Holocaust Survivor, German Minister To Speak For Remembrance Week

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Jewish survivor of the Holocaust and a German Protestant minister who has spent his life trying to break down the hatred that led to the mass slaughter of millions before and during World War II will be guest speakers next week as Congregation B'nai Israel marks the annual Holocaust Remembrance week.

The annual Community Yom Hashoah, presented in cooperation with the Toms River Interfaith Council, begins Wednesday, April 11, with a Holocaust Remembrance Program at Ocean County College. Titled "Recovering Memory Through Art," it features Claire Boren, a child survivor of the Holocaust, which resulted in the mass slaughter of 6 million Jews between 1933 and the end of World War II in 1945.

"As an accomplished and recognized visual artist, (Boren) believes that her art reflects her past experiences and memories," a news release on the event said. "Her amazing story will stay with you forever."

The program is set for 6:30 p.m. at the Gateway Building at Ocean County College, 1 College Drive, Toms River.

On Thursday, April 12, it will be the Reading of the Names at the synagogue, 1488 Old Freehold Road, Toms River. "Join us as we honor the memory of the 6 million Jews who perished in the Holocaust," the invitation reads. The readings will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until about 5 p.m.

The following Wednesday, April 18, the Rev. Albrecht Lohrbächer from Germany will speak at the synagogue at 7 p.m. The program is titled "Germany: From Remembering the Shoah to Antisemitism of Today."

Lohrbächer is an expert on Jewish/Christian and German/Israeli relations and "has dedicated his life to making reparations for his forefathers' sins to the Jewish community," the news release said. He was born in Germany in the early 1940s and became minister of the Protestant church of Baden, Germany, in 1969. Since that time, he has spent his life serving the community. He has served as superintendent of religious education for the state of Baden-Wurtenburg and the as the chairman of Association Former Synagogue of Hemsbach, among other positions.

Lohrbächer has published numerous books and lectured on several topics including, "Jews & Christians – What Do They Have in Common" and "Hatred Against Jews – History and Present Anti-Semitism." He is the recipient of numerous awards for his work and dedication, including the Interfaith Medallion by the International Council of Christians and Jews in 1994, the Medal of Honor awarded by the Jewish Congregation of Mannheim, Germany in 2012, and was named an Honorary Citizen of the city of Ramat Gan, Israel in 2017.

All of the events are open to the public. If you plan to attend Rev. Lohrbächer's program, RSVP to Congregation B'nai Israel by Friday, April 13, by email at info@cbitr.org or by phone at 732-349-1244.

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