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The Bristal at White Plains hosted its annual Interfaith Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony, bringing together residents, families, community leaders, students, and local officials for a shared moment of reflection and remembrance.
The program included interfaith prayers, remarks, and the lighting of a memorial candle. White Plains Mayor Justin Brasch, members of the Common Council, and clergy representing multiple faith-based traditions joined residents and their family members in memorializing the six million Jewish lives lost during the Holocaust and reaffirming the importance of education and unity.
At the heart of the ceremony was the story of Holocaust survivor Helga L., whose journey reflects extraordinary resilience and courage. As a child, Helga escaped a camp at just six years old before being reunited with her mother at a convent in France. With the help of a local family, they hid for months before eventually boarding a ship to the Dominican Republic. In 1946, Helga and her family settled in the United States, where she went on to build a life shaped by perseverance and gratitude.
View coverage of the event from CBS News.
Reflecting on the meaning of the day, Helga shared, "It's a wonderful thing to remember." Remembering, she noted, helps ensure that the horrors of the past remain where they belong, never forgotten and never repeated.
Each year, The Bristal is honored to provide a space for remembrance and reflection within the communities we serve. It is through the sharing of personal stories like Helga's that we help preserve history while reinforcing our shared responsibility to carry its lessons forward.
View photos of the annual remembrance event.
