Holocaust Remembrance, or 'Yom Ha'Shoah,' programs scheduled across Orange County this weekend

Newburgh - The Orange County Federation has announced the following programs and events will be held this weekend through the county, commemorating “Yom Ha’Shoah,” or Holocaust Day. In Israel, it is a national memorial day for the approximately six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust as a result of the actions carried out by Nazi Germany and its accessories and for the Jewish resistance in that period. The schedule in Orange County includes: Friday, April 29, in Newburgh Temple Beth Jacob will honor the six million with a very special Shabbat Service at 7:30 p.m. Candles will be lit in honor of the victims of the Holocaust by local survivors and relatives. Agita Goldberg will speak about her family’s experiences during and after the Shoah. Yellow Candles will be available for congregants to take and light at home. You are welcome to join us for this solemn occasion. Temple Beth Jacob, 344 Gidney Ave., Newburgh, NY 12550 845-562-5516 www.tbjnewburgh.org Sunday, May 1, in Walden Yom HaShoah service in honour and memory of the six million Jews who died in the Holocaust begins at 11 a.m. at the Walden Jewish Community Center - Congregation Beth Hillel. There will be a presentation by member Edith Leeser about the completion and dedication of an unused, damaged building in Germany that was transformed into an award winning House of Psalms. This building is located in Edith’s hometown and used to be the synagogue her family attended. It has been voted the 8th most beautiful building in Germany. 20 Pine St., Walden, NY 12568 845-778-7347 www.congretationbethhillel Sunday, May 1, in the Village of Florida Beginning at 1 p.m., the Florida Public Library offers a look at Irena Sendler, the Polish heroine who saved more than 2,500 Jewish children from the Nazis during World War II. Guest speaker Linda Dubin will give us a brief background and story of Irena Sendler, a native of Poland who was a social worker posing as a nurse to get into the Warsaw Ghetto during the WW II German occupation. Afterwards view the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, “The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler,” on the library’’s big screen. Light refreshments will be served. This program is suitable for adults and teens. The Florida Public Library 4 Cohen Circle, Florida, NY 10921 845-651-7659 www.rcls.org/fpl Sunday, May 1, in Newburgh Mount Saint Mary College annual community-wide Holocaust Remembrance program begins at 2 p.m. with the showing of the movie, “Defiance,” which is based on the true story of the Bielski Brothers. Afterwards meet and discuss the film with Ruth Bielski. Presented by the Newburgh Jewish Community Center, The Jewish Federation of Greater Orange County and the Division of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Mount Saint Mary College. Free and open to the public Hudson Hall Auditorium , 330 Powell Ave., Newburgh To reserve a seat, call 845-561-6602 or e-mail: njcc6602@aol.com Sunday, May 1, in Monroe Beginning at 5:45 p.m. in Monroe Temple Beth-El, the Zikaron V’Tikvah - Remembrance and Hope - program will be presented by the Joint Committee of Monroe Temple Beth-El and Congregation Eitz Chaim in Monroe. Survivors from our local community will share their inspirational experiences. Doors open at 5:45 p.m. Maariv begins promptly at 6 p.m. For further information about Zikaron V’Tikvah, contact Cheryl Price at cherylprice@mac.com and Rebeca Besquin butterfly@sdja.comwww.sdja.com. Monroe Temple Beth-El 314 North Main St. Monroe, NY 10950 845-783-2626 www.monroetemple.org www.eitzchaim-monroe.org Sunday, May 1, in Middletown Beginning at 7 p.m., Temple Sinai’s annual commemoration of Yom Ha’Shoah will reflect on the survivors of the Holocaust. William Schildkraut was a teenager when he had to spend two years living underground in the woods in Poland and wound up being the only survivor of his family. Congregant Bernd Solomon was a teenager when he had to leave Germany and wound up in an interment camp in England. He never saw his family again. Tenor Marshall Cooper will lead the congregation in song. 75 Highland Ave. Middletown, NY 10940 845-343-1861 www.templesinaimiddletown.com