By Joe Bayona –
PERTH AMBOY – On Monday May 19 a Holocaust Commemoration Ceremony was held in Perth Amboy. It started with the raising of the Israeli flag at city hall circle.
Afterward there was a lecture given in the council chambers by Holocaust survivor Fred Heyman. Mr. Heyman is a NJ resident and member of the Holocaust Council of Metro West in Whippany, NJ.
In his talk Mr. Heyman recounted his memories of the Holocaust as a child, from its very beginning. Mr. Heyman’s talk portrayed the Holocaust from a slightly different perspective. When he asked the rhetorical question, “Could it happen in this country?” He said, “Yes it can,” pointing out that between WWI and Hitler’s take over, Germany was a Democracy much like the United States.
Holocaust survivor Fred Heyman was a guest speaker at the ceremony. Photo by Joy Bayona
Another interesting point was made by Mr. Heyman. He asked the audience if anyone had heard of Dachau. About half the audience of 40 people raised their hands. Dachau was the first concentration camp built by the Nazis, and served as the model for all future camps. But when they were building it no one paid attention. Like when we see a condo project or shopping mall going up. We know something is being built but never question what is being built or why.
After the lecture Mr. Heyman sat down and answered questions from a group of young interested students. For more information on the Holocaust you can go to the website of Holocaust Council of Metro West at http://jfedgmw.org/page.aspx?id=254523
See PHOTO GALLERY for more pictures of the event
I worked with this great man in 1999 when he was 70 years old. At lunch time he would have foot races with people in their 20s . Nobody could beat him. He often told me about his trip to Iceland.
It was such a pleasure to know him. I later went to Israel to Tzrifin military base to do some volunteer work for Israel and the Jewish people. I am a Christian.