Holocaust Commemoration

Holyoke Community College, the Greater Holyoke Council for Human Understanding, and Holyoke Public Schools will sponsor a community Holocaust commemoration at William R. Peck Middle School on May 2.

Hedwig C. Rose, who survived the Holocaust hidden in the cellar of a Christian friend, will speak at the event. Born in Amsterdam, Rose came to the U.S. in 1947. She received a bachelor's degree from Cornell University, a master's degree from Smith College and a doctoral degree from the University of Massachusetts. She has served on the faculties of Smith College, University of Massachusetts, Hampshire College and Wesleyan University. She is a faculty member of the international studies program of the Salzburg Global Seminar in Austria and has been a visiting scholar at Stanford University's Hoover Institution.

A candle-lighting ceremony during the program will commemorate the more than 11 million people, including six million Jews, who were murdered by the Nazis during World War II. The ceremony will include area clergy and dignitaries. The Holyoke High School Madrigal Chorus under the direction of Mark Todd will perform.

The event is free and open to the public.