Staff photo / Ed Runyan From left, Rachel, Molly and Ethan Kay light one of six candles in a candelabra used to memorialize the 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust. The lighting was part of the 32nd Annual Community Holocaust Commemoration in the Mahoning County Courthouse Rotunda on Tuesday.

YOUNGSTOWN — The Jewish Community Relations Council of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation hosted its 32nd Annual Community Holocaust Commemoration event, one of several annual Holocaust commemoration programs for Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance) on Tuesday in the rotunda of the Mahoning County Courthouse.

Among the events was the lighting of six candles on a special candelabra used to memorialize 6 million Jews killed during the Holocaust. Family members of Holocaust survivors lit the candles.

Rabbi Seth Sternstein of Temple El Emeth of Liberty said the “only crime” of the 6 million people killed “was being Jewish. We pledge to always keep their memory as a precious legacy, handed down from generation to generation.”

He said, “In the darkness of this nightmare we remember today, we dare to add a little light to the world. Today we have children and grandchildren of survivors who are participating in this ceremony. In the past, we have had survivors themselves light these candles.

“But now we are looking to their children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren to light the candles for their survivors who cannot speak for themselves. It is crucial that we all follow in the footsteps of these successive generations to remember and to educate about the past so that we can counter the increasing number of days like today when survivors are not able to speak for themselves,” he said.

Rabbi Joseph Schonberger, retired rabbi of Temple El Emeth, and co-chairperson of the Holocaust Commemoration and Education Task Force, said during remarks that “As we gather in this community courthouse of justice, I pray to do more than mourn and honor the memory of more than 6 million souls who were tortured, enslaved and killed by a Holocaust world that was gripped by evil.”

He said, “I pray that in this 21st century, with your help, good souls unite to stop antisemitism and fully cherish all of God’s family on this earth to thereby maintain civilization for everyone.”

He said, “We thank God for the holiness of life, the miracle of our people and traditions that fortify the human spirit. We thank the Holocaust survivors for teaching us not to give up sacred life despite carrying the impact of incomprehensible trauma and its impact.”

A large number of children were in attendance, many who were honored for their participation in the JCRC’s student Holocaust writing and multimedia contest.

“It is you, young people, who will shape the future, to nurture your blessings, respecting the sanctity and precious meaning of every soul,” he said.

And the winners are …

MIDDLE SCHOOL POETRY

1st place — Navaeh Teague, Grade 7-8, Akiva Academy

2nd place — Rylen Primous, Grade 7-8, Lowellville High School

3rd place — Aria Lubonovich, Grade 7-8, Austintown Middle School

MIDDLE SCHOOL ESSAY

1st place — Roei Sigler, Grade 7-8, Akiva Academy

2nd place — Christy Huang, Grade 7-8, Warren John F. Kennedy

3rd place — Rebecca Sakelaris, Grade 7-8, Akiva Academy

MIDDLE SCHOOL ART

1st place — Payton Buchan, Grade 7-8, Austintown Middle School

2nd place — Addison Woodburn, Grade 7-8, Lowellville High School

3rd place — Sarah Baquero, Grade 7-8, Akiva Academy

4th place — Adriana Willmitch, Grade 7-8, Austintown Middle School

HIGH SCHOOL POETRY

1st place — Trayon Kelley, Grade 9-10, Struthers High School

1st place — Lydia Campbell, Grade 11-12, Crestview High School

2nd place — Daniel Ramovs, Grade 9-10, Boardman High School

2nd place — Lola Gordiejew, Grade 11-12, Boardman High School

3rd place — Trista Rowe, Grade 9-10, Boardman High School

3rd place – Jikyra Smith, Grade 11-12, Campbell Memorial High School

HIGH SCHOOL ESSAY

1st place — Rachel DunLany, Grade 9-10, Boardman High School

1st place — Tessalynn Massey, Grade 11-12, West Middlesex High School

2nd place — Carter Yocum, Grade 9-10, Boardman High School

2nd place — Julia Forbes, Grade 11-12, Boardman High School

3rd place — Addison Volosin, Grade 9-10, Boardman High School

3rd place — A.J. Milhoan, Grade 11-12, Crestview High School

HIGH SCHOOL ART

1st place — Kira Carpenter, Grade 9-10, Boardman High School

1st place — Mary Ramovs, Grade 11-12, Boardman High School

2nd place — Hannah Tringhese, Grade 9-10, South Range High School

2nd place — Danni Svirbly, Grade 11-12, West Middlesex High School

3rd place — Edwin Bonilla, Grade 11-12, Campbell Memorial High School