Memorial Ceremony in Ukraine Marks Anniversary of Nazi Murder of 11,000

(FJC.ru) The Jewish community of Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, held a Holocaust memorial ceremony Monday at the site where an estimated 11,000 of the city's Jews were shot en masse by Nazi forces.

Leaders and members of the community, a part of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine, joined representatives of other Jewish organizations in commemorating the massacre, which happened shortly after the Nazis conquered the city on Oct. 12, 1941.

"In every city where Jews lived, there is such a place that reminds those living today about those terrifying days and the victims of Nazis," said Alexander Fridkis, executive director of the Dnepropetrovsk Jewish community, in his opening remarks.

Children from the Ohr Avner Chabad Day School read a poem in memory of the victims. Jewish Agency regional chief Dmitry Apartsev, Jewish Veteran's Council chair Saveliy Bass and Ukrainian Foundation on Holocaust History director Igor Tshupak also participated.

Grigory Korol, chairman of the Dnepropetrovsk community, recited the traditional Yizkor prayer of remembrance, after which attendees lit memorial candles, laid flowers at the monument marking site and observed a moment of silence.