“AND YET…” A Message of Hope in the Words of Elie Wiesel per Town Supervisor Victoria Tipp
On Monday October 7, 2024, over 450 community members filled the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center for an October 7th Memorial program. Over 200 additional community members watched the program on live stream. The program was sponsored by the Town of New Castle Holocaust & Human Rights Committee and Horace Greeley High School’s ENOUGH Club (Educate Now On Understanding Genocide & Hate) in partnership with the Antioch Baptist Church, Bet Torah Synagogue, Congregation B’nai Yisrael, the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, the First Congregational Church in Chappaqua, Temple Beth El, Temple Shaaray Tefila, and Horace Greeley High School’s Jewish Student Union.
Ali Rosenberg and Stacey Saiontz, Co-Chairs of the Town of New Castle Holocaust & Human Rights Committee, began the evening by recognizing that during difficult times like these community brings us comfort and gives us strength to believe in a better future.
Eva Millerman, Co-President of ENOUGH explained that “We have seen antisemitism rise throughout our country and world. This is why the students of ENOUGH are committed to continuing to fight antisemitism and all hate wherever it arises by bringing speakers and educational programs to our fellow students and community members.” Jared Saiontz, Co-President of ENOUGH added, “Today, Elie Wiesel’s words echo louder than ever: Action is the only remedy to indifference: the most insidious danger of all.”
The community listened to Nova Music Festival Survivor Maya Izoutcheev who shared her harrowing story of survival. Starting at 6:29 am, after spending the night in platform heels while working as a bouncer, Maya luckily changed into New Balance sneakers, which ultimately saved her life. For over six hours Maya dodged terrorists’ bullets and missiles and ran for over four and a half hours to safety. The room was silent as Maya shared her story, minute by minute, and all were in awe of Maya’s strength as she relived her horrific experience. Despite her trauma, Maya shared that she still has hope for humanity and a better world.
Community member Alicia Sands, a friend of the Goldberg-Polin family, shared poignant words of remembrance about Hersh Goldberg-Polin. Alicia stated, “As someone who does not relish public speaking, I wish I weren’t on this stage. But as a human being, I cannot believe that there is a reason for me to be up here, a year after the savage, unspeakable atrocities of Oct 7th, 2023. A year later, we are still waiting for 101 hostages, brutally stolen from their lives and their loved ones, to be returned.”
Westchester Shaliach (youth representative from Israel) Eden Edrei, said “I arrived here a year ago, just before the holidays, and just before everything I know and call home changed. One year- 365 days, 14 holidays, and 1,400 people who will never return.” When speaking about the incomprehensible loss of family and friends during the war, Eden emphasized that “These are not just numbers; this is not just another story in a history class. This is my present, and this is my future. This will forever be a part of me.”
During the program, Cantor Ezring, Cantor Szterenberg, Cantorial Soloists Stark and West filled the room with their beautiful voices. The program included a memorial candle lighting followed by the reading of the October 7th Mourner’s Kaddish led by Rabbi Jaffe, Rabbi Linzer, Rabbi Londy and Rabbi Ross. The Reverend Dr. Martha Jacobs and The Reverend Alan Christopher Lee shared a meaningful psalm.
Town Supervisor Victoria Tipp thanked the community for joining and reminded us about the importance of bearing witness. She also shared that Elie Wiesel’s two favorite words “and yet” are important today as they serve as a symbol of hope. In the darkest of times, the human spirit can still say “and yet.”
As the program concluded, the ENOUGH students handed out packets of seeds. Jared Saiontz, Co-President of ENOUGH said “The seeds serve as reminder that even when the world feels dark, we must continue to look for the light within each other and know that together we can triumph over hate.
To watch Maya and the entire presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pog8ZXIfV3g
“In spring, I love walking through town to see the magnificent array of flowering trees. April is National Poetry Month and I draw inspiration from a book of Richard Wright’s haiku poems illustrated by photographer Nina Crews, called Seeing Into Tomorrow. While walking around, I take photos of the clear blue skies and newly vibrant trees to pair with poems from the book.”
“As temperatures moderate and days grow longer, I love seeing nature’s awakening as the trees grow their leaves, flowers bloom and birds return and begin to chirp. Going for walks with my wife, Madeline, and my dog, Carmella, are a family favorite to soak in the natural beauty that surrounds us in Chappaqua. And, there is no better way to mark the end of spring than marching with CVAC at Chappaqua’s Memorial Day Parade.”
“The thing I enjoy most about spring in Chappaqua is participating in Community Clean Up Day. It gives me a sense of pride to help beautify the community.”
I could hear the sound of music with Julie Andrew’s voice in my head singing, “High on a hill was a lonely goatherd Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo,” as I made my daily visits to the Fat and Sassy Goats grazing outside of New Castle Town Hall last spring. The goats began their work in late May and were contained by a solar-powered electric net fence. The goats helped clear weeds and vines without the use of pesticides or heavy machinery.
On my visits to the goats, I frequently saw members of the New Castle Police Department, some of whom were as obsessed with the goats as I was. The goats appealed to people of all ages. Grandparents brought their grandchildren. Teens stopped by and tiny tots in strollers came by to watch the goats. One friend enjoyed her birthday breakfast in their company.
“This was our first project working directly with a municipality, and in particular, Dennis Corelli, Environmental Coordinator, Sabrina Hull, Director of Planning and Christina Papes, Town Clerk who all went above and beyond to ensure everything went smoothly every step of the way,” said Balch. “We would also like to thank Round Rock Preserve for their catalytic goat grazing project, the New Castle Police Department for being great goat neighbors, and the many friendly people from the community who stopped by to say hi or to watch and appreciate the goats.”
Gaudet was Grand Marshal for the virtual and video Memorial Day celebrations in 2020 and 2021 during the pandemic and was glad to have the in-person parade last year. “In 2023, we’ll continue to make sure we have this special day to come together as a community and take the time as Americans to reflect on those who gave so much including their lives for our freedom.”
Gaudet credits McCauley and his predecessors for the structure of the day. “We want to maintain the traditions as much as possible, but one of the new things is we’ve had a lot of success accessing interesting speakers with interesting backgrounds, including last year’s speaker my West Point classmate Dreux Coogan, a Chappaqua resident who was a Green Beret and is one of the top executives at Pepsi.” Along with the committee, Gaudet selects the keynote speakers. He couldn’t reveal the Keynote speaker for this year’s ceremony. “We want the element of surprise. People have preconceptions about who Veterans are. We pride ourselves on showing you who the modern American warriors are.”
Commemoration of Memorial Day begins at Victory Corners at the top of hill on King Street in Chappaqua. Girl Scouts present the wreath and taps is played by high school students. The parade then commences down the hill to Memorial Plaza by the Chappaqua train station for a ceremony. At both ceremonies members of local clergy offer prayers, an invocation and benediction. Gaudet says that it’s a good way to start off and end the parade with the words of the religious representatives.
Town of New Castle Historian Gray Williams has seen parades in town since he moved here as a child in the 1930s. “The parade has always served as a celebration of community pride and harmony.”