Latest news with #YoungstownAreaJewishFederation
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Youngstown Area Jewish Federation speaks out against Colorado mall ‘terror attack'
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — The Youngstown Area Jewish Federation released a statement Sunday night in response to what the FBI is describing as a 'targeted terror attack' at an outdoor mall in Boulder, Colorado. According to the Associated Press, several people were injured and possibly burned, and a suspect was taken into custody after an attack at a popular pedestrian mall where demonstrators with a volunteer group called Run for Their Lives had gathered to raise awareness for Israeli hostages who remain in Gaza. The Associated Press said video from the scene showed a witness shouting, 'He's right there. He's throwing Molotov cocktails,' as a police officer with his gun advanced toward a bare-chested suspect with containers in each hand. The Youngstown Area Jewish Federation released this statement in response to the attack: The Youngstown Area Jewish Federation is horrified to learn of the brutal firebombing in Colorado during a march for Israeli hostages, especially on the evening of Shavout, a two-day Jewish holiday that commemorates the date when God gave the Torah to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai over 3,000 years ago. Our hearts go out to everyone involved and we pray for the quick recovery of those injured. We don't yet have all the details of what happened, though video footage of the suspect has emerged suggesting extreme Jewish hatred as a motive. We will keep our community up-to-date as we learn more. The Youngstown Area Jewish Federation The Associated Press contributed to this report.T Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
City of Youngstown designates week for Holocaust remembrance
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — Dozens of community members gathered in the Mahoning County Courthouse rotunda on Tuesday to commemorate the Holocaust. This year was the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation's 32nd annual Holocaust Remembrance event. This year`s theme was 'Auschwitz – A Place On Earth.' Auschwitz-Birkenau, operated by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland from May 1940 to January 1945, was the largest of the concentration and extermination camp. Historians estimate that at least 1.3 million people were deported to the Auschwitz camp, and of these deportees, approximately 1.1 million people — 1 million of whom were Jews — were killed. Over 150 local students submitted projects based on this theme, and winners were honored at the event, some even getting to read their original poetry to the crowd. Relatives of Holocaust survivors also lit candles to honor their lives and legacies. 'It's important to get together and to hear from the new generation, the youngest generation, because they're going to be shaping the world,' Rabbi Joseph Schonberger said. 'And so we want to hear from them and be inspired by them, and hopefully we can pass the lessons of history.' The city of Youngstown also officially designated April 20 through 27 as Holocaust Remembrance Week at the event. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Youngstown Area Jewish Federation condemns Hamas' release of remains
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – Those affiliated with the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation are slamming Hamas over the release of hostage remains, saying they're appalled, outraged and disgusted. This comes as the Israeli military says the body of a hostage returned to a family is not the family member as identified by the militant group. The remains, which were said to belong to the mother of two young boys whose bodies were also released by the terrorist group, did not match 'any' known hostage. A statement from the federation states that they're outraged and that Hamas cannot be allowed to remain in power. 'For everyone in the world to witness the grotesque display that Hamas put on over the last couple of weeks and particularly in the last 24 hours, if this doesn't engender worldwide condemnation, then I think everyone has lost all claim to moral clarity,' said Bonnie Deutsch Burdman, executive director of Community Relations and Government Affairs. There are still 73 people being held captive. This is the eighth exchange under the first phase of the ceasefire, which is set to end on March 2. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Valley students hear from Holocaust survivor in Youngstown
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – A survivor of the Holocaust gave local students an image of life as a young child from a Jewish family in Nazi-occupied Europe. Walking slowly and with a cane, 84-year-old Helen Marks held the attention of nearly 1,200 middle and high school students for more than an hour at Stambaugh Auditorium Wednesday. The Holocaust survivor was a guest of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of prisoners from Auschwitz. 'And there are not too many of us that are still alive, able to talk — willing,' Marks said. 'I've learned that there are times when words are insufficient. They are too puny, too small, not encompassing enough to what happened.' Marks was born to Jewish parents in Belgium. Germany invaded her country when she was just 2 years old. Her father was eventually taken to a concentration camp where he spent nearly three years. But fearing for her daughter's safety, Marks' found a family that would take her until the war ended. In the late 1940s, Helen and her parents came to America and she grew up in the Cleveland area. She started giving lectures about 20 years ago. 'I feel a responsibility for the million and a half children that never got to speak at all,' Marks said. Marks said she has never experienced anti-semitism but knows it exists. 'There is enough prejudice, enough hatred, enough God knows what to keep all kinds of ugly things alive,' she said. As a retired social studies teacher, Marks won't hide her disappointment with today's educational system, which she says leaves young people with little understanding of world history. 'I really think that history needs to start, at the latest, in the seventh grade,' Marks said. While she hopes her words make an impact, Marks told the students she will continue to tell her story for as long as she's able. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
