Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz sounds the shofar on loan from the Museum of Jewish Heritage's exhibition, "Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away." (
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Jack Kliger, President & CEO of the Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, speaks to students of The Ramaz School. (
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A shofar that was secretly blown in Auschwitz during Rosh Hashanah 75 years ago and clandestinely passed from one Jewish prisoner to another on a death march out of the concentration camp was revealed last week for the exhibition "Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away." at the Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust. On Friday morning, ahead of Rosh Hashanah's start, that shofar was sounded at Manhattan's Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun for the 9th grade class of The Ramaz School.
Also in attendance were Jack Kliger, the Museum's President & CEO, and William Bernheim, a Holocaust survivor.
"We should continue to remind the world of the injustice that must never be forgotten," said Mr. Bernheim.
"There has never been a shofar as exceptional as this," said Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz. "This represents remarkable faith - Jews willing to risk their lives just to hear the shofar. The men who were listening to this shofar [in Auschwitz] wanted future generations to know that they blew this shofar in Auschwitz. You are privileged to hear it today."