The Yom Hashoah concert took place on April 25, 2006 to commemorate Yom Hashoah. All proceeds from the concert have been designated to benefit the Lynn Community Eruv.

In his address that evening, Rabbi Kelman explained that it is appropriate to have a concert on Yom Hashoah because music kept our people alive in the concentration camps. The victims of the Holocaust would be proud that we are remembering what happened to our people, we have hope and are building an eruv in the City of Lynn. (He will be happy to give you the text of his remarks.)

Rabbi Joseph Levy, Chief Rabbi of Florence, Italy, was the guest speaker. He said we don't know why the Holocaust happened and why it happened to the Jews. His message was similar to that of Rabbi Kelman. "We must survive and we must have hope."

The featured performers were Ellen Garfield of Lynn, Davide Casali of Trieste, Italy and children from the European School of Music in Marblehead led by Irina Frumes.

The children were quite professional, serious and played piano compositions that set the appropriate mood for the concert.

Mrs. Garfield performed a song composed by Matilda Koen-Sarano who is Rebbetzin Kelman's mother. The lyrics are in Ladino and the poem was written in Italy on Yom Hashoah. She also performed numbers by victims of the concentration camps - some who survived and some who didn't. The music survives.

Mr. Casali performed heart wrenching atonal compositions also written by Holocaust victims and concluded with a work by Mendelssohn to lift the spirits of the audience.

We still are in need of funds to obtain permits from the utilities and municipal authorities to construct the Lynn Eruv. Please send donations for the Lynn Eruv to Congregation Ahabat Sholom, 151 Ocean Street, Lynn, Massachusetts 01902 and mark the checks "FOR ERUV USE ONLY".

Photograph	   Description
  Number
KIF_290.JPG	   Rabbi Kelman addressing the audience
KIF_291.JPG	   Rabbi Kelman and Ellen Garfield leading the Hatikvah
KIF_292.JPG	   Ellen Garfield performing
KIF_293.JPG	   Irina Frumes introducing the children from the European School
KIF_300.JPG	   Davide Casali performing on the piano
KIF_304.JPG	   Rabbi Levy speaking

Photos by Hank Goodman.