence and bellwether status that they achieved during the '90s?" asked Daniel Morgan, who helps manage $5.45 billion, including Intel shares, at Columbus, Ga.-based Synovus Investment Advisors. That answer would be a definite no if not for the Israeli team, said Doug Freedman, an analyst for Greenwich, Conn.-based brokerage American Technology Research. "They saved the company," Freedman said. "Without those new products, Intel would be in a lot more trouble." (Seattle Times)

Israeli Educators Visit Utah School to Exchange Ideas
by Joseph M. Dougherty

Two schools - one in Davis County, one in Israel - are 8,000 miles apart, but they have some common ground. Canyon Heights is an alternative high school with 110 students in the Davis School District in Utah. NA'AMAT Technological School, in Nazareth, Israel, seeks to give Arab girls the chance to make something of themselves.

About a dozen teachers and administrators from the NA'AMAT Technological School made their way to Kaysville as guests of Canyon Heights High School administrators. The educators from both schools are hoping to exchange ideas on ways to improve teaching and reaching out to students. Ann Dale, a counselor and social worker at Canyon Heights, said she hopes students will have a better cultural understanding of the Middle East after the NA'AMAT teachers visit classes and speak to students. (Desert News)

Students Discover a Universal Language by Julie Rasicot

Munching on hummus, pita bread and pretzels, six Israeli teens and a class at Sherwood High School in Sandy Spring discovered how much they have in common. It was exactly the scene for which the sponsors of the Israeli student delegation had hoped when they planned the 9-day trip to visit public high schools in Montgomery County and Washington. Sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, the March trip marked the first time that Israeli teens have visited local schools. The delegation's goal was to educate U.S. students about life in Israel, beyond the images of the violence and strife of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that dominate headlines, trip organizers said. "It's one thing to watch videos about it, but it's another thing to actually see teenagers from Israel," one American student, Sherwood senior Katie Schmelter, said. (Washington Post)

I Met Children Who Only Wanted to Live by Idan Raichel

Three months ago, I was asked if I would like to join a group traveling to Ethiopia and Rwanda. It took me a while to realize that the group consisted of doctors who travel around the world to treat children suffering from heart ailments. Naturally I was a bit cynical: Who are you? Great heroes trying to save the world? "Come and see the department at the "Save A Child’s Heart" (SACH) program at Wolfson Medical Center," they told me. I decided to go there one morning. I saw things I couldn’t believe existed only ten minutes away from my home in Tel Aviv. Students from all over the world take care of Palestinian and Jordanian children, children from Zanzibar, Vietnam and Ethiopia – all of them suffering from heart diseases and laying in one department full of tubes.

When we arrived at the hospital in Addis Ababa, there were already 40 children waiting for us. At the hospital we meet other people - young people in their twenties who were already operated on as children and who returned to the hospital to volunteer. It’s moving to hear that some of them have become medical students. (Ynet News)

Yes, MASA! Let 10,000 Jewish 'Flowers' Bloom! by Helen Cavanagh

Last week the Israeli government declared its MASA to be a success, and approved its expansion. MASA brings Jewish youth to Israel for a period of five to ten months of volunteering and study at more than 140 programs and institutions throughout the country, heavily subsidizing the trip and offering generous scholarships. This year MASA - which means "journey" in Hebrew - expects to bring nearly 10,000 students and volunteers to Israel. The plan is to bring 20,000 young Jews by 2010.

Jared Balavram, 19, of Highland Park, NJ, on his second trip to Israel, will complete his 10-month program in May. "I'll go home happy that I came. I had a great time, I understand myself better, I understand Israel better - the whole thing - I loved it." Shane Gerstein, 19, of Flemington, NJ claims: "I'm in love with Israel now." (Israel Insider)

Tide Turns in Israel's Favor as First Cruise Ship in Seven Years Sails In by Nathan Burstein

Hundreds of American and European tourists arrived in Israel on Thursday morning in a way they haven't for years - by cruise ship. The Amsterdam, a 62,000-ton vessel operated by the Holland America cruise company, was the first foreign cruise liner to drop anchor in Israel since the outbreak of the second intifada, signaling the company's confidence in Israel's political and security situation. Amsterdam passengers expressed similar enthusiasm for Holland America's return to the Jewish state, disembarking for daylong tours in numbers described by one crew member as "exceptional." The Amsterdam is just the first of a number of cruises scheduled to dock in Ashdod and Haifa in the coming months. A series of sold-out Princess Cruises will anchor in Israel beginning in June, bringing an estimated 13,000 passengers - and some NIS 12 million - into the country. (Jerusalem Post)

Jewish Film Festival Circuit Bringing Israel to More Americans
by Sue Fishkoff

There are more than 100 Jewish film festivals in North America right now, ranging from the oldest and largest in San Francisco to one-day events at smaller synagogues. While these festivals showcase Jewish-themed films from many countries, the Israeli films strike a particular chord. For American Jews, it's an immediate, palpable connection to the Jewish state. "Film festivals offer a very immediate and direct way to connect with Israeli film and with Jewish directors who are exploring themes of Jewish identity and Israeli identity," says Mitch Levine, president of the International Film Festival Consulting Group.

For Israelis living in America, the films provide a whiff of home. And for non-Jews, they show a country filled with ordinary people facing ordinary challenges, quite different from what they see on the nightly news. (Jerusalem Post)

Israel Stuns Favorite Italy 3-0 to Make Tennis World Group Playoffs by Rami Hipsh

Israel stunned Italy over the weekend as it took an unassailable 3-0 lead in their Europe/Africa Zone Group 1 second-round tie to advance to the World Group playoffs. With the match for the taking, Andy Ram and Yoni Erlich showed their class against an Italian duo that had never played together prior to the encounter, winning 6-3, 7-6, 7-6 to set off frenzied celebrations and send Israel through to the World Group playoffs for the first time since 1988. (Ha'aretz)

Hatikva, Like You've Never Heard Before by Or Barnea

Over 1,000 people came to the Theatre Club in Jaffa last week to see the great guitarist Marty Friedman. He delivered the goods, captivating the audience for two whole hours. Friedman, who is Jewish, is known for his spectacular performance with Megadeth in Israel a decade ago. Back then, he played Hatikva, Israel's national anthem, on the stage. Last week, he did it again. He opened the performance with the national anthem. The audience sang along with him, or rather, screamed along. Listen to Friedman's Hatikva (Ynet News)

The Plague of Indifference by Renana Marmelstein

Why were we struck with one blow after another? We were people who had moved to the front in order to defend the State’s borders. After all, Gush Katif was established for security reasons. How did it transpire that we were kicked off of our land? We fought as hard as we could, but it was to no avail. The worst blow of all descended upon us; we were expelled from our homes and from Gush Katif.

It’s been a year and a half since we were banished from our homes and our land, but nothing’s changed. We’re not asking for the moon. We just want to try and reconstruct that which was ruined. I want to live in a house, not a refugee camp. We keep hoping that maybe now they’ll finally sign the contract and then we can begin construction. So, meanwhile, we live out of our suitcases, with our lives on hold.

My family and I are strong, and we’ll survive this traumatic experience. But, beware, dear reader. If this apathy and indifference continues, your turn will be next.

Renana Marmelstein (pictured), 20, originally from Ganei Tal in Gush Katif, currently resides in temporary housing in Yad Binyamin and is a communications major at Sapir College. (Ynet News)

For German Teens, Shame Stirred Action by Adam Deutsch

When six German teenagers entered the beit midrash at YULA boys high school, there was an indescribable sense of tension in the air. The four girls and two boys seemed hesitant and slightly anxious as they faced 60 Jewish boys eager for discussion. As a natural skeptic, my personal attitude toward conversing with people of possible Nazi ancestry was not very optimistic. As I learned of their story, my admiration for the noble actions of these students grew, and my pessimism began to slowly decline. However, the images of the atrocities of the Holocaust - and the voices of my Holocaust-survivor grandparents - constantly reverberated in my mind.

One of the many interesting questions posed to the German teens was, "Do you feel guilty?" German student Hagen Verleger answered: "I do not feel guilty, however I feel greatly ashamed." I was fascinated with that answer, because I realized that shame and guilt are directly connected, but they are far from synonymous.

As a teen, I find it essential to look at our past and scrutinize Jewish history in order to improve or even attempt to improve my generation and set the tracks for future generations. Will we look back on our ancestors' mistakes with futile guilt, unproductively blaming ourselves? Or will we be stimulated by our shame and become motivated to possibly rectify those faults? Will we unify or continue to be fragmented and suffer our demise?

Adam Deutsch is a junior at YULA High School for boys. (Jewish Journal)