By Peaches Calhoun and Okon Ekpenyong

Under the solemn, echoing dome of the Ohio Statehouse, a profound ceremony unfolded on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, led by Governor Mike DeWine, marking the 45th Annual Governor’s Holocaust Commemoration. This sacred gathering was not only a tribute but a powerful rallying cry against the ominous shadows of hate and antisemitism that continue to loom over our communities. 

In a heartwarming embrace of shared humanity, the ceremony brought together survivors, their descendants, compassionate community leaders, and devoted state officials. They stood united in a poignant moment of reflection, honoring the six million Jews whose lives were extinguished during the Holocaust. As the flickering flames of memorial candles cast their glow, they shimmered like beacons of hope amidst the profound grief of unimaginable loss. 

Emotional narratives of survival, resilience, and extraordinary courage enveloped the hearts of attendees, weaving a tapestry of heartbreaking yet inspiring accounts. Among the most poignant was the testimony of Louise Gips, a courageous Holocaust survivor hailing from Cleveland.

With her voice both trembling and steadfast, she transported the audience to a time of unimaginable despair, recounting her harrowing escape from Nazi-occupied Poland and the relentless suffering she endured in a Siberian labor camp. In her words, one could feel the unbreakable spirit of her family that triumphed over the darkest of times. 

Louise, with passionate intensity, underscored the vital importance of bearing witness to these stories, imploring each listener to carry these poignant lessons into the future, ensuring that such horrors are never allowed to fade into silence. Governor DeWine, his voice resonating with urgency, addressed the alarming resurgence of antisemitism infiltrating the very fabric of society, both nationally and here in Ohio. He punctuated his words with a sobering reminder of 61 reported antisemitic incidents in 2022—a stark rise that highlights the relentless fight against hate, which demands our unwavering dedication and effort. 

In a resolute stand against prejudice, he proclaimed his commitment through a 2023 executive order adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, boldly ensuring its implementation across all state agencies and public institutions. This pledge, powerful in its intent, reinforces Ohio’s stand against all forms of discrimination. 

The ceremony also resonated with heartfelt recorded messages from Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman and House Speaker Jason Stephens, both passionately articulating the transformative impact of Holocaust education in nurturing understanding and tolerance in our communities. Rabbi Joseph Schonberger culminated the gathering with a stirring benediction, a fervent plea for unity and peace in a world often overshadowed by division. 

As the voices of the last surviving witnesses diminish, gatherings like this become essential lifelines, ensuring that their stories—rich with lessons of heartbreak and hope—resonate through generations. Ohio’s unwavering commitment to the memory of the Holocaust stands firm, rooted in the belief that through awareness and collective action, the horrors of history may never again find a place in our society.

Set against the magnificent backdrop of the Ohio Holocaust & Liberators Memorial—masterfully conceived by the acclaimed architect Daniel Libeskind—this entire event was a moving reminder that remembrance is not merely an acknowledgment of the past; it is a vital pathway toward a just and compassionate future. 

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