Each year, the East Valley JCC hosts a community Yom Hashoah commemoration.
Past Yom Hashoah commemorations
April 23, 2025
Candlelighting ceremony
Holocaust survivor Charlotte Adelman lights a candle with her daughter Roz Goldberg.
Early Learning Center teacher Kathleen McCann sang the National Anthem and BBYO member Emma Morris sang “Hatikvah.” BBYO member Emma Stoloff read the poem “The Butterfly.” Violinist Julie Ivanhoe performed in the lobby during an opening reception.
In the 2025 candle-lighting ceremony, those lighting the candles included representatives from the City of Chandler, local faith leaders and community members. Those lighting the candles were Commander Daniel Shellum and Commander Brian Dunn from the Chandler Police Department; Bob and Melanie Shaha and Dan Shkapich from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; EVJCC volunteer Louise Moskowitz; educator and social justice advocate Karolyn Benger; Dylan Raymond, City of Chandler Neighborhood Resources and the evening’s featured guest, Holocaust survivor Charlotte Adelman, and her daughter Roz Goldberg. Former IDF soldier Regev Tuizer lit an additional candle for victims of Oct. 7 and fallen soldiers.
Charlotte Adelman shares her story with Jewish News Editor Mala Blomquist, who co-wrote Charlotte’s memoir: Charlotte: A Holocaust Story of Strength, Courage and Hope.”
Rabbi Michael Beyo, EVJCC CEO, welcomed participants, recited memorial prayers and shared his reflections.
After the program, participants got a chance to meet Charlotte and she signed copies of her book.
“Voices Silenced: Music from the Holocaust”
Hannah Creviston, piano
Professor Hannah Creviston performed works by James Simon, a composer who was killed in the Holocaust. Her new CD, “Reminiscences,” a collection of music and text from the Holocaust in collaboration with Christopher Creviston and Amanda DeMaris, was released in March 2025 and was available after the program.
May 6, 2024
Candlelighting ceremony
Pastor Victor and Cynthia Hardy
Pastor Victor Hardy sang the National Anthem and Sammi Morris sang “Hatikvah.”
In this year’s candle-lighting ceremony, those lighting the candles included representatives from the City of Chandler, local faith leaders, Early Learning Center Director Pam Morris and guest speaker Björn Krondorfer. Those lighting the candles were Chandler Police Assistant Chief Dave Ramer; Bob and Melanie Shaha from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; Pastor Victor and Cynthia Hardy of the Congregational Church of the Valley; and Riann Balch, City of Chandler Community Development and Resources Senior Manager. IDF Lone Soldier Chaim Price lit an additional candle for victims of Oct. 7 and fallen soldiers.
Bob and Melanie Shaha
Bjorn Kröndorfer, director of the Martin-Springer Institute at Northern Arizona University, was the featured speaker.
Rabbi Michael Beyo, EVJCC CEO, recited memorial prayers and shared reflections about Oct. 7 and Holocaust education.
This year’s program also included a photo exhibit memorializing Oct. 7 and a tribute to the hostages.
“Voices Silenced: Music from the Holocaust”
Professor Hannah Creviston presented a lecture-recital highlighting work by Erwin Schulhoff, Pat Budai and Leo Smit, three composers who were killed in the Holocaust. The piano duets were performed by Hannah Creviston and Baruch Meir.
Hannah Creviston, piano
Baruch Meir, piano
April 17, 2023
Candlelighting ceremony
In this year’s candle-lighting ceremony, those lighting the candles included representatives from the City of Chandler and local faith leaders. Pictured, from left, are David and Peggy Schlesinger, members of the Bahai faith community; Dan Shkapich, president of the Chandler Arizona West Take of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and his wife Donna; Commander Zachary Cummard of the Chandler Police Department; Chandler City Manager Joshua Wright, an EVJCC board member; Iman Ahmad Salman of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community; and Holocaust survivor Dirk Van Leenen. Pastor Victor Hardy sang the National Anthem and Sammi Morris sang ‘Hatikvah.”
Members of the local faith community, including Iman Ahmad Salman of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, lit candles in memory of the Six Million.
Holocaust survivor and author Dirk Van Leenen shared his story of being a child in Holland during the Holocaust. In back is Karen Perna, Generations After coordinator.
Rabbi Michael Beyo, EVJCC CEO, spoke about the importance of effective Holocaust education.
“Voices Silenced: Music from the Holocaust”
Professor Hannah Creviston presented a lecture-recital highlighting work by three composers who were killed in the Holocaust: Leo Smit, Laszlo Weiner and Viktor Ullman. The songs were performed by Hannah Creviston on piano, Nancy Buck on viola and Sabrina Hu on flute.
Hannah Creviston, piano
Nancy Buck, viola
Sabrina Hu, flute
April 27, 2022
Candlelighting ceremony
Rabbi Michael Beyo, East Valley JCC CEO, and Holocaust survivor Bodo Schrader.
Karen Perna and Barbara Burman, coordinators of the East Valley JCC’s Generations After group.
Chandler Police Chief Sean Duggan
Rich Kasper, president and CEO of the Jewish Community Foundation and the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix
Niki Tapia of the City of Chandler
Robin Finlinson of JustServe and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chandler
Event photography courtesy of
Exhibit: “Lost Voices: Greek Jews and the Holocaust”
“Branded Degenerate: Voices Silenced”
Pianist Hannah Creviston, soprano Amanda DeMaris and saxophonist Christopher Creviston presented a lecture-recital highlighting work by those killed in the Holocaust.
Sammi Morris led the group in “Hatikvah” during the ceremony.
May 2019
Holocaust survivor Marion Weinzweig, author “Lonely Chameleon,” pictured with her daughter Cindy Katz.
“Through the Eyes of Youth: Life and Death in the Bedzin Ghetto,” an exhibit created by the Martin-Springer Institute at NAU, was on display.
Presenters included Chandler Vice Mayor Terry Roe, right.
The evening Yom Hashoah Commemoration ceremony included a candlelighting ceremony. Pictured is Chandler Police Chief Sean Duggan.
Gerald Lamb and Melissa Cohen, representatives of the Martin-Springer Institute at NAU, presented a morning lecture and an afternoon educators’ workshop. There was also a screening of documentary “Shalom Italia.”