Bearing witness through the generations – Pinner Synagogue commemorates Yom Hashoah

“I am so pleased you are here tonight, because when the older generation are no longer here, you will be able to pass on my story” – so spoke Dutch-born Northwood resident Carrie Sherman, addressing a group of High School students from the Pinner community  at this year’s Yom Hashoah ceremony at Pinner Synagogue.   Carrie joined pupils and synagogue members, sharing, in the form of an interview with her granddaughter Josie Hart, memories of her family’s perilous escape from Nazi-occupied Holland, her parents fleeing with Carrie as a small baby on the last ship to sail from Amsterdam to England.

The students recited poems, some poignantly written by children in the Terezin Concentration Camp, others by survivors, and then lit six memorial candles.

There then followed a film, ‘One Day in Auschwitz’, following survivor Kitty Hart Moxon’s return to the death camp, recounting her experiences to two young girls who were the same age as she was when she entered the camp.

The ceremony ended with the Memorial Prayer and Kaddish.

“It was so important for us all to hear Carrie’s story tonight,” commented student Leo Parkus.

Paying tribute to all who took part, Pinner Synagogue Rabbi Jason Kleiman said, “The memory of those who perished in the Holocaust was truly honoured by everyone involved,” adding, “I am very proud of the way our community’s youth have so powerfully helped to fulfill the sacred responsibility of bearing witness to these testimonies through the generations.”

15 April 2026