With financial support from the Goldenberg Fund, Temple Concord will once again have yellow candles to light in commemoration of Yom Hashoah available in the building for pick-up. For the 13th year, the synagogue will join Jews throughout North America by participating in the Yom Hashoah Yellow Yahrzeit Candle ProgramTM, a program sponsored by the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs in cooperation with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and the Men of Reform Judaism. 

“We can send candles to you if you are out of the area or have someone bring it to you locally if you can’t come by,” said organizers of Temple Concord’s participation in the program. “Along with affording you the opportunity to light the candle in your home on Yom Hashoah, we are hoping you will consider giving tzedakah as a form of respect for those who did not survive the Holocaust.” To arrange for pick-up, contact the synagogue at 723-7355 or templeconcordaa@gmail.com.

Funds from the program help offset the cost of the confirmation class’ participation in the Union for Reform Judaism L’Taken Political Action Seminars in Washington, DC, and other youth programs for Holocaust related education, prejudice reduction, social justice and advocacy purposes. The L’Taken Seminar includes an afternoon at the United States Holocaust Memorial. “The project strengthens our teens as informed, committed and active American Jews,” organizers said. “It is our hope to continue the Yellow Candle Project annually and to provide our collective support to keep the memory of the six million alive.”

Organizers noted, “It’s been more than 75 years since Nazi concentration camps were liberated, and the Holocaust that claimed six million Jewish lives came to an end. As the years pass, the memories of those who fell victim to the ultimate hate crime must not diminish. That’s why we are encouraging everyone in the community to light a yellow yahrzeit candle on the night of Wednesday, April 27, the eve of Yom Hashoah. When families and individuals light a yellow candle, it increases awareness of the Holocaust and perpetuates our commitment to our people and an end to mass murder and genocide.”

Organizers added, “Yom Hashoah candles are a highly visible symbol for keeping the flame alive. Their color recalls the badges Jews were forced to wear in Nazi-occupied Europe, but their flame inspires hope that we can yet make our world a tolerant place to live.”