Rabbi Benjamin Levy of Congregation Etz Chaim Monroe Township Jewish Center joins Scott Sincoff at a June 3 dedication ceremony for the Holocaust memorial garden created by Scott for his Eagle Scout badge. Inset, A memorial plaque commemorating Holocaust victims in front of the memorial garden.
Photos courtesy Jay Sincoff
July 8, 2008
When it came time for 17-year-old Scott Sincoff to develop a project to earn his Eagle Scout badge, it seemed only appropriate to continue educating others about the effects of hatred.
The Monroe resident is a tutor in the religious school of Congregation Etz Chaim Monroe Township Jewish Center and was an organizer of a Darfur awareness event at Monroe Township High School, where he is entering his senior year.
Therefore, it seemed only natural that as a project he would choose to build a Holocaust memorial garden in front of his synagogue and take the opportunity to educate both children and adults about the Shoa.
“A lot of my friends in my Boy Scout troop were doing something to benefit their churches and religious community, and I figured I wanted to do something for my Jewish community,” said Scott, a member of Troop 60 in Monroe and the son of Jay and Marcia Sincoff. “There are not a lot of Jewish scouts in this area. In fact, I’m the only one in my troop.”
Although Scott said that he did not know of any family members killed in the Holocaust, his grandfather, Sidney Sincoff, was captured by the Germans while fighting with the U.S. Army during the Battle of the Bulge. Held as a prisoner of war for several years, he was subjected to particular mistreatment by his Nazi captors because he was Jewish.
The garden was dedicated at a June 3 ceremony attended by Rabbi Benjamin Levy and congregation members. Designed with the help of Scott’s 24-year-old sister Shara, an art teacher, the garden features six circular pavers and six solar lights to represent the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis. The area is surrounded by flowers and adorned with decorative stones donated by Baker’s Nursery and Landscaping Service in Monroe.
“Scott is a real mensch,” said Levy. “One of the great things about being a congregational rabbi is you get to see kids grow up to become great men and women. He is one such young man.”
A memorial plaque commemorating Holocaust victims in front of the memorial garden.
‘Never forget’
As part of the garden project, Scott conducted Holocaust education sessions for the center’s religious-school students and the entire congregation.
“I spoke to them not only about what happened in the Holocaust, but also told them about what they can do now to stop genocide,” said Scott. “I told them about what’s happening in Darfur and that they must take action.
“As far as the Holocaust, I told them they must continue to pass the story on. They must never forget.”
Scott has a full plate both in school and out. An honor student who plans on majoring in meteorology, he also is a singer with both his high school and synagogue choirs. He is a member of AZA — the boys’ component of B’nai B’rith Youth Organization — and is a senior member of Gesher L’Kesher, the synagogue’s program that teaches Torah through original dramatic presentations. The group performs at synagogues, churches, senior facilities, and other venues. He starred as Joseph in the East Brunswick Jewish Center production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Levy said Scott made a presentation before the synagogue board to get approval for the garden.
“Then he came with some of his friends from his Boy Scout troop, and they stayed for hours and hours,” he added.
“The garden is just fantastic…. The board decided to add a commemorative plaque, and others have added their own plants and flowers to it.
“Perhaps that’s the greatest compliment of all, that others were inspired by it.”
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