24-04-2025
Holocaust Remembrance Day in Savannah
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – ' It could happen to anybody,' is how Cathy Rothbard, the daughter of a survivor from the SS St. Louis, describes the Holocaust.
The day started with community volunteers reading the names of the 1 million children lost.
The main focus of today's event is not only remembrance but acknowledgement. The SS St. Louis was a ship carrying German Jewish people that was rejected by America, Canada and Cuba. Those people ended up returning to Germany, where they met their demise.
'The message was that nobody wants the Jews. And Hitler took great advantage of the great note of that to say, if no one in the world wants them, then we can proceed with the final solution,' Robert Krakow, Executive Director of the SS St. Louis legacy project, explained. The US and Canadian governments have issued apologies, and the first-ever public exhibit of those apologies to the passengers will be displayed at the Jewish Educational Alliance (JEA). Cathy Rothbard, the daughter of a survivor from the SS St. Louis, remembers her dad telling her about his journey.
'Sailing along the coast of Miami, he's he was telling us and my father has passed now for over 20 years, but he told us he saw the lights of Miami and they were all hoping and praying that they would be able to be let in,' Rothbard stated.
Robert Krakow, Executive Director of the SS St. Louis legacy project, explains why it's so important for us to continue to acknowledge and educate on the topic.
Krakow later said, '17 million jews in the world at that time. He was successful in killing a third, but he had hoped to kill all. The idea that such a thing could take place in a certain way is would be science fiction. If we didn't know the story was true and someone said that this has happened, you would say, no, no, no. Humanity can't be that barbaric.'
The program started here at the JEA at 5:00 p.m., and there were many speakers as well as holocaust survivors. Reading names starts again today from 9:00 am until 9:00 p.m. Program director Michelle Allan wants everyone to know that they are welcome to join, no matter how you identify religiously.
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