January 27, 2005
Albany- For Wallace Moses, an old Torah will always remind him of his father.
"It was brought over by my father Jack Moses," Moses said.
The religious artifact was brought here about a decade ago from Czechoslovakia. But more than half a century ago, it was hidden in the ground during World War II.
"My father's side came from Germany. Seventeen members of my family were killed in concentration camps between 1941 and 1944."
Wallace honors those family members he never knew with this plaque in the Temple B'nai. Thousands of miles away, others honor their relatives who also died in concentration camps. It's been 60 years since the Russians liberated Auschwitz.
"It was just a terrible time in history and all these people lost their lives uselessly, there was no real reason to it and it's just really hard to comprehend."
But Wallace's father comprehended it as he dealt with the loss of his family.
"In fact it was a memory that was burned into him, the older he got, the more he spoke about it, the more emotional he was about that situation."
A million and half people, mainly Jews, were killed Auschwitz. Brought in by railcar, victims were either gassed, beaten or starved to death. The number of holocaust survivors decreases every year, so it's up to others to make sure their stories and the lessons learned are passed on.
"In two words I can tell you, is never again. That's my two words and that's basically what I'm here for," Moses.
Inside this temple, the memory of family Wallace never knew will always be remembered.
posted at 10:31 p.m. by brannon.stewart@walb.com
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 Worldnow and WALB, a Raycom Media Station. 
