In a powerful display of remembrance and education, over 300 eleventh-grade students gathered at the Holocaust Monument in Sighet on Friday, May 24 2024, to commemorate a somber milestone in their community's history. The ceremony marked 80 years since the deportation of nearly 13,000 Jews from Sighet, who were transported in four waves between May 16-22, 1944.

Opening Ceremonies

The memorial began with the Romanian national anthem and opened with a welcome address from Mr. David Lieberman of the Sighet Jewish Community. In one of the ceremony's most moving moments, six Sighet high school students lit memorial candles honoring survivors, child survivors, hidden children, partisans, the Righteous Among the Nations, and the unknown victims. This year, Peninah Zilberman, Founder and CEO of Fundatia Tarbut Sighet Cultura si Educatie Iudaica, lit a special candle in memory of those who lost their lives on October 7.

Distinguished Guests

Distinguished guests included city officials, clergy, educators, and special visitors Oscar Speace and Janice Noga. Speace, along with his twin brother Dave, authored a book and play honoring their mother, Janka Festinger. Noga, an accomplished actress, performs the story in a compelling one-woman show. Both were hosted by the local Rotary Club.

Prayers and Performances

The ceremony featured a deeply meaningful Kaddish recitation by David Lieberman, with translation provided by Petru Ganz. Musical performances by Orly Frankel included poignant Yiddish and Hebrew songs celebrating shtetl life and featuring works about Hannah Szenes and the Partisans.

Student Participation

High school students shared personal reflections and original poetry, demonstrating how the events of 80 years ago continue to resonate with today's youth. Several students read passages from Elie Wiesel's "Night," connecting their community's history to this powerful testimony of survival.

Official Remarks and Closing

Vice-Mayor Daniela Onita-Ivascu addressed the gathering, emphasizing the crucial importance of continued Holocaust education in Romanian high schools. The commemoration concluded with a rendition of "Hallelujah," followed by "Hatikvah," the Israeli national anthem.

This annual ceremony serves as a vital bridge between generations, ensuring that the memory of Sighet's Jewish community and the lessons of the Holocaust continue to educate and inspire future generations.