Article by Bez Neihausen and Adam Evenstein
The Latvian Jewish Courier Vol. 38, Issue 1 – August 2024
We flew in from two different parts of the world and met up in Riga, Latvia – where our grandparents and their families all came from, before they immigrated to the United States in 1972. We are cousins and our families now live in different places – Bez (age 14) in Montclair, New Jersey and Adam (age 15) in Berlin, Germany.
Most people in the US spend July 4th lighting fireworks and celebrating Independence Day. However, this year both of us spent it in a more somber manner, joining our family and others in Riga to remember and commemorate the atrocities that occurred exactly 83 years ago on July 4, 1941. Back then, Nazis were taking control of Latvia and terrorizing the Jewish community. This included the burning of several synagogues with hundreds of people locked inside who died in the flames.
During the Holocaust, we lost more than 40 members of our family, including our great-great-grandparents Mozes and Luba Fitingoff who were murdered along with several of their children in the Riga Ghetto. Our great-grandfather Beno Fitingof was among the few who managed to escape while 90% of the Jewish population of Latvia was killed.
Growing up, both of us heard stories about the war, how our family survived and how important it was to remember our roots. We both would be taken to different events celebrating and commemorating Jewish heritage. When we were smaller, we often complained to our parents and grandparents about going to these events which seemed boring and uninteresting. However, we have now grown and matured enough to understand how important they really are – like this July 4th commemoration in Riga.
When we arrived at The Old Jewish Cemetery at 10am, a crowd was already gathering. As a greeting, we were handed a burgundy-colored scarf to symbolize the Latvian flag and a small candle. As the crowd continued to grow, we gathered around the podium where eight large candles and several microphones stood. The first ceremony of the day had begun. As the opening speeches were finished, the microphone was given to one of our grandmothers, Aelita. She gave a very emotional speech about our family, followed by singing a heartfelt Yiddish song “Oyfen Pripichik” which her father had taught her. As she sang, we stood behind her holding photographs of some of the relatives we lost in the Holocaust.
Then our whole family was called to light the very first of the eight memorial candles. As we lit the candle in front of the large crowd, our perspective shifted. For the first time in our lives, rather than feeling forced to take part in a Jewish memorial event, we felt proud to be there and proud to be Jewish.
As the opening ceremony wrapped up, we began The March of the Living, which took us from the Old Jewish Cemetery to the Great Choral Synagogue. Walking through the streets of Riga, which were once a dangerous place for our people, we were now accompanied and escorted by local police, allowing us to feel safe and special. Although the police gave us physical safety, the real feeling of comfort was from the people surrounding us. Over 200 people were marching together for the same cause. Although some of them were there to capture the moment on camera, while others were there for deeper family or religious meanings of remembrance, everyone was supporting and, more importantly, making sure the past is not forgotten.
As we arrived at the Great Choral Synagogue, we immediately stepped up to the plaque explaining the importance of the spot.
It was once one of the most prominent and influential Jewish communities and houses of worship in the entire city. But this is also one of the synagogues where the Nazis and their Latvian helpers burned innocent Jews alive. Today it is a monument and place of commemoration for the Jewish people of Riga.
Everyone was told to take out the small candle that was given to them prior to the march, light it, and place it down on the ruins. Then several dignitaries, including Latvia’s Prime Minister Evika Siliņa and the Israeli Ambassador to Latvia Sharon Rappaport Palgi, gave meaningful speeches. Although most speeches were spoken in Latvian (which we don’t understand), we could feel the sincerity. Other prominent figures spoke as well, including the chief Rabbi of Latvia and the Chairman of the non-profit Jewish Survivors of Latvia Dr. Charles Springfield. After all the speeches were done, people started to leave; the ceremony had ended.
Although neither of us live in Riga, it is still a special place for us. We both have deep roots in the Latvian-Jewish community, going back hundreds of years. Overall, experiencing the March of the Living event in Riga was eye opening and made us realize how important it is to never forget what happened in the past, so it is never repeated in the future.
