In commemoration of the Holocaust and the death of millions of Jewish people, members of the MSU community will gather at 8 p.m. Thursday at Beaumont Tower.
“This is a day that is recognized around the world to commemorate the Holocaust,” said Cindy Hughey, director of the Hillel Jewish Student Center, 402 Linden St. “As Jewish people we would like the world to remember what happened to us.”
The event, sponsored by Hillel, will feature readings of poetry written by people who lived during the Holocaust, a candle-lighting ceremony to remember those who died and two Holocaust survivors will speak about conditions they lived through.
Hughey said an event like this is important because it helps people come together to remember the past and create hope for the future.
“We want to bring these issues to the public and let people know that hatred and bigotry still happens and it needs to stop so something like the Holocaust doesn’t happen again,” she said. “The consequences of prejudice and hatred can still be seen.”
Hughey said the commemoration will be beneficial for everyone.
“We will remember our own relatives that were killed,” she said. “But we also want to let the rest of the world know that these kind of things can’t be tolerated.
“It’s important to learn from past mistakes.”
From 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Hillel will host an Israeli independence celebration.
Hillel Program Director, Bryan Abramson, said the official Israeli Independence Day is April 26, but it will be celebrated at the center on Saturday.
The event will feature a tent with rugs and pillows on the ground to simulate the Bedouin culture of Israel.
“Many students who have traveled to Israel have had experiences with that culture and really enjoyed it,” Abramson said. “We want to reproduce these experiences and bring it to East Lansing.”
Abramson said an event like this, with a casual and fun atmosphere, is beneficial in light of the recent periods of violence in Israel.
“It serves as a way to unite the Jewish community in a way that is not always available,” he said. “This is about having fun and being social with others.”
Both events are open to the public. For more information call 332-1916.
