Yom HaShoah
10th Annual Yom HaShoah Holocaust Day of Remembrance,
April 10, 2025
2024 Yom HaShoah Holocaust Day of Remembrance
Innocent citizens were taken away from their homes, kept behind metal bars and wire fences like criminals—animals. Millions were murdered. Millions more were displaced, left without a home, without family, without much hope. But they survived.
On Yom HaShoah, (Heb. יוֹם הַשּׁוֹאָה – “The Catastrophe”) and every other day of the year, we remember those who lost their lives in the Holocaust—condemned simply because of their religion. At Cypress College, we continue to learn from those who survived and honor those who risked their lives, livelihoods, and families to aid the Jewish people. The survivors show us the resilience of the human spirit; that inclusiveness and diversity are indispensable; that there is always still hope for humanity; that in the end, we are all the same.
With these themes of survival, gratitude, hope, and inclusiveness, since 2016 Cypress College has held a Yom HaShoah Holocaust Day of Remembrance event each April.
For more information on Yom HaShoah, please contact:
Clifford Lester, Cypress College Professor Emeritus
Phone: (714) 469-6764
Email: clester@cypresscollege.edu
Clifford Lester interviews Irene Perbal, whose family risked their lives to save Jews hiding in Amsterdam during WWII, along with child survivors Harry Davids and Lou Folgelman, whose lives were saved by families such as Irene’s. 
The 2024 Yom HaShoah event included nine Holocaust Survivors who shared their testimonies and a former Cypress College employee whose mother survived the Holocaust. 
Clifford Lester, Professor Emeritus and 2nd Generation Survivor is joined by Lou Fogelman as they pay tribute to Lou’s “Aunt Betty.” Betty Cohen, of Blessed memory, recently passed away at the age of 101. She survived Auschwitz as well many other camps. As a consequence of losing many family members during the war, Betty reminds us to “always remember to say good-bye” to your loved ones. You never know if you will see them again.” 
Harry Lester, of Blessed memory, Holocaust Survivor and father of Clifford Lester happily greets students from local schools who have the opportunity to speak informally with Survivors before the main program. 
Holocaust Survivor Gerda Seifer, of Blessed memory, who has participated in our program for many years, shares her testimony with very interested students. 
Clifford Lester joins Holocaust Survivor Dr. Edgar Moran, who sadly passed away in 2023, in lighting memorial candles for the victims of the Holocaust. 
Every year, hundreds of students and members of the community attend the Yom HaShoah event to hear the testimonies of Holocaust Survivors photographed by Clifford Lester. These Survivors, are also featured in the Ursula Lowenbach Foster Holocaust Survivor Gallery at the college and on the website: www.remembertheholocaust.org. 
101-year-old Survivor Dr. Jacob Eisenbach, author of the book “Where You Go I Go,” has shared his message of hope for a brighter tomorrow, with our attendees every year since the first Yom HaShoah event. 
Cypress College President Emeritus Dr. JoAnna Schilling greats 103-year-old Survivor, Marthe Cohn. 
102-year-old Survivor Desiree Engel meets with interested students to hear her testimony. 
Survivor Joe Alexander shares the tattoo he got on his arm when he was in Auschwitz Concentration Camp. Joe tells us he believes he made it through the war in order to share his powerful story of survival with those of us fortunate enough to hear him. 
Survivor Sarah Schweitz shares with engaged students and community members. 
Clifford interviews Holocaust Survivors Eddy Hoffman and his wife Eveline. 
The Cypress College marquee announces Survivor Gerda Seifer, who participated in many Yom HaShoah events at the College. Sadly she passed away in November, 2022. Gerda will be dearly missed, but her message to cherish our freedom will always be with us.
Holocaust Education Program Partners
Thank you to our Holocaust Education Program partners Jewish Long Beach and SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union.
