Generations Come Together

by Joel Shrater

From generation to generation – l’dor v’dor – is a mantra of the Jewish people. The Yom Ha Shoah Yellow Candle program of the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs is a unique expression of this concept.

Picture the scene: an evening in the synagogue’s social hall, the room abuzz with the chattering of a dozen or so USYers. Together with members of the synagogue’s Men’s Club, the teens are folding cardboard boxes and stuffing them with yellow candles and flyers to be sent out to the community for lighting on Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. Generations come together to bridge that perennial gap with a common and deep-rooted connection.

One USYer turns to those at his table and says quietly, “I was so depressed and saddened by my visit to Poland last summer, where I visited the darkest historical sights our world has ever seen. In a beautiful landscape there was no light. I remember standing on the hallowed ground knowing that beneath my feet lay a cemetery for my aunts and uncles.”

A second young man responds, “For me, the Poland Israel Pilgrimage was life changing. In Poland, surrounded by so much hate, I couldn’t help but look around and see how life hasflourished since the Holocaust.”

The first boy’s voice becomes more alive. “As I was leaving Auschwitz-Birkenau, I finally saw some light in the darkness as hundreds of Israeli soldiers marched in carrying their flag.”

A third joins the conversation. “I grew and developed tremendously in those six weeks on Pilgrimage. I remember the joy rush through me as I bounded to the top of Masada, racing up the snake path, or laid on the rocks on Shabbat in Mitzpe Ramon, gazing at the stars with 43 other USYers.”

“Israel can do that to you,” says a Men’s Club member. “I need to go back often to be rejuvenated by all that tiny Israel has to offer.”

More USYers shout from the other tables. One of the young women talks about her new lifelong friends, and the wonderful summer she had. “Israel is amazing, everything about it. It feels special because I do not look at Israel as a place to visit, but as a place to call home.” The Men’s Club president notices a girl who is not taking part in the conversation. Realizing that she had not gone on Pilgrimage, he asks if she is aware of the scholarships that are available. “These candles raise funds for the From Darkness into Light Scholarships available from Men’s Club to any USYer whose synagogue – like ours – participates in the Yellow Candle Program.” The only requirement is that recipients commit to at least two local speaking engagements to talk about their experiences. (Applications and instructions are available online.)

A thousand candles are boxed that evening. Generations bond with stories of the Holocaust and Israel, with memories of the previous summer’s travel and trips of years ago. Several USYers sign up for Pilgrimage. And at least one is about to make a dream come true with a scholarship made available through the FJMC Yellow Candle program.

To learn more about the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs, go to its website, www.fjmc.org. For more information about its Yellow Candle program, go to www.yellowcandles.org.