04/19/2026
More than 100 people gathered for Temple Israel’s Yom Hashoah Holocaust Remembrance Day Commemoration last Sunday. The highlight of the solemn occasion was 90-year old Holocaust Survivor Janet Applefield who shared her poignant journey as she triumphed over one of the darkest chapters in history, rebuilding her life with resilience, inspiring hope, and carrying the enduring legacy of remembrance.
The following related article appeared in Friday’s Portsmouth Herald.
Holocaust survivor Janet Applefield shares her story in Portsmouth
Residents gathered at Temple Israel in Portsmouth to honor Holocaust Remembrance Day with a program that combined solemn reflection, historical testimony and a call to carry the memory forward, according to a community announcement.
The event, held April 12, drew a full audience and featured a commemoration ceremony, the display of a significant Holocaust artifact collection, and an address by survivor Janet Applefield.
A ceremony of remembrance
The evening began with a formal ceremony led by Temple Israel staff and community leaders, organized by a longtime, devoted leader of Temple Israel, Rich LeSavoy, according to the announcement. Attendees lit memorial candles and recited the kaddish, the traditional Jewish prayer of mourning. A moment of silence honored the millions who perished in the Holocaust.
"Yom HaShoah asks us not to look away," one organizer said. "It asks us to hold grief alongside hope — and that is exactly what our community did tonight."
The program also featured a display of Holocaust artifacts assembled by Dr. Ira Schwartz, a member of Temple Israel. The collection, now housed at Keene State University, includes primary artifacts from the Holocaust era and offered attendees a tangible connection to the history being remembered.
Janet Applefield shares her story
The highlight of the evening was an address by Janet Applefield, a Holocaust survivor whose account of persecution, loss and survival held the audience in silence. Applefield described her childhood in wartime Europe, the fear and displacement her family experienced, and her eventual journey to freedom.
"I tell my story so that it is never forgotten," Applefield said. "And so that the world will understand what hatred, left unchecked, can do to human beings."
Applefield's testimony resonated beyond the Jewish community, as members of a neighboring Christian congregation attended to listen and show support.
Book signing and community conversation
After her address, Applefield signed copies of her memoir for attendees, many of whom brought children and grandchildren to meet her. The book signing provided an opportunity for personal conversations and a chance to connect with a living witness to history.
The program served as a reminder of the importance of remembering the Holocaust, especially as the number of survivors continues to dwindle, organizers said. Through shared testimony and collective reflection, the community reaffirmed its commitment to bearing witness and carrying the memory forward.
