AIDS Candlelight Vigil

Temple Beth Zion, Brookline, MA

May 21, 2006

For the first time, the Town of Brookline held an AIDS Candlelight Vigil and SHARED was pleased to coordinate the event.  The purpose of the candlelight service is to honor the memory of those who have been lost to AIDS and inspire hope for a brighter future.  May 2006 marked the 23rd Annual International Candlelight Memorial. It was observed in more than 3,000 cities in 85 nations.

Rabbi Moshe Waldoks of Temple Beth Zion welcomes the SHARED volunteers and guests to the temple and begins the memorial candlelight service

SHARED president and founder, Elizabeth Ziemba delivers the opening remarks. She comments on the devastation that the AIDS epidemic has had in Lesotho, southern Africa and encourages the audience to become involved in the international fight against AIDS

Stephen Pixley, baritone, and Bret Silverman, piano, perform "Walt Whitman in 1989," a musical tribute from The AIDS Quilt Songbook

We were honored to hear from our keynote speaker, Larry Kessler, who has been a leader in the AIDS movement from its inception.  As the Founding Director of the AIDS Action Committee, Mr. Kessler established an organization that has served over half of all people ever diagnosed with AIDS in Massachusetts, has educated generations of people about this disease, and has secured progressive city, state, and federal AIDS policy

Flutist Karen Robbins, Associate Director and Faculty member at Brookline Music school performs "Sarabande" from the Sonata in A minor by Bach as a tribute to the AIDS victims

Members of the SHARED Board of Directors, Kathryn Kemmpton Amaral, Jean Ambika Patel (pictured), Thomas Shane, Irving Stackpole, Stewart Ting Chong, and Elizabeth Ziemba lit the six candles during the vigil.  Five of the candles represent each continent where AIDS is taking its toll on the population, and the sixth candle is lit as a symbol of hope

Rev. Dr. Edward C. Kienzle of the Church of Our Savior in Brookline reads the roll call of the names of those lost to AIDS who we remember

during the memorial and each day

Our disinguished guest speaker, Larry Kessler, founder of the AIDS Action Committee poses with SHARED president, Elizabeth Ziemba

One of the talented second grade artists from the Lawrence School proudly shows her artwork, which will be sent as a gift to the children at the Maseru Children's Village in Lesotho, Southern Africa