From
HorrortoMiracle-TheHolocausttoIsraelProcessional[Amanda and Ronit begin at the podium]
Amanda: The Temple Beth-el Slavin-Malkin School Hebrew Graduation class of 2002 has spent the past year learning about our Jewish history. We have explored our roots and our heritage on a level much deeper than ever before. Beginning in January we immersed ourselves into a comprehensive unit about the Shoah (the Holocaust), and the birth of Israel. We now present our graduation cantata titled, From Horror to Miracle - The Holocaust to Israel.
Ronit: Today in Israel people are moving away and are being murdered in markets, shops, and homes. Back when the Holocaust was going on there were people also being murdered in their homes, in camps, markets, everywhere. I feel sick every time I hear the words suicide bomber. To think that when the Jews came to Israel to be saved from Egypt and slavery, and when today where there are bombs and people dying in Israel. I thought that after the Holocaust was over nothing like this would ever happen again. I was wrong.
[Bette, Kate, and Sam Carmell step forward]
Bette: May we see the day when war and bloodshed cease. When a great peace will embrace the whole world.
Kate: Then nation will not threaten nation and people will not again know war.
Sam C: For all who live on earth shall realize we have not come into being to hate or to destroy.
Bette: We have come into being to praise, to labor, and to love.
Kate: Compassionate God, bless the leaders of all nations with the power of compassion.
Sam C: I will bring peace to the land and you shall lie down and no one shall terrify you.
All 3: Let love and justice flow like a mighty stream. Let peace fill the earth as water fills the sea.
[Samantha Brottman, Scott Grodsky step forward]
Samantha B: If ever grief were measured or my sorrow put on a scale it would outweigh the sands of the ocean. For God has hidden my way and put hedges across my path.
Scott G: I sit and gnaw on my grief, my groans pour out like water. My worst fears have happened. Silence and peace have abandoned me and anguish is in my heart.
[Dustin, Ally, Stephanie, Kate, Bette, Amanda, and Danny Durez step forward]
SONG: AFLAME (Choir)
Bette: Aflame, my brothers, aflame!
Bette & Kate: O see, our little village is aflame!
Bette, Kate, & Amanda: Stormy winds on embers glowing,
Bette, Kate, Amanda, & Danny: Burning, breaking, fiercely blowing,
Bette, Kate, Amanda, Danny & Ally: Fire that's ever stronger growing -
All: All our world's aflame!
Amanda & Bette: And you fold your arms, uncaring,
Dustin, Ally, & Danny: Therein lies the shame -
Stephanie & Kate: And you stand unmoving, staring,
All: While our world's aflame.
Bette: Aflame, my brother, aflame!
Bette & Kate: O you alone can help or bear the blame!
Bette, Kate, & Amanda: If you love our little village
Bette, Kate, Amanda, & Danny: Take up arms and stop the pillage;
Bette, Kate, Amanda, Danny & Ally: With your blood put out the fire,
All: Men, uphold your name!
Amanda & Bette: Please don't fold your arms, uncaring,
Dustin, Ally, & Danny: Therein lies the shame -
Stephanie & Kate: Don't just stand, put out the fire -
All: All our world's aflame.
[Zach Noren, Dustin, Stephanie, and David step forward]
Zach N:
There is a window
Where freedom is bound,
Where the people watch hour after hour.
The people ponder about the past,
Before they came to this concentration camp.
And if the ones who made it through,
Would come back and ponder and remember,
The days when they pondered for freedom.
Stephanie:
I walk silently,
I cry weakly,
I hate angrily,
I long to get out secretly,
I live my life sadly.
Dustin:
The Jews showed they were strong.
Even if they gave in.
The ones that survived show this
In oh-so-many ways.
I know they went through a lot,
Especially sorrow and pain.
When we were free,
We were so happy!
We didn't know what to do!
David:
I
Love
To Be A
Jew. A Jew
Is Very Religious.
A Jew Has Feelings
Just Like a Normal Person.
Just Unlike a Normal Person.
Hitler, A Destroyer Of
Vitality And People
Like Him Or
Her Or
I
[Jordyn steps forward]
Jordyn:
There we stood.
Together in the wood.
What happened next Is
hard to describe in text.
Our clothing was stripped
The freezing cold began to nip.
We were led to be gassed.
Life really is very fast.
Into the chambers we stepped.
Many knew and wept.
Small pellets rained down from the ceiling.
Everybody, now kneeling.
Coughing, choking, and gasping for air.
Those SS guards don't care.
The gas chamber is compiled with lifeless Jews.
Like that will ever make the news!
And where do they put all of the dead?
Sometimes in mass graves, covering our head.
They can cremate us, too.
That isn't very hard to do.
Where do our ashes go?
Into a pond is where we now flow.
Life is too short to throw away.
You could be fine one minute and die the next day.
Your eyes close for the last time. And
everything is black, I can't find another rhyme.
[Danny Durez, Amanda, Bobby, and Ben step forward]
Danny D: No one is as remote as you, Lord our God. Yet, no one is closer to us. You are beyond confines of all creation, yet forever present in every moment.
Amanda: I have lived among those who hated peace. I sought peace, but they longed for war.
Bobby: This is a refrain of the people Israel. Often since my youth they have afflicted me.
All 4: But they have not prevailed.
Ben: Deal kindly with us, Lord. Deal kindly for we have suffered enough.
Bobby: We remember those who burned our books, then returned to burn our synagogues and brazenly sought to burn our people.
Danny D: They danced at our discomfiture. They cheered at our dismay.
All 4: But we shall prevail.
SONG: YOUTH ANTHEM (All)
Though we sing of grief unbounded,
Yet our steps are proud and true!
Though by enemies surrounded,
Youth and vigor will break though,
Young is every, every, every-one who's willing
Years don't count for you and me; Older people
also, also can be children in a world that's new
and free.
We'll remember those who harmed us,
We'll remember every friend, Yesterdays
and then tomorrows, Will our lives
together blend.
Young is every, every, every-one who's willing
Years don't count for you and me; Older people
also, also can be children in a world that's new
and free.
[Ronit, Brett and Zach Cohen step forward]
Ronit: We share a common heritage, faith, duty, and fate. We give strength to each other by our vitality, and by our common efforts to provide a spiritual center and rallying point for the entire People Israel.
Brett: May God bless us from Zion. May we witness the well being of Jerusalem all the days of our lives. May there be peace within her gates and well-being within her homes.
All 3: May peace embrace Israel and the people Israel. AMEN.
Zach C: The hand of the Lord was upon us. He carried me off by God's spirit. He made me walk all around and become a part of the people Israel.
[Dustin, Ally, Stephanie, Kate, Bette, Amanda, and Danny Durez step forward]
SONG: ONE MORNING (Choir)
Danny: One morning a Jew went out into the street -
Kate, Stephanie, & Ally: O tell me what happened, my brethren,
Danny: Just why is it wet on the sand at our feet
Danny & Dustin: On the road that leads out to Okentshe?
Bette: One Jew then another went out for a walk -
Kate: O listen, my laddy, my lassie -
Stephanie: The burning hot blood on the road seems to talk
Amanda: On the way that approaches Dinasi.
Danny: A Jew went out early, from home did he go,
Kate, Stephanie, & Ally: And never came back nor was seen more -
Danny: It was winter then, with its cold and its snow,
Danny & Dustin: And now already it's summer.
Bette: It was not dipped in salt, yet how salty the bread -
Kate: O see our tears falling in sorrow -
Stephanie: Is Father still living? Perhaps he is dead?
Amanda: And who will be taken tomorrow?
[Andy, Melissa, Sammi Levin, and Jake step forward]
Andy: Jerusalem is the promise of peace and God's presence. The word of the Lord from Jerusalem declares:
Melissa: "They shall beat their swords into plow shares, their spears into pruning hooks."
Sammi: "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation nor shall they experience war anymore."
Jake: "May we witness the peace of Jerusalem. May those who love her prosper."
All 4: May we all be embraced by her promise, peace, and God's presence.
[Carly, Ross, Dana, and Dan S, step forward]
Carly: For Zion's sake I cannot keep silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will speak out until her triumph shines forth like the sun her deliverance like a blazing torch.
Ross: May God make Jerusalem a theme of endless praise for all humanity throughout the world. Then all who love Israel will rejoice with her and all who mourn her will celebrate and share her joy.
Dana: We who are unwelcome sojourners in lands not our own find a hope and a promise in Eretz Yisrael.
Dan S: For God shall be your everlasting light. Your God shall be your splendor. As a mother comforts her children, so shall I comfort you. And you shall find comfort in Jerusalem.
All 4: And the people who walked in darkness shall see great light.
[Dustin, Ally, Stephanie, Kate, Bette, Amanda, and Danny Durez step forward]
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!MISSING SECTION: PONAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[Adam and Michael step forward]
Adam: Gevalt Jews! Do not despair. In the Shoah, the Partisans sang: "Never say that we have come to journey's end when days are dark and clouds descend." God redeems the people Israel and rebuilds Jerusalem.
Michael: Gevalt Jews! You shall not despair. Our sense of comradeship and fellowship has strengthened us in the face of unrighteous foes who would rise up to destroy us.
SONG: NEVER SAY (All)
Never say that you are on your final road,
Though over head dark skies of lead may death forebode;
The long awaited hour's surly drawing near, )
When with a roar our steps will thunder; we are here! )2x
From land of palm tree to the far-off land of snow,
Our people come together crushed by pain and woe.
But where a drop of our blood has touched the ground, )
There our strength and our courage will resound. )2x
[Scott Grodsky, Ross, David, and Samantha Brottman step forward]
Scott G: Our faith in the truth of God's teaching and our desire to maintain and advance these noble values has enabled us to triumph over defeat and persecution time and time again.
Ross: We that just as the God has redeemed Jacob and rescued him from a hand stronger than his own, so can we praise God and count Him as the Redeemer of Israel.
David: We believe that justice and peace will reign. God's splendor will then be seen in all humanity.
All 4: We believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Messiah. And though he may tarry, we believe.
Samantha B: We ask at this time that Cantor Zelson please lead us in the song Ani Maamin as our teacher, Erin Moore, lights the 6 candles on the Yom HaShoah menorah.
SONG: ANI MAAMIN (Congregation)
A-ni ma-a-min Be-e-mu-nah
sh'lei-mah B'vi-at ha-ma-shi-
ach A-ni ma-a-min
V'af al pi she-yit-ma-mei-ach
Im kol zeh a-ni ma-a-min A-ni
ma-a-min
[Cameron, Mark Wolf, and Eric step forward]
All 3: Avinu SaBahmin Tzur Yisrael V'Goaloh
Our God in Heaven, Rock and Redeemer of the People Israel:
Cameron: Bless the State of Israel, with its promise of redemption. Shield it with your love, spread over it the shelter of your peace.
Mark W: Guide its leaders and advisors with your light and your truth. Help them with Your good counsel and strengthen the hands of those who defend our holy land.
Eric: Deliver them, crown their efforts with triumph. Bless the land with peace and its inhabitants with lasting joy. AMEN.
[Ally, Jeff, Dustin, Sam Hensel, Marc Stone, and Scott Diamond step forward]
Ally: On this, the 54th Anniversary of the State of Israel, we give a modest token of admiration and solidarity. We, the friends of Israel wish to express our support to Israel in these difficult times. It is with great emotion that we extend our love and gratitude to the people Israel.
Jeff: A friend of Israel is a friend of democracy.
Sam H: A friend of Israel is a friend of peace.
Dustin: A friend of Israel is a friend of human rights.
Mark S: A friend of Israel is a friend of the values of justice and equity.
Scott D: A friend of Israel is a friend of the free world.
Jeff: A friend of Israel is first and foremost a friend inspired by these principles we declare on this day, independence, solidarity, peace, and security.
Marc S: Will everyone please rise and join us in singing the National Anthem of the State of Israel, Hatikvah.
SONG: HATIKVAH (Congregation)
Kol od ba-le-vav pe-ni-mah Ne-
fesh ye-hu-di ho-mi-yah, U-le-fa-a-
tey miz-rah ka-di-mah A-yin ITzi-
yon tzo-fi-yah.
Od lo av'dah tik-va-te-nu, Ha-tik-
vah bat sh'not al-pa-yim, Li-h'yot
am hof-shi be-ar tze-nu, B'E-retz
Tzi-yon vi-ru-sha-la-yim.
Recessional
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