Hospice of Palm Beach County Honors Victims and Survivors of World's Most Devastating Event Tears were flowing, music was playing and memories of the world’s most devastating event took center stage at a Holocaust remembrance event co-hosted by Hospice of Palm Beach County and Regents Park Boca Raton on April 21, 2009. The event was held at Regents Park.
As memoirs written by Holocaust victims and survivors were read, guests shared their own memories amongst themselves. “Not a day goes by that I don’t remember the vicious events that took place years ago.” “Never will I forget the terror I felt as a young child when my parents were taken from me.” “Though I am thankful for the life I have lived there will always be a hole where my family should have been.”
Guests filled the aisles to join in the reading of Hebrew poems and sang famous Yiddish songs performed by Hospice of Palm Beach County’s music therapists. As pleas for something like the horrific events of the Holocaust to never happen again, survivors rose to light candles in honor of family members and loved ones who were lost. At the conclusion of the ceremony, guests were invited to enjoy refreshments and share their personal stories with others who were also affected by the tragic event.
"As a young child, I can remember the terrified feelings I was filled with," said Rose Flaxman, a survivor and keynote speaker at the event. “ Seventy years ago I had a large, very close family. I was one of seven siblings who loved life and enjoyed each day. Sixty-seven years ago I became an orphan – the only survivor of my entire family. If it was not for the kindness of the family who took me in, my family roots would have ended there.“ Other speakers included Rabbi Dr. Chaim Wender, Rabbinical Coordinator, and Richard S. Levene, DO, FAAFP, FAAHPM, Vice President of Medical Affairs at Hospice of Palm Beach County, and Eddie Burzstyn, Executive Director at Regents Park.
This event was hosted as part of Hospice of Palm Beach County’s community outreach initiative. To learn more about the programs or services offered by Hospice of Palm Beach County, including the Is Hospice Kosher? program, please call (561) 848-5200 or visit www.hpbc.com.