Remembering Holocaust Victims: A Unique Tradition at Temple Beth El

At Temple Beth El in West Palm Beach, Florida, a poignant tradition unfolds during Shabbat services as congregants recite the Mourner’s Kaddish for children who perished in the Holocaust. The initiative, known as "Remember a Child," invites members to adopt the memory of a child up to the age of 17 who was murdered during this tragic period and for whom no relatives remain to recite the prayer. Rabbi Alan Bell leads this effort, emphasizing the importance of honoring these lost lives. Approximately one-third of the synagogue's 150 families participate, with many reciting Kaddish on the anniversary of the child's burial and during Yizkor, a memorial prayer recited four times a year.

Times of Israel

Cheryl Finkelstein, who has overseen the project for decades, notes that participants often develop deep emotional connections to the children they remember. Some congregants have engaged in creative expressions of mourning, such as writing poems or using software to visualize what their adopted child might have looked like as an adult. Susan Bell, who has taken over the initiative, is actively compiling information about the children being remembered, utilizing resources from Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Israel. The center maintains an online database with the names of 587,226 children who were victims of the Holocaust.

Times of Israel

Menachem Rosensaft, general counsel emeritus to the World Jewish Congress, advocates for the integration of Holocaust remembrance into Jewish life, asserting that practices like Kaddish for child victims at Beth El serve to keep the memory alive. He warns against the risk of the Holocaust becoming merely a statistic in future generations. Finkelstein recounts a significant instance where a congregant included in his will instructions for his son to continue reciting Kaddish for the adopted child, ensuring that the memory persists beyond his lifetime.

Times of Israel

The "Remember a Child" initiative has garnered attention beyond the synagogue, inspiring similar practices in other congregations, although the extent of this adoption remains unclear. As Holocaust memory faces challenges in contemporary discourse, the efforts at Temple Beth El highlight a meaningful approach to honoring the victims and fostering a connection to Jewish heritage among younger generations. The initiative not only serves as a memorial but also as a vital educational tool, illustrating the widespread impact of the Holocaust on individual lives and families.

Times of Israel