(Huntington, N.Y.) – Councilwoman Susan A. Berland, joined by Huntington residents of all ages, gathered at the Anne Frank Memorial Garden in Arboretum Park on a beautiful Sunday morning to commemorate the 3rd anniversary of the Garden and what would have been Anne Frank’s 84th birthday.
The Anne Frank Memorial Garden serves as tribute to Anne’s legacy of wisdom and genuine belief in the goodness of mankind and human nature, despite the ugliness of war and discrimination.
PHOTO: AARON MORGAN AND MEMBERS OF THE JEWISH WAR VETERANS POST #488 LIGHT COMMEMORATIVE HOLOCAUST MENORAH.
The anniversary celebration featured an opening invocation and closing prayer from Rabbi Avraham Lehr of the Chai Center and testimonials from guest speakers: Samuel Cukier, Holocaust survivor and Melville resident and Aaron Morgan, creator of Holocaust and Judaic art.
Samuel Cukier, now residing at the Greens at Half Hollow in Melville, was born in Lodz, Poland in November 1927. In September 1939, Samuel and his family were evicted from their apartment and took refuge in a two room flat with cold water and an outhouse in the worst part of town. After losing both his older brother and his father, Samuel and his family were shipped to Auschwitz. Samuel was the only survivor. After being shipped to Camp Mauthusen-Gusen, Samuel worked in a Messerschmitt airplane plant. Several months later, Samuel, among others, was sent on a death march to “Switzerland.” He was finally liberated on May 8, 1945.
Aaron Morgan, also a resident of the Greens at Half Hollow, is a lifelong artist. Trained at the High School of Art & Design, the Pratt Institute and Cooper Union, Aaron is a member of the Pastel Society of America, the Connecticut Pastel Society, the Art Council of Port Washington, the Jewish Art Salon and the American Guild of Judaic Artists. Aaron can trace his Jewish roots back to 1788 and has records dating back to his multi-great, great grandfather, the great Hasidic master, Menachem-Mendel of Kotzk. Much like his ancestor, Aaron is on a quest for truth; through paint and canvas as opposed to books and prayer. He created a Seder Plate and Blessing Cup that was produced by Waterford Crystal. In 2005, Aaron was one of thirty-five American artists selected to show at the Hebrew Union College exhibit “Waldsee, Postcards from the Holocaust,” which is currently touring the nation. He is now in the process of designing a mural based on Genesis, a memorial wall and elements for a sanctuary on Long Island.
Attendees of the Anne Frank Memorial Garden anniversary celebration were encouraged to take a reflective walk through the garden following the program and enjoy the light refreshments provided courtesy of Hummel and Hummel Bakery and the Larkfield Road Starbucks.
“The Anne Frank Memorial Garden celebration is always a unique and powerful event,” commented Councilwoman Berland. “Anne Frank’s life and diary are brought to life in the Garden and it serves as a fitting tribute to the insights of such a courageous young woman, wise far beyond her years. I would like to thank Rabbi Avraham Lehr for his encouraging and enthusiastic words on the importance of living a life of joy and gratitude as opposed to focusing on daily minutia. I also thank Samuel Cukier and Aaron Morgan for sharing their personal stories and bestowing upon us the significance of being brave and courageous and never forgetting that one individual can impact an entire community. I encourage all residents to visit the Anne Frank Memorial Garden to experience Anne’s message of hope and resilience first hand amidst beautiful flowers and the sounds of children playing.”
The Anne Frank Memorial Garden celebration will be aired on the Town of Huntington’s television channels – 38 on Verizon, 18 on Cablevision.
