Holocaust Remembrance Evening unites community against hate and discrimination

Third annual event draws hundreds

Submitted by the Glastonbury Holocaust Remembrance Project

On April 23, the Glastonbury Holocaust Remembrance Project hosted its third annual Holocaust Remembrance Evening, bringing together nearly 500 community members for a powerful night of reflection, education, and unity.

The gathering and candle lighting at the Holocaust Remembrance Evening. (Submitted)

Co-hosted by First Church of Christ Congregational in Glastonbury and held for the first time at Smith Middle School, the event welcomed 477 registered attendees representing a broad cross-section of the community — across faiths, ages, and backgrounds.

“This year’s turnout was remarkable,” said chairman Carol Fishman. “The diversity of the audience reflected exactly who we hoped to reach, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. You could feel how deeply the evening resonated with attendees.”

Co-chairs Debra Glass, Elizabeth Berman and Carol Fishman. (Submitted)

The program opened with a moving address from Reverend Kate VanDerZee-Glidden, who underscored the importance of remembrance and shared the significance of Glastonbury’s newly planted daffodil garden. Installed this past fall, the garden commemorates the 1.5 million children murdered during the Holocaust while serving as a living symbol of resilience, remembrance, and hope for children facing injustice today.

Glastonbury High School Madrigals conducted by Dr. Ethan Nash. (Submitted)

A proclamation was read by Town Council vice-chairman Jennifer Wang, who recognized the tremendous dedication behind the Glastonbury Holocaust Remembrance Project and its meaningful impact on the community. She commended the organizers for their commitment to education, remembrance, and fostering unity in Glastonbury.

This year’s theme, “The Righteous Among the Nations,” honored non-Jewish individuals recognized by Yad Vashem for risking their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. Through four compelling theatrical performances, local residents portrayed stories of moral courage and humanity in the face of unimaginable evil. Performers included Kim Parsons-Whitaker, Jackson Baron, Alexa Masin, David Nichols, and Martin Kluger.

Glastonbury Holocaust Remembrance Project committee members. (Submitted)

A highlight of the evening was a deeply personal conversation with Holocaust survivor Manny Korman, interviewed by Hartford HealthCare’s Rebecca Stewart. Korman reflected on his experience as a child separated from his parents and sent to England on the Kindertransport, uncertain if he would ever see his family again. Despite his struggles, he shared a message of enduring hope.

Unity prayer led by town clergy and leaders: Michael Mandell, President, Congregation Kol Haverim, Kathleen Hously, South Church, Reverend Kate VanDerZee-Glidden, First Church of Christ Congregational, John Prosen, LLM, St. Mark Lutheran Church. (Submitted)

“I believe that people are inherently good. A turnout at an event like this is a remarkable testament to that,” he said.

The evening also celebrated youth voices. Co-Chair Elizabeth Berman recognized essay contest winner Sreeyan Patiyara, who previously explained his motivation for participating: “I want to send a message of love and peace.” GHRP will award a scholarship to a graduating high school senior later this spring.

The program concluded with a Unity Prayer led by local faith leaders, including representatives from South Church, Congregation Kol Haverim, St. Mark Lutheran Church, and First Church of Christ Congregational.

Essay contest winner Sreeyan Patiyara with contest organizers Jackie Somberg and Deborah Willard. (Submitted)

“Regardless of faith or where we find solace, we all share a desire for peace,” said Co-Chair Debra Glass. “Seeing leaders from different religious communities come together brought that message to life.”

Keynote speaker Manny Korman with interviewer Rebecca Stewart. (Submitted)

The evening closed with moving vocal performances by the Glastonbury High School Madrigals led by Dr. Ethan Nash. As attendees held candles in a darkened theater, the moment served as a powerful reminder that even in history’s darkest times, light and moral courage endure.

The Glastonbury Holocaust Remembrance Project was established to educate the community about the dangers of hate, intolerance, and antisemitism — and how they can escalate into violence if left unchecked.

“More than 80 years after the Holocaust, this education is as urgent as ever,” said Fishman. “Recent surveys show that 91 percent of American Jews report feeling less safe than in previous years. The Holocaust did not begin with violence — it began with words. ‘Never Again’ must truly mean never again.”

During the Holocaust, six million Jews and five million others targeted for persecution were murdered. To learn more or support the organization, visit ghrp.net.