This week Holocaust survivor Mayer Hersh received an honorary degree, a Doctor of Education from Edge Hill University.
This was a fitting tribute to his dedication over many years to tell the story of his own experience of the Holocaust.
I attended a ceremony at Whitefield Synagogue in Manchester.
When it was Mayer’s turn to be called to reading desk there was an unforgettable moment when Chazan Muller and the choir sang a beautiful ‘yamod, literally, ‘stand up’, the usual formula for calling someone to the reading of the Torah. The entire congregation stood and clapped as Mayer was escorted to the bimah, now a stooped figure who needs a wheelchair to get about.
It seems that the years of abuse at the hands of his Nazi oppressors are finally catching up with him.
After the service several of the people he has inspired, Jews and non-Jews, spoke movingly about the work he has done for the last 30 years.
A video of Mayer’s receiving of his DEd. can be be seen in the first 30 minutes of the video at the end of this post.
I have known Mayer for about 20 years and I cherish that friendship. We even found that we are ‘landsleit‘ with my family coming from his home town.
I have previously written about a particular meeting with Mayer which is typical of the great man. You can read that here (My Friend, Dr Mengele). I said then that Mayer is a great man; as his physical stature shrinks, his moral stature seems to increase year by year.
Mayer says:
“Recalling and telling my story is painful, but nevertheless I treasure the opportunity to do so because in so doing I am able to cherish and preserve the memory of my family and community; the pain of remembrance is my only link to them.”
When the last survivor has gone, we must all continue this ‘pain of remembrance’ on their behalf – for all time.