Staff photo / Bob Coupland Art Einzing of Poland speaks following the lighting of candles by local descendants and family members of Holocaust survivors from the Youngstown area. The Shoah Memorial ceremony was Sunday at the Jewish Community Center in Youngstown.

YOUNGSTOWN — Candles were lit by local residents to remember their loved ones who were among 6 million Jewish victims of the Holocaust.

A Shoah Memorial ceremony took place Sunday at the Jewish Community Center that was organized by members of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation’s Student to Student program.

The event included a video of Holocaust survivors Abe and Frances Honigman, who were interviewed along with their children. The video, like others, is designed to preserve the local accounts and memories of Holocaust survivors.

The teen participants, who have spoken at local schools throughout the Mahoning Valley about the Holocaust, led Sunday’s program.

Rabbi Yankel Golden said there were 6 million Jews who were killed during the Holocaust.

“Today we remember the memories of those who died. There were those who did survive the Holocaust and others who did not. Those memories of them need to be shared. Every day for us should be a day of remembrance,” Golden said.

He said in addition to remembering, it is also important to educate and make sure the memory of the Holocaust continues to be taught and shared from generation to generation.

“Many of the survivors made their way to the Youngstown area and established themselves here. They had an impact on the foundations of which this community is built upon,” Golden said.

He said hearing from the survivors in the recorded videos and tapes before they died keeps the memories of them and what happened alive for future generations.

“We want their memories to inspire us to live a greater life with more passion with deeper unity and a stronger sense of responsibility for one another. May we carry their memories forward not only on the official day of remembrance but in each and every day of our lives with strength, purpose and hope,” Golden said.

CANDLE LIGHTING

Six candles were lit by family members who named the loved ones whose lives they were remembering as they lit the candles. A seventh candle was lit for the victims of Oct. 7, 2023, when 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led attack.

Howard Honigman of Chagrin Falls lit a candle for his parents, Abe and Frances Honigman, who were featured in a video presentation.

Rabbi Joseph Schonberger said his own family members were Holocaust survivors and have shared their stories.

“We are here today to give tribute to Abe and Frances and others. Abe and Frances are wonderful people to emulate because they rose up despite all the challenges in their lives. The darkness they were exposed to teaches us by example to be able to make the most out of life,” Schonberger said.