From a Number to a Name: A Journey to Reclaiming a Name from the Shoa

by Mary Beth Barker

The CCHRC, together with the Town of Concord, welcomes the public to the annual Holocaust Memorial Event on Sunday, April 22 at 7PM at the Harvey Wheeler Community Center Auditorium. Please note change in venue from previous years.

Deborah Shelkan Remis will describe her personal journey as the daughter of a Holocaust survivor to being a member of One by One, a group comprised of sons and daughters of the Holocaust and descendants of the Third Reich; and how her extraordinary path led her to produce a multi-media theatrical violin concert. Deborah will share the story of her passionate research to reclaim the life of Sara, one of six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. As Deborah states, “to share the life of one of six million victims is to return that person’s dignity and soul, and to give them back a voice.” Deborah began her journey researching, creating, and writing SARA’S VOICE sotto voce, over 12 years ago.

“Sara was a young Latvian violin virtuoso,” explained Deborah. “At the age of 21, her voice and instrument were forever silenced when she was murdered in the Rumbula Forest, outside of Riga, Latvia in 1941; one of thousands of Latvian Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Sara is a symbol of the lives, culture, music, hope and promise of many generations whose remarkable and promising career was forever silenced.”

Deborah, a Holocaust educator, traveled to Berlin to work with her German counterparts speaking in schools, universities, and community organizations and thus modeling how historical enemies can come together in dialogue. SARA’S VOICE sotto voce, a multi-media theatrical violin concert, has been performed to sold-out audiences in the United States and Canada, and Deborah is seeking additional venues and support for future theatrical violin performances.

Please join us to remember Sara and all victims of the Holocaust. ASL interpreters are available. For more information or with questions, please visit our website at www.cchumanrights.org, or email us at info@cchumanrights.org.