Arizona leaders and community members gathered at Phoenix’s Symphony Hall to commemorate Holocaust victims and survivors during the Days of Remembrance. The event marked the conclusion of a week-long observance, established by Congress in 1980 as an annual national commemoration.
Sheryl Bronkesh, past president of the Phoenix Holocaust Association (PHA), addressed over 1,000 attendees, noting it was the largest audience for a Holocaust Remembrance Day program in PHA’s history. She highlighted the importance of education on the Holocaust amid rising antisemitism, sharing her perspective as a daughter of two survivors. “As more time passes, public knowledge about the Holocaust diminishes,” she said.
Bronkesh received the Shofar Zachor Award for her contributions to Holocaust education and genocide awareness. Her efforts include advocating for House Bill 2241, which mandates teaching about the Holocaust and other genocides in Arizona schools.
Heather Roehl, another honoree and teacher at Ridgeview College Preparatory High School, founded JourneyThroughtheHolocaust.org to map survivors’ journeys. She is working towards creating a nationally adaptable curriculum on Holocaust education.
The diverse audience included students from various educational institutions and members of Arizona’s interfaith community and government. Governor Katie Hobbs emphasized Arizona’s commitment to comprehensive historical education: “As our students age and mature, it’s important that they receive an education that fully reflects history.”
Hobbs mentioned survivor Esther Basch who was scheduled to speak but had passed away before the event. She also recounted meeting Charlotte Adelman, another survivor: “She reminded me that we have a responsibility to make sure that nobody forgets what happened.”
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego expressed anticipation for breaking ground on the Hilton Family Holocaust Education Center in June. “I find great hope and inspiration that the people of Phoenix said this is something we want to invest millions of dollars in,” she remarked.
Hanna Zack Miley shared her personal story as part of Kindertransport during World War II. She recounted learning about her parents’ fate years later: “Five weeks later World War II began; I never heard from my parents again.” In 2010, she visited Chelmno where they were killed and honored them with a memorial service there.
Miley reflected on finding hope amidst darkness by lighting candles at their final resting place: “How fitting to honor my parents…to say their names: Amalie and Markus Zack.”
