On Sunday May 5, Cong. B’nai Sholom/Fair Lawn Jewish Center will host what is likely the country’s longest running Holocaust commemoration with a very unique offering. Under the auspices of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey (JFNNJ), music from seven Holocaust era composers, some who perished, others who survived, will be presented by three artists: a cellist, a pianist and a vocalist. Although most of the saved music is classical in nature, other genres include Chassidic, religious and even cabaret and jazz.

The Jewish Link spoke with Janie Press, president of Holocaust Music Lost & Found. She explained that she had retired several years ago from a career in fashion and was looking to get involved in an organization of some type but was at a loss as to which one.

She then saw a “60 Minutes” episode focusing on songs composed in the concentration camps and ghettos of the Holocaust and immediately knew “It was my calling.” She explained that watching it was incredibly meaningful to her. She made contacts — such as U.S.Holocaust Museum musicologist Bret Werb — formed an organization, and in 2021 assembled a board of directors. COVID put a temporary damper on her plans but now she is in full swing.

Press spoke of some of the composers whose music is being performed. One was a child prodigy murdered during the Holocaust. Another survived the Holocaust and emigrated to the U.S., only to die at the age of 50. Each had his/her own story that is now being brought back to life. Four performances were at venues in New York last year. Another, at the Golden Gate Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, was one of two in California that drew 1,200 attendees in all.

Press explained that the concerts were performed before diverse audiences, especially younger people, with the goal to educate through music. The outreach has included churches and schools as well. She concluded by saying, “I’ve found myself so incredibly fortunate to be involved in this endeavor,” adding, “Music is a wonderful way to bring communities together.”

Press was invited to the JFNNJ event by Allyn Michaelson and Roz Melzer, co-chairs of the Yom HaShoah event for over 20 years. Michaelson explained that the annual event had begun in Paterson in the late 1940s. She had been invited to attend a performance of Press’ ensemble which took place last year at the 14th Street Y in New York. She liked what she heard, took notes, and thought to herself that it could work for the Yom HaShoah program.

Michaelson explained that in a rare departure from its tradition, the commemoration’s format will be altered to accommodate the 45-minute concert. However, key elements of the program will remain in place. These include a procession of rescued Holocaust Torahs followed by the honoring of two Holocaust survivors, whose stories of survival will be narrated as they light a candle for those who perished and those who have survived. The two honorees will be Egon Berg, who escaped with his family to Kenya, and Devora Kochman, who was born in the Warsaw Ghetto.

Particularly poignant is the story behind the Torah procession. Sixty years ago, 1,564 Czech Torahs were stolen by the Nazis and placed in warehouses. They were subsequently rescued by an Englishman who had heard the story and was compelled to purchase them. He transported them to the Westminster Synagogue in England. A sofer who had been passing by looking for work stopped at the synagogue and essentially spent the next several decades mending the Torahs as best he could.

Although only a minority of them were returned to pristine, usable condition, many were distributed across the globe as a remembrance, with many put on display, numbered and with a brass plaque at the bottom. Some had been stained by blood, others were burned or pierced by bullets. The one sitting in a display case at Michaelson’s and Melzer’s shul, Temple Beth Sholom in Fair Lawn, is pierced with bayonet holes. Any shul in possession of one of these rescued Torahs is invited to participate in the procession. The overarching theme is the centrality of Torah to the Jewish people with these particular Torahs representing diverse Jewish communities who were lost but have symbolically been revived.

The program will take place at 3 p.m.. For more information, contact Michaelson at [email protected]

Robert Isler is a marketing research analyst and freelance writer who specializes in Jewish issues. He can be reached at [email protected].