Recorded by the ABC TV on November 5th, 2006

Marking the Jewish Holocaust (Yom Hashoah) of World War 2, the choirs and congregations of the Christian churches of Paddington met in repentance with the synagogue of Woollahra to exchange sorrow, consolation and to remember the millions who died. At St Francis of Assisi Paddington, in the presence of a Holocaust Scroll that was rescued from the Nazi desecration of synagogues, music in Hebrew, Latin and English marked the meeting of the great traditions of Judaism, Catholicism, Anglicanism and the Uniting Church. The final TV programme was screened nationally in Australia on April 15th, 2007 (Holocaust Day), and featured holocaust survivor Judith Nachum from Temple Emanuel congregation who told her story, and Edward Cardinal Cassidy who pointed out gently but firmly that past Christian misinterpretations had “made possible” the holocaust .

The music for the day was directed by Cantor Joseph Toltz and Liturgical Music Scholar James Dixon with our own organist Edward Theodore.

1. Thurifer Macbeth Kanera leading the procession in.

2. The Holocaust Scroll of the Pentateuch laid upon the altar of St Francis

3. Rev Cllive Watkins (St George’s Anglican Church, Fiveways),  Fr Peter McGrath, Rabbi Elizabeth Hersh, Deacon Sue Emeleus  (St George’s Anglican Church, Fiveways),  and the Rev Warwick Cadenhead (Paddington Uniting Church) leading prayers

4. Cantor Joseph Toltz conducting the combined choirs of Temple Emanuel and St Francis

5. Deacon Susan Emelees from St George’s Anglican church leading prayers

6. The procession assembles to carry the Torah Scroll out as the choirs sing the hymn “Yigdal”  in alternate verses of Hebrew and English

For further information:
Go to the ABC website for this programme at: http://www.abc.net.au/religion/sundaymorning/s1888352.htm