As recently as Oct 7, 2023, the
barbaric acts of terrorism in Israel eerily reminded us of the gross
atrocities of the Holocaust. Anti-Semitism is exponentially rising
and those who are concerned about this, we invite to partner with
us this year. This march is a bi-lateral effort among the Christian
and Jewish communities to shoulder together in unity.
DALLAS, March 28,
2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- In 1933, over nine million
Jews lived in Europe, working
hard, and raising families in the harsh reality of the worldwide
economic depression. By May of 1945, the number horrifically stood
at three million. Following Adolf
Hitler's appointment as German chancellor on January 30, 1933, the road from persecution to
genocide was paved with the lives of six million Jewish men, women,
and children. The Third Reich and their collaborators had murdered
two-thirds of the population of European Jewry as part of a
systematic "Final Solution" — that much of the world stood by
silently while the atrocities were being committed was
incomprehensible.
"I've experienced the power of incredible
unity as people of all ages from different religions
and ethnicities come together to stand against anti-Semitism"
Rabbi Heidi Coretz, Director, Hillel
at SMU
As the horrifying images of what the Allied troops discovered
when they entered the concentration camps began to spread
throughout the world, it became a time of collective mourning.
Yet living amongst the stench of death and destruction, amongst
the piles of corpses, bones, and human ashes, soldiers also found
thousands of survivors—Jews and non-Jews alike—suffering from
starvation, disease, and from profound memories that would leave
genetic footprints and pass between generations. For those who
survived the Holocaust, the journey to rebuild their lives was
daunting; it was also a testimony to the power of faith and the
strength of spirit.
Then as recent as Oct 7, 2023, the
barbaric acts of terrorism in Israel eerily reminded us of the gross
atrocities of the Holocaust. Anti-Semitism is exponentially rising
and those who are concerned about this, we invite to partner with
us this year.
The March of Life is an international organization started by
Jobst and Charlotte Bittner,
originating in Tübingen, Germany.
Together with penitent descendants of Wehrmacht soldiers, members
of the SS, and the German police force, they have organized
memorial and reconciliation marches at historic sites of the
Holocaust all over Europe.
As organizations around the country partner with March of
Remembrance, people from all walks of life come together with a
common goal; to remember the Holocaust, stand against anti-Semitism
and hate, and reconcile with the Jewish community near the time of
Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day). This is a time when tens
of thousands of people worldwide join with one voice—one heart—and
one collective goal; to honor, educate, remember, and engage. And
now, Marches of Remembrance have been held worldwide in 20 nations
and more than 400 cities, including Israel.
March of Remembrance Dallas is the local chapter of this
international organization inviting the community to join us at
2:00 pm on Sunday, April 7, 2024, as
the Nathaniel Foundation and Hillel at SMU partner with the SMU Office of the Chaplain and
Religious Life, SMU Jewish Studies, Perkins
School of Theology, SMU AEPi, Mishelanu and ADL Texoma on
the campus of Southern Methodist
University in the Hughes-Trigg Student Center. This march
reflects the bi-lateral effort among the Christian and Jewish
communities to shoulder together in unity.
"This moving event includes a candle lighting ceremony with
Holocaust survivors Rosian Zerner
and Tova Feldman sharing their
testimony of survival, followed by an "Honor March" around the
SMU campus. Each participant will carry
a stone with a victim's name and age. The purpose of the stone is
to remember those who perished and stand in solidarity against
anti-Semitism and hate. The event will conclude with the
announcement of the winners of the Nathaniel Foundation
scholarships and a reception following the program." Rabbi
Heidi Coretz, Director of Hillel at
SMU."
The awarding of the Nathaniel Foundation/March of Remembrance
scholarships is a major aspect of the event, as it engages and
mobilizes students to be upstanders and positive exemplars to their
generation. This year the Nathaniel Foundation is awarding one
scholarship for $4,000, one for
$2,000 and ten for $1,000.00 to participating SMU students.
A recent scholarship recipient had this to say.
"I had the honor of receiving The Nathaniel Foundation's March
of Remembrance Scholarship last year. Being the granddaughter of
two holocaust survivors, it was very meaningful to be able to share
my families' story with SMU and the
greater Dallas community. I
attended the March of Remembrance with my parents, including my dad
whose parents are holocaust survivors. Walking with my dad in the
march, carrying signs that read "Never Forget," and sharing the
grief of the holocaust with our community was very meaningful to
us. Having the opportunity to speak the names of our loved ones and
so many loved ones that were murdered in the holocaust was a
powerful moment and an extraordinary opportunity for us to share
our story. I am thankful to The Nathaniel Foundation for allowing
me to share my families' story and am touched by the community the
Nathaniel Foundation has being built in support of the Dallas
Jewish community."
Romi Geller 2023 scholarship
recipient
March of Remembrance is not an opportunity for a political
statement, a rally, or a publicity stunt. We march together to
honor the Holocaust survivors and their descendants and let their
voices be heard, and their stories told. It is not a platform for
publicity to promote an agenda on the part of any person or
organization, nor is it a platform for proselytizing. We remember
those who were lost and those who were brave enough to stand up
against the horror, raise their voices, and act. And now, in light
of the recent October 7th attack in
Israel, we need to take every
opportunity to speak out against this horrific display of barbaric
hatred and violence.
We march to educate a generation that despite the overwhelming
documented proof of the reality of the Holocaust, there are many
who still deny it ever happened or claim that the reports were
exaggerated. And we act to engage with our local communities as we
take to the streets in peaceful assembly and collectively raise our
voices against modern-day anti-Semitism, Jewish-hatred, and any
form of racism, motivating people all over the globe to take a
stand and speak out.
"I've experienced the power of incredible unity as people of all
ages from different religions and ethnicities come together to
stand against anti-Semitism," said Rabbi Heidi Coretz, Director, Hillel at SMU. "We invite students, families, congregations,
and communities to join us as we raise our voices together for
remembrance, reconciliation, and friendship on this special day
that will change the way you view tradition, history, and the power
of the human spirit."
Media Contact
Jackie Thornton, March of
Remembrance Dallas, 1 832-527-8132,
Jackie@thenathanielfoundation.org,
http://www.mordallas.org/
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SOURCE March of Remembrance Dallas