The Fairmont ballroom only holds 1,000 guests comfortably, so I know not everyone reading this was able to be at our Hope for Humanity Dinner on November 11th and for that, I am truly sorry, because it was an amazing event from start to finish. The sell-out crowd enjoyed many experiences that were entertaining but also held deep meaning and at times excruciating imagery of what the tragedies of the Holocaust cost the world.
The program began with a new video produced to describe the mission of the Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance. The video explained the importance of ending hatred in our own community of north Texas and becoming UPSTANDERS that will get involved to spread the word of tolerance.
Young Jack Van Gorden, a chorus member of the Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas then recited “The Butterfly” poem, as a prelude to a shortened production of “Brundibár”, also performed by 25 members of the Children’s Chorus. “Brundibár” is a children’s opera written during the Holocaust, by Hans Krasá and performed by the children imprisoned in the Czechoslovakian ghetto and concentration camp of Terezín, for the Nazis and Hitler himself.
It is actually a beautiful story about UPSTANDERS that was performed 55 times by the Terezín children, who were nearly all sent to their deaths at Auschwitz following their performances. The opera speaks to today’s children, as well. It shows that if we pull together, we can overcome even the meanest oppressor.
Following the beautifully-performed “Brundibár” performance, there was a moving ceremony directed at the Holocaust survivors who live here in our own community, who were honored for truly being our hope for humanity.
Roger Staubach was presented the Hope for Humanity Award by Tom Halsey, Chairman of DHM/CET. He proceeded to speak of the importance of making the right choices and honoring the legacies of the Holocaust survivors and the memories of the victims. (see Rabbi Gershon’s remarks in this newsletter).
The evening was brought to a close with a modern rendition of L’dor V’dor, as sung by two SMU students and accompanied by Dean José Bowen of the Meadows School of the Arts.
My closing remarks were meant to capture the essence of the evening and so I reprint them here:
”...we close our program this evening not as an end, rather as a beginning. We see the future in the accomplishments of Roger Staubach and other UPSTANDERS, in the mission of the Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance, in the eyes of our children, and we know while there is yet more to be done there is a world of possibility before us, a great hope for humanity that must be filled.
“Tonight we reflected upon what the past has taught us, knowing that we endure the present and all its challenges and triumphs, but most importantly we embrace the future as a wondrous vision where respect for human life is held sacred and pursued with vigilant effort. Our wish for you and your many generations that follow is a lifetime of peace, of hope, of tolerance.”
