Our community’s first Zikaron BaSalon

By Melissa Bateman

How do we commemorate Yom Hashoah in ways that feel both meaningful and personal?

For many, the community-wide commemoration at the JCC provides a powerful opportunity to gather, reflect, and remember. For others, there is also a desire to mark the day in more intimate ways—by honoring family members who survived the Holocaust, remembering loved ones who were murdered, and ensuring their stories continue to be told.

This year, our community was fortunate to have several meaningful opportunities to observe Yom Hashoah. The Jewish Community Relations Council’s annual Courthouse program honored student winners of the Holocaust Writing, Art, and Multimedia Contest, while the JCC commemoration featured the unveiling of the Honigman exhibit and film that tell the story of Abe and Frances Honigman, Holocaust Survivors. Both programs were moving tributes to memory, resilience, and education.

In addition, this year brought something new: our community’s first Zikaron BaSalon—“Memories in the Living Room.” Hosted by Chaya Kessler in her home, the gathering welcomed students, professors, and members of both the Jewish and broader community.

The evening created a warm and thoughtful space for conversation, reflection, and shared remembrance. One of the highlights was the presence of students, whose participation underscored the importance of passing these stories to the next generation.

Our community has a rich history of Holocaust remembrance, and this new gathering added another meaningful dimension to that tradition.