zun,—iuhx JUNE 2002 VOLUME 16 NUMBER 1 SOLIDARITY WITH WASHINGTON, DC April 15, 2002 “Their fate is our fate.”

---Benjamin Meed

s the world media screamed its vitriol at the State of Israel, as Jewish ister Benjamin Netanyahu and PM Natan Sharansky delivered their messages, bodies once again piled up and the world closed its eyes yet pointed its there too was House Majority Leader Dick Armey, Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, Acollective finger at the as the culprits responsible for the turmoil, Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton, Congressman Ben Gilman. There American Jewry called out to meet in Washington, to show the world its sup- was Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, Governor George port for its beleagured brethren. Pataki, former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and on and on went the list of the And they came—by the carload, the bus load, by plane, by foot. Over 150,00 powerful and not so powerful who came this day to lend their support, to add their descended on Washington, young and old, including many names as friends of Israel and as friends of Jews. And God looked down with and Jewish War Veterans. They came to stand together, to let the nations of the great favor on this day. Under a brilliant sun, more and more people came to spill world understand that never again would Jews stand by and let their fellow over beyond the Capitol mall, reaching back to the reflecting pool and expanding Jews be attacked and murdered. And this time they brought their allies with beyond the surrounding avenues. They came en masse to express their support them—their political representatives, their non-Jewish friends, those who have for Israel and sent a powerful message to the American administration to stand power in government. As Nobel laureate , former Israel Prime Min- with Israel in the common struggle against terrorism, for peace and security.

American Gathering of NON-PROFIT Jewish Holocaust Survivors U.S. POSTAGE PAID 122 West 30th Street, Suite 205 NEW YORK, N.Y. New York, New York 10001 PERMIT NO. 4246

TOGETHER 1 MEMORIES OF COURAGE by Benjamin Meed TOGETHER (Remarks at the Days of Remembrance Ceremony in Washington, zun,—iuhx c´´xa, JUNE 2002 VOLUME 16 NUMBER 1 DC on April 9, 2002.) Today is Yom Hashoah, the Day of Remembrance. This morning the entire State of c•o•n•t•e•n•t•s Israel stood in silence remembering the Solidarity Rally in Washington, DC...... cover Holocaust. We stand in solidarity with our Memories of Courage by Benjamin Meed...... 2 brothers and sisters in Israel. We pray daily for National Commemoration of the Days of Remembrance...... 3 the violence to end. Both Jews and Palestinians Address by Condoleezza Rice...... 4 must forge ahead to a shared peaceful future. Legacy of Survivors by Moshe Sanbar...... 4 The Holocaust Memorial Museum has designated, Joint Commemoration of WAGRO & The Museum of Jewish Heritage...... 5 “Memories of Courage” as this year’s theme. In light of recent acts Teachers’ Program on Holocaust and Jewish Resistance...... 6 of terrorism, what could be more fitting than a tribute to heroes? Teachers’ Addresses at Alumni Conference...... 7 The 2002 Days of Remembrance honors those brave men and Renewed Dedication to Teaching the Holocaust by Diane Clark...... 8 women who took a stand against the German Nazi regime. Now more Holocaust Museums...... 8 than ever, individuals and communal acts of heroism during the New Leadership at U.S. Holocaust Museum...... 9 Holocaust demonstrate how we can and must respond to acts of hatred New Media/Old Issues by Mordechai Haller...... 9 and inhumanity. American Gathering Leadership Conference and Resolutions...... 10 Sixty years ago the German Nazis unleashed the machinery of the The Controversy Rages, But Is It Art? by Jeanette Friedman...... 11 Holocaust in Europe. This period has come to represent mankind at Insult & Injury by Rabbi David Lincoln...... 11 its most barbanc. The Nazis used the most advanced technology for their evil, sinister plans. The Tragedy of Jews in Argentina by Wolf Finkelman...... 11 Widespread, systematic, intense abuses against humanity led to a USHMM Joins Memoirs Project...... 12 campaign of mass murder with many fated to go to the gas chambers. Jews Under Siege by Jack Kelley...... 12 Unspeakable horrors were committed against millions of innocent Contemporary Literature by Philip Graubart...... 13 men women and children, and it went on for many years. Material Meets in Berlin by Roman Kent...... 13 Some collaborated with the Nazis, while most stood by with their Art Exhibits...... 14 eyes closed and did nothing. This indifference to the destruction of In Hindsight by Menachem Rosensaft...... 14 lives and cultures is shameful. Six million Jewish lives were lost to In Memoriam...... 15 the brutality of the Holocaust. Millions of others were murdered as Announcement for Former Slave Laborers in ...... 16 undesirables. Dutch Jews Reclaim Goods Stolen by Nazis...... 16 In the midst of such suffering, ordinary people became unlikely Holocaust Bookshelf...... 17 heroes. Many sought to assist those who the Nazis wanted to News Briefs...... 19 annihilate. Unbelievable actions by individual and some communities Deadline to File Holcaust Insurance Claims Extended...... 21 were beginning to take place. These brave, noble souls risked Jewish European Leaders Disastified with Restitution...... 21 imprisonment and death, but would not be deterred. Some provided Second Generation Film in Argentina...... 21 shelter and hiding places. Letters...... 22 Jewish underground organizations aided many with false identification papers, a place to live and other forms of support. Poorly armed Jews rose against Nazi power in street fighting. were involved in acts of sabotage, and provided shelter for ghetto refugees. Prisoners engaged in uprisings by attacking guards. Death camp inmates committed acts of arson, destroying gas chambers and crematoria. For some, survival became a form of resistance. Inspired by such acts, others began to follow their consciences. Some tried to arouse public opinion against the Nazi regime, while others highlighted the need for action. By committing such extraordinary acts, ordinary people became heroes. Similar lessons are no less true today. We experienced a cruel act of terrorism on September 11th. America received a devastating In the process of working more closely with the Survivors, the wake-up call. Yet in the face of this vicious ordeal, we showed International Network of Children of Jewish Holocaust Survivors has magnificent valor. The choices we make can affect the fight against become an integral part of the American Gathering, which welcomes oppression and hatred. In the aftermath, we decided to meet the the Second Generation and its descendants with best wishes for challenge of evil with perseverance. success in all our common endeavors. Today we must remember the Holocaust, honor its victims and the spirit of the survivors. Let us take to heart the example of those who dared to make a stand against tyranny. Individuals must remember their power to make a difference. TOGETHER In our recent experience with our own tragedy on September 11th, AMERICAN GATHERING OF JEWISH HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS we can reflect on the Holocaust as a reminder of our moral obligation 122 West 30th Street, Suite 205 · New York, New York 10001 to pursue freedom, justice and peace. 212 564-1065 When governments teach hatred, evil will follow. We know all too President Secretary Publication Committee BENJAMIN MEED LEON STABINSKY SAM E. BLOCH, Chairman well that the impossible is possible. The unbelievable can happen Senior Vice Presidents Treasurer/Associate Editor Hirsh Altusky SAM E. BLOCH MAX K. LIEBMANN Roman Kent again. WILLIAM LOWENBERG Editor Max K. Liebmann Chairman of the Board JEANETTE FRIEDMAN Alfred Lipson Let us strive for a world filled with compassion and tolerance for ROMAN KENT Associate Editor Chairman, Advisory Board PHILIP SIERADSKI Menachem Z. Rosensaft each other. SIGMUND STROCHLITZ Editor Emeritus ALFRED LIPSON

TOGETHER 2 2002 NATIONAL COMMEMORATION OF THE DAYS OF REMEMBRANCE U.S. Capitol Rotunda April 9, 2002 Washington, D.C.

“...It is no accident that these days, when the whole world is concerned with the scourge of terror, two nations, the United States and Israel, stand together determined to bring back the necessary sense of security to their citizens...The [terrorist] cult is not soveriegnity, but death. Their passion is death, their theology is death. And death must not be victorious. Those who kill in the name of God ultimately turn Him into a killer...Let us issue a call to stop the bloodshed wherever it is being conducted.; let us stop the suicide killers in the holy land, let us reject terrorism and fanatacism as a means to an end.” Elie Wiesel

“...On this day when we remember the victims of the Holocaust, cata- strophic events continue to unfold in Israel. And so we also carry in our hearts the victims of terror assaults by suicide bombers, innocent Israe- lis killed because they are Jews. Their murderers have been poisoned by the vile language of the Third Reich...I want to thank President Bush, Dr. Rice and other Administration leaders and the Congress for their steadfast efforts to halt that campaign and eradicate their pernicious evils...These memories of courage remind us that we, individually and collectively, are also called to make a difference in the fight against murderous oppression and hatred. Fred Zeidman

“...In mourning the loss and honoring the memory of the millions who were victims of the Holocaust, today we also pay special tribute to bravery in the midst of the Shoah; we remember and honor all those who did not survive but who exhibited breathtaking courage in the face of disaster and engaged “This year, evil has in daily acts of heroism.” Ruth B. Mandel spoken to all of us, and on this day we need no reminder to Days of Remembrance Ceremony answer back, quietly Processional: U.S. Army Band directed by Col. Gary F. Lamb Presentation of Division Flags: Third U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard) but firmly: Condoleezza “never Rice again.” National Anthem: Sgt. First Class Beverly Benda Opening Remarks: Benjamin Meed Chairman Days of Remembrance United States Holocaust Memorial Council Es Brent: Sgt. First Class Beverly Benda Greetings: Ambassador of Israel, His Excellency David Ivry Remarks: Fred S. Zeidman, Chairman U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council Elie Wiesel, Founding Chairman U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council Keynote Address: Condoleezza Rice, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Remarks: Ruth B. Mandel, Vice Chair, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council Memorial Candlelighting: Hon. F. H. Murkowski Hon. Paul S. Sarbanes Hon. Kay Baily Hutchinson Hon. Benjamin A. Gilman Hon. John Lewis Top row: Max Liebman & Hon. Connie Morella Hon. Connie Morella Hon. F.H. Murkowski & Abraham Foxman Abraham Foxman, Anita Kuenstler Epstein Hon. Ben Gilman Abraham Zuckerman, Erika Neuman Eckstut Elie Wiesel Norman Bikales, Max Liebmann Abraham Zuckerman & the Hon. Kay Hutchinson El Moleh Rachamim: Cantor Dudu Fisher Fred. S. Zeidman Kaddish: Abraham Kreiger, Condoleezza Rice USHMM Second Generation Advisory Committee Benjamin Meed, Fred S. Zeidman and Hon. David Ivry Hymn of the Partisans: Cantor Dudu Fisher Hon. Paul Sarbanes and Anita K. Epstein Retirement of the Flags: Third U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard) Hon. John Lewis & Norman Bikales Recessional: U.S. Army Band

TOGETHER 3 ADDRESS BY CONDOLEEZZA RICE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS At the 2002 National Commemoration of the Days of Remembrance

Washington, D.C.--Survivors, liberators, Members of Congress, Members of the Cabinet, Ambassador Ivry, other members of the diplomatic corps, Benjamin Meed, Fred Zeidman, Elie Wiesel, Ruth Mandel, other honored guests, ladies and gentlemen: Thank you for inviting me to join you for Yom ha-Shoah. We gather today to remember that evil is real and present in our world. We gather to remember that hatred and bigotry are always and everywhere wrong. We gather to remember that the commission of monstrous sin requires not our consent, but only our indifference, our neutrality, or our silence. We gather to light six candles, so that we may never forget six million acts of murder. With each passing year, the number of living Holocaust survivors and liberators grows smaller. When all the eyewitnesses are gone, the Holocaust’s history will be taught Wiesel; and resistors like the Danes and us, including life itself. But you cannot not from the searing pain of memory but the righteous of many nations who hid take away our pride.” from the pressing call of conscience. and saved many thousands of their I’ve often wondered what became of Last year, when the President spoke Jewish neighbors. that couple. I imagine that long after here, the Holocaust seemed somewhat And, of course, we recall those who they were no longer able to control their removed from our era—part of a bloody fought from inside the Ghetto appearance they still found subtle ways century now behind us. Sadly, this year in April 1943, and who, as Elie Wiesel to say, “You cannot control me, you we need no prompting to appreciate the wrote, lit a flame that “continues to burn cannot take away my pride and dignity.” Holocaust’s importance and its in our memory” even through the I’ve wondered whether they were part what the slaves of Exodus learned. And relevance. Fanatical, unreasoning hatred distance of six decades. of the uprising; whether they perished it is what slaves in America meant when has intruded upon our lives in ways that We draw strength from these in a camp; whether they were among they sang: “Nobody knows the trouble no one could have imagined months ago. names—all familiar to our lips—and we the few who survived; whether they I’ve seen “Glory Hallelujah!” From the Holy Land, we see daily gain inspiration from their stories. Less may even have had children like Marek None of our current travails approach images of carnage, and from Europe, often, we think of the other heroes, the Edelman or Bronislaw Geremek who those of the Holocaust. The evil of the come images of synagogues and Torah countless ordinary Jews, Roma, survived and went on to become Holocaust is singular. Yet its lessons are scrolls burned. Our own land has seen Jehovah’s Witnesses, gay people, and members of Solidarity and leaders in a universal. the mass destruction of innocents, guilty disabled men and women who defied free and democratic Poland. So today, we remember that of nothing more than going to work in a the machinery of murder with quiet acts And I have thought about that couple ignorance and cruelty are never far country called America on a beautiful, of courage and piety. Their names are from the ghetto even more in the days away, and that their atrocities demand but terrible autumn morning. And the mostly unknown to all but Him, yet their since September ii Because right now, action and justice. world was sent obscene videotapes lives too instruct. all of us are enduring a time of testing, We remember that every life has where evil leaders celebrate the I remember visiting and loss, and fear; a time when our value and all lives are ennobled by slaughter, and yet another tape where a seeing a photograph of a handsomely vulnerability to evil and the certainty of opposing hate and bigotry. man is killed after being made to say dressed Jewish couple in the Warsaw our mortality are all too clear; a time We remember that not even the words, “I am a Ghetto. The guide at the museum said when once again our intellect is mankind’s worst depravities can be This year, evil has spoken to all of us, that people often express consternation insufficient to answer the question, allowed to dissuade us from our search and on this day we need no reminder to at the photograph, wondering how odd “Why?” And at these times more than for worldly and spiritual peace. answer back, quietly but firmly: “never it was that against the ghetto’s backdrop ever, we are reminded that it is a In this nation of immigrants, again.” of danger and desperation this couple privilege to struggle for good against evil. surrounded here by the symbols and As our world prevails through these had obviously gone to great lengths to We do not choose our circumstances totems of tolerance and freedom, we difficult days, and as we pray for peace ensure that their clothing and grooming or trials, but we do choose how we remember our very great responsibility for all the children of Abraham, it is were impeccable. respond to them. Too often when all is to protect freedom and to welcome all of important to recall not just the I had a different reaction. I said well, we slip into the false joy and God’s creatures into its loving embrace. Holocaust’s horrors, but also its heroes: immediately, “I understand that photograph. satisfaction of the material and a And we remember the words of the bearers of witness like Jan Karski; These people are saying, ‘I’m still in complacent pride and faith in ourselves. Kaddish, “Oseh shalom beem’roh’mahv, rescuers like Wallenberg and Schindler; control, I still have my dignity.’ They are Yet it is through struggle that we find hoo ya’aseh shalom, aleynu v’al kohl writers like Anne Frank and Elie saying, ‘You can take everything from redemption and self-knowledge. This is yisrae’el v’eemru: Amein.”

LEGACY OF THE HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS by Moshe Sanbar Excerpts from an address at the Third International Conference at Yad Vashem, At the existential Jewish level, the II. Only several years after we emerged The Nazis blamed the Jews for very April 9, 2002. most conspicuous lesson is that we from the gates of the Nazi hell, we joined misfortune that had ever befallen cannot rely on others to help us at times the , Ezel, Lechi and later on and Germans. This was their Six million Jews were murdered in the of distress. They may observe our the Israel Defence Forces to take part message to the German masses after Holocaust. also inflicted severe agonies with genuine sorrow but their in that war, in which many of us their defeat in . The damage on the traditional European interests will usually steer their perished. We regarded and still regard, economic crisis that coincided with the culture and its moral infrastructure. The considerations toward “non- the establishment of our state as the advent of the Nazi doctrine created Nazi ideology fought Judaism in all ways: intervention.” Consequently, the ultimate solution for the Jewish people. fertile soil in which this ideology could physically and spiritually. Nazism necessary response was the We be1ieve that it may also help to spread. The opponents of the regime regarded Jewish culture—both religious establishment of the independent Jewish enhance the standard of living of our were afraid to speak out: most decided and secular—as one of its greatest state, of Israel, which would open its neighbors, with whom we aspire to live to hold their silence leaving the field to enemies. gates to all Jews who wished to find in peace and tranquility. the Nazi gangs. We, Holocaust survivors in Israel, in shelter there. At the universal level, the main This is the history in a nutshell. The conjunction with Yad Vashem and the The cruel struggle for survival lesson—in my opinion—is that implications of this history are strongly Conference on Jewish Material Claims toughened us as individuals but also phenomena and ideologies that clash with evident in the present. The phenomena against Germany, took the initiative to taught us that we must not abandon elementary ethical imperatives should be noted above are recurring almost call this conference. Our purpose was universal basic values of ethics and “nipped in the bud,” before they have a everywhere. Hence the lesson: to act to emphasize the moral principles and justice. Equality, and national unity chance to amass strength and influence. against them immediately and to strive lessons that, flow from the triumph of should light our path as a free state and The Holocaust could not have taken place limitlessly to attain the opposite goals— democracy over Fascism and National society. This has been our were it not for the gradual and steady goals based on the assurance of personal Socialism, The Holocaust was ours incontrovertible response to past and ascendancy of the Nazi Party. However, freedom, human dignity, and equal rights above all—the Holocaust of the Jewish present trials, on behalf of a better many well-intentioned people at that time and opportunity for all, irrespective of people—but its most of its lessons are future. Most Holocaust survivors considered Nazism nothing but a marginal religion, sex, skin color, and ethnicity. universal. embraced this lofty goal after World War phenomenon that would quickly vanish. continued on pg. 8 TOGETHER 4 JOINT COMMEMORATION OF WAGRO & THE MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE/ LIVING MEMORIAL TO THE HOLOCAUST IN MEMORY OF THE SIX MILLION JEWS WHO PERISHED DURING THE HOLOCAUST AND 59th ANNIVERSARY OF THE WARSAW GHETTO UPRISING in cooperation with the American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors April 2002, NYC PROGRAM

NATIONAL ANTHEM REMARKS Cantor Joseph Malovany Honorable Michael Bllomberg Fifth Avenue Synagogue, Mayor of the City of New York MUSIC INVOCATION Inbal Megiddo Rabbi Amy B. Ehrlich Cellist Temple Emanu-El REMARKS YIDDISH REMARKS Ephraim Sneh Benjamin Meed Israel Minister of Communication Honorary Chairman MOYSHELECH, SHLOYMELECH OPENING REMARKS Cantor Joseph Malovany Benjamin Meed David G. Marwell, Ph.D. SIX MEMORIAL CANDLES Director, Museum of Jewish Heritage Survivors of the Holocaust A Living Memorial to the Holocaust with their children and grandchildren

ANI MA’AMIN and KEL MOLE RACHAMIM MEMORIAL CANDLE LIGHTING Cantor Joseph Malovany Temple Emanu-El Choir Women Survivors KADDISH B’TZIBUR Joyce Celnik-Levine, Coordinator John Klein Holocaust Survivor ES BRENT Temple Emanu-El Choir SHTIL DI NACHT and YUGNT HYMN PROCLAMATION/REMARKS Kinneret Day School Choir Honorable George Pataki Governor of the State of New York REMARKS Jack Rosen REMARKS Son of Holocaust Survivors Honorable Charles Schumer United States Senator, New York MINUTE OF SILENCE

REMARKS ZOG NIT KEYN MOL Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton PARTISAN HYMN United States Senator, New York Cantors, Choirs and Audience

Lighting of memorial candles in memory of the martyrs; Ephraim Sneh, Israel Minister of Communications, and Alon Pinkas, Con- sul General of Israel, New York; Benjmain Meed; (l-r) Governor George Pataki, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary R. Clinton.

TOGETHER 5 TEACHERS’ PROGRAM ON HOLOCAUST AND JEWISH RESISTANCE Tenth National Alumni Conference • February 2002

he Tenth National Alumni Con- American education today. Israel Am- ference of the Teachers’ Pro bassador, David Ivry spoke of the kin- Tgram on Holocaust and Jewish ship between the people of Israel and Resistance took place in Washington, this unique program. A warm greeting D.C. on Presidents’ Weekend, Febru- from Avner Shalev, Director of Yad ary 16-18, 2002. Vashem in Jerusalem, was read by alum- Almost 300 people—teachers, schol- nus Seth Altman. ars, survivors, members of the United The guest speaker for the evening States Holocaust Memorial Museum was Robert Jan van Pelt, a Dutch pro- and guests—met to share their experi- fessor of Architecture and Cultural His- ences in teaching U.S. students about tory at the University of Waterloo, who the Holocaust, to learn from one an gave a fascinating talk on how he came to be an expert witness on Auschwitz at the well-known Irving-Lipstadt libel trial in London. His exploration of how Ho- locaust revisionists ignore and distort ba- sic facts captivated the audience. The next day, two talks dealt with different aspects of the struggles of Eu- ropean Jewry during and after the Ho- locaust. Sam Bloch, Senior Vice Presi- dent of the American Gathering, dis- cussed the activities of partisans as in- dividuals and as fighting rescue units in Vladka Meed, Chair of the Conference of the Opening Session the Jewish resistance. Mr. Bloch is a veteran of the Bielski At six simultaneous workshops, the Holocaust dealt with in the Soviet Sara Bloomfield Brigade, one of the largest Jewish parti alumni explored how to teach issues of press, what was the official history other and to explore the latest available rescue and resistance during the Holo- and literature, and how the specific techniques and resources. caust using the book On Both Sides The internationally acclaimed program of the Wall by Vladka Meed. These was founded by Vladka Meed 18 years workshops were organized by Stephen ago and is directed by her. It is sponsored Feinberg, Director, National Outreach, by the American Gathering of Jewish Ho- for U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum; locaust Survivors, the American Federa- Elaine Culbertson, a 1987 alumna and tion of Teachers, and the Educators’ Chap- Director of Secondary Curriculum and ter of the Jewish Labor Committee. It re- Instruction for the Philadelphia school ceives support from the Atran Foundation, system, and Susan Llanes-Myers, Ex- the Conference on Jewish Ma terial Claims ecutive Director of the Holocaust Mu- against Germany and the Caroline and Joseph seum Houston. Workshop participants S. Gruss Funds, Inc. heard from panels of alumni who Sam Bloch As in the past, this year’s National brought a range of ideas, approaches Prof. Zvi Gitelman Alumni Conference was cosponsored by san groups active during the Holocaust; and technology. A participant from tragedy—and resistance—of the Jew- the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. some 1,200 people survived the war as each workshop presented summaries ish people during the Holocaust era At the pre-conference program, Mark a result of the Brigade’s heroic work. to the entire plenary session on Sun- is only now beginning to emerge. Wilner gave greetings on behalf of the Joseph Berger, Deputy Education Di- day. The final presenter was Dr. Will- class of 1985. Sol Factor, alumnus of rector for , shared Sunday evening, Alice Greenwald, iam F. Meinecke, Jr., who examined 1990, introduced the critically acclaimed his experiences and that of his parents, Associate Museum Director for Mu- other victims of the Nazis during the survivors of the Holocaust as they ad- seum Programs US Holocaust Me- Holocaust era. Dr. Meinecke, a his- justed to life in the United States after morial Museum, introduced Benjamin torian with the Education Divl presen- the war. Meed, President of the American tation. His recent book, Displaced Persons: Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Sur- He reminded the audience of Elie Growing Up American After the Ho- vivors, who stressed the close kin- Wiesel’s famous dictum that while not ship between survivors and the all victims were Jews, all Jews were teachers. victims. He spoke of the hope and faith sur- The energized and spirited alumni vivors put in the work of educators. and all participants at the Tenth Na- Simcha Stein, Chairman of the Board tional Alumni Conference returned to of the Study Center of the Ghetto their communities with renewed com- Fighters House came from Israel to mitment to not only teach their stu- Robert Jan van Pelt be with us. A favorite of all our dents about the facts, the figures, and documentary on the Kindertransports, alumni, he is the coordinator and soul the lessons of the Holocaust, but also Into the Arms of Strangers. of all our activities at the Study Cen- to help their students examine, be on Vladka Meed officially opened the ter. guard against, and respond to today’s conference at the Saturday evening din- Our guest speaker, Zvi Gitelman, evils. Joseph Berger ner. She introduced Sara Bloomfield, Ex- Professor of Political Science at the ———————————— ecutive Director of the U.S. Holocaust locaust, gives an engaging glimpse of University of Michigan, , explored the Arieh Lebowitz edits the “Holocaust and Memorial Museum who pointed out the life as a youngster growing up in an issue of the Holocaust in the Soviet Jewish Resistance Teacher Program’s important role the museum plays in émigré community. Union—how was the history of the Alumni Newsletter” TOGETHER 6 Teachers’ Addresses At Alumni Conference wo years ago, I applied for the Summer Study Program on the Yad Vashem and the Study Center of lion; but as Vladka has said, we Holocaust and Jewish Resistance and to my good fortune, I was Kibbutz Lohamei Haghetaot, we gath- must emphasize the personal and Taccepted. On a few occasions I was asked, "Why did you ap- ered new perspectives on the Holo- human attributes of those lost to ply?" and at times, implicit in that question was one that remained unspo- caust from scholars. We returned to this murderous rampage. Be- ken, "How is it that you, an African American, have such an interest in the cause of our experiences, stu- Holocaust?" The question reflects the reality of an unfortunate aspect of dents are even more encouraged human society. We so often ignore thee vil perpetrated against social groups to remember people, not num- other than our own, that few expect concern or interest from those outside bers. To understand that each in- of the victimized group. dividual was unique, was loved and cherished...and even today The Study Program on the Holo- crease their sensitivity to the inher- is missed by those who survived. caust and Jewish Resistance is an ex- ent dangers of ignoring government To me this is the most valuable cellent way to address this human is- sponsored evil directed against any lesson that I can teach my stu- sue. Teachers from the far corners group. dents. of this nation, from diverse back- This Program has enhanced Holo- On behalf of the Class of grounds, come together with the ex- caust units of study in classrooms Griff Watson, Class of 2000 2000, we greet you all with press purpose of learning more about across the country. We saw the now our classrooms with a broader - heartfelt appreciation for all that the Holocaust, but we leave with so cold ovens at Auschwitz, gazed som- lectual understanding of the Holo- you do. It is good to come to- much more. We take back a burning berly at the ashes of hundreds of thou- caust and a deeper empathy for both gether again, to continue the dis- desire to ignite within students a pas- sands left at Majdanek, and stood survivors and the victims. course on Holocaust, to compare sion for the value and sanctity of all shocked and grieved among the sym- And we must never forget the vic- classroom methodologies and human life and freedom; and to in- bolic stones of Treblinka. In Israel at tims; not just in terms of the six mil- just to renew friendships.

ing Birkenau, which now is an empty, girl in the comic when I sat next to dead place, and driving through the beau- and learned from survivors and tiful Polish countryside, seeing houses scholars the life stories of such and shops and families in their yards, I courageous people as Vladka Meed; kept thinking about the people, those of Reuven Dafni, who went with whose stories were silenced and those Hannah Senesh behind enemy lines in who still live with stories to tell. Hungary; of countless other survivors I returned home knowing that I had whose stories made history come alive. to put to the facts for my students their stories will not be forgotten as so that they would really understand and Carol Danks, Class of 1987 they remind us of both the destructive power of evil and hatred and the Dawn Conlon, Class of 2001 make changes in their lives that will in- fluence the future. A future in which It is my honor and pleasure to conquering power of strength and I am honored to bring you greetings as they will not be afraid or silent when con- welcome you on behalf of the Class of resistance to combat that evil. a member of the class of 2001, the edu- fronted with evil. 1987. If age brings wisdom, then the thanks to Vladka, Ben and other cators who attended the 17th Summer One girl, Jenna, wrote to me, "I know Class of ’87 is one of the wisest! A survivors here today and elsewhere Seminar on Holocaust and Jewish Re- what it is to be a bystander now. It is few weeks ago I came across an around the world, we are reminded. sistance. I teach 14-year-old-students hard to stand up for people and speak unusual cartoon in the Sunday comics. Through their generous support of us who are at the age when most of them out if something is wrong when I think In a strip called “Non Sequitur” a small in so many ways, we have been given are beginning to see beyond their per- about what you taught us, it will be easier girl and an older man are seated next the opportunity to visit both the places sonal issues of fairness and can look for me from now on. I'll try not to be to each other on a park bench. The little of Holocaust horror and the places of outside themselves at how broader is- afraid." girls says, “I’ve gotta tell ya, Mister.. Jewish rebirth. We have been able to sues of justice - or injustice - affect oth- I owe much to the people I met last .that’s an awfully boring tattoo on your learn about the dangers of extremism ers as well as themselves. summer - Vladka Meed and the others arm. It’s just a bunch of numbers.” He and hatred from the best minds and Because most of my students said responsible for this experience, my fel- responds, “Well, I was about your age the beast hearts during both the they had never talked about the Holo- low educators who enhanced my under- when I got it, and kept it as a reminder.” summer programs and the February caust before at home or at school, I standing, and our seminar teachers, the “Oh,” she sa~s, “A reminder of happier conferences. We have been able to wanted them to know what happened scholars and survivors who gave me les- days?” “No,” he answers, “of a time guide our students in thoughtful, and how people responded. For five sons to pass on to my students and my when the world went mad.” The old serious and accurate attempts at years I taught these students out of colleagues and to the people in my com- man continues, “Imagine yourself in a understanding the Holocaust. We have books. We read stories and memoirs. We munity. I know I will never teach the land where your countrymen followed been able to create new friendships discussed courage, but mostly we read his- same way again. I know I will ever be the voice of hate. Imagine having and professional support connections tory. We learned facts. the same again. I know that I am re- everything taken from you, your entire that are sustained over time and This past summer it became clearer sponsible to see that a new generation family sent to a concentration camp as distance in part by these gatherings than ever to me that history is not just of people never forgets and in remem- slave laborers, then systematically here in Washington. facts. It is the story of people. I will bering, is strengthened to exercise its murdered. In this place, they even take The United States Holocaust always remember how I felt after leav- conscience for good. your name and replace it with a number Memorial Museum stands as a tattooed on your arm. It was called the continual reminder for all of us. But Holocaust, when millions of people the museum holds a special place in ’s Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies will mark perished.” The next frame shows the most of hour hearts for its amazing its twentieth anniversary with an international conference on October 6th and little girl with tears welling in her eyes. material and psychological support for 7th, 2002. Entitled “The Contribution of Oral Testimony to Holocaust and She says, “So you kept it to remind those of us who engage American’s Genocide Studies,” it will include scholarly panels and a keynote address by yourself about the dangers of hate?” youth in questioning and learning about Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel. A seminar on Holocaust literature will be sponsored The man replies, “No my dear, to remind the Holocaust. On behalf of the entire class, I want by the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library on October 8. Speakers you - and others.” My own personal and professional to thank the survivors who through will include Cynthia Ozick, E.L. Doctorow, and Thane Rosenbaum. life has been greatly enhanced and my your presence and sharing continually experiences deepened because I was remind us of our mission to teach For additional information contact the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust fortunate enough to be selected as a about both the dangers of political Testimonies (email: phone: 203-432-1879). member of the Class of ’87. I extremism and hatred and the courage remember feeling a bit like the little and faith found in resistance.

TOGETHER 7 My Renewed Dedication to the HOLOCAUST MUSEUMS, Teaching of the Holocaust It goes without them before they are gone." STUDY CENTERS, saying that the sum- "You tell us these same things; but mer trip to Poland he lived the nightmare. Could I have GENOCIDE STUDIES & and Israel has a pro- survived? Could I have maintained found effect on all hope? Could I have kept going? I don't THEIR ROLE IN THE U.S. who participate. know," a student mused. The Associated Press recently ran leave our memory at the door. One returns with Students were doubly excited when an article about the proliferation of American memory involves the memory new information and they learned I was attending the re- Holocaust museums and memorials of immigrants, especially those Diane Clark, insights, fresh union of the Summer Seminar in around the United States—there are memories that drove us to this country.”’ between 120-150—but notes that there Class of 2001 teaching strategies, Washington, DC. In the ’80s and ’90s, as the survivors and new, hopefully The textbook I use in my class, Im- is little agreement about “how to best and their children began to organ-ize, long lasting, friend- ages of the Holocaust, includes three remember that suffering,” and that all memorials began to be built on public land, ships. Traveling with people who have chapters from Vladka Meed’s book these memorials and museums make including and especially The United States a passion to share information concern- On Both Sides of the Wall. While I the Holocaust “too central a feature of Holocaust Memorial Museum which ing the Holocaust makes us all strive was in Washington, they read the American Jewish life.” opened in 1993 in Washington, D.C. In for the same goals--to bring a message third excerpt and wrote a reaction Rabbi Uri Herscher, who is at the each case, survivors were critical to the of knowledge, courageand resistance. paper on a combination of the movie Skirball Cultural Center in development of the museums and My renewed dedication to teaching the and the book chapters. They re- told the AP reporter: memorials. They feel that when their Holocaust inspired my principal to nomi- minded me that they were wor king, “If the message is that the best way children need to mourn those who nate me for Texas Humanities teacher and gave me a list of questions and to honor the memories of the victims is were lost, they can go to these places of the year. information to get for them and issued to not be a victim, and to see how those to remember, since there are no How proud I was when I was hon- strict instructions to get pictures. of us who are left can civilize the world, cemeteries for them to visit. Sam ored! The award came with a grant to They needed to see more of the people then there couldn’t be enough Rosen, a survivor from Scranton, be used for the Humanities class I I had traveled with and talked about memorials. If the memorial is purely the where there is a memorial said, “My teach, "The History of the Holocaust." constantly. story of the Holocaust and a mournful children, when they were young, The money enabled me to bring in Mike When I first received notice of the experience...I would be terribly were always asking me, ‘Why is Jacobs, a Dallas resident and Holocaust conference, I included my husband, concerned about the future of Jewish life.” everyone going to the cemetery?’ survivor. Bruce, in my plans. For 18 years, he In Bloomfield, Michigan, home of They couldn’t understand that I had Mr. Jacobs and his wife arrived on a has lived with all the effort I put into CHAIM, a major descendants of survivor’s nobody,” said Rosen, now 79.” Now, February night on the eve of a freak teaching the Holocaust. He met sev- group, Rabbi Charles Rosenzveig, I tell my children, you want to know Texas snowstorm. The following morn- eral of the people I traveled with, and Bloomfield, Mich., says the museums where to go? Go to the Holocaust ing, they set up in the Little Theater at feels as if they are extended mem- prevent genocide against all races. Museum in Scranton.” the high school and promptly at 9:30 a.m., bers of our family. I thought it was According to AP, in New York State In Rhode Island, Selma Standzler Mike began to talk. The room was so time for him to see and experience alone, there are at least 10 museums or of the Holocaust Memorial Museum, quiet one could hear a pin drop. He some of the things I have been privi- learning centers and several additional located in two rooms at the local flashed slides, displayed memorabilia, leged to be a part of. He was deeply memorials. Florida has at least four and Jewish Center, adjusts the and urged students never to be "com- interested in the museum--we spent a 30-foot-tall memorial in Miami Beach. programming to reflect current placent." the better part of Saturday there. As Massachusetts has at least three events. They offer trips to plays When he finished, students lined up the conference progressed, he memorials and learning centers, as does about gays and did a special program to purchase his book, shake his hand, watched as my traveling companions Texas, while Los Angeles has at least after 9-11 on the racial profiling of or simply stand close to someone they and I caught up on family news, dis- two museums, including the Simon Muslims. “We talked about how saw as a hero. The following Thurs- cussed the speakers and planned new Wiesenthal Center. Hitler had a chart on how to day, when I saw my class again, they teaching strategies. There are also memorials and museums recognize a Jew,” she said. zoomed into the room bubbling over The last day, I asked Bruce if he in Dallas, Terre Haute, Scranton, Tucson, According to AP, “as Holocaust with questions, comments and the need was glad he came. He answered in and Providence, many of them with survivors age, the work of preserving to talk about what they had heard. the affirmative--especially, he said, different missions and goals. their legacy has taken on new We spent the class exchanging com- "When I watch the passion each of In talking about the original urgency,” and new memorials and ments about Mr. Jacobs presentation. you have when you share ideas memorial for the six million that was museums are still being built. One student I woke his mom up be- about how to teach this subject, your planned for Riverside Park, James However, as one survivor who fore she went to work to tell her, “I hands animate, your eyes flash--you Young, Holocaust scholar and author helped found a museum in Terre learned a new word--complacent. Me, all get so enthusiastic. I never real- said that the controversy surrounding Haute put it, “I am less concerned I vow to stand up and be counted." ized how important it is for this sub- that memorial, which was never built, about the number of memorials than Another remarked: “I never realized ject to be taught to the current gen- led to the first discussion about about what they teach. Yes, all of what an opportunity listening to him eration. What you all do is so vital- legacy and how to remember. us have scars, but how we handle was--I get it now. Many of the survi- -you are the gate keepers of the fu- “The survivors were puzzled and that is a lesson to learn—that we vors are leaving us. I have to learn ture." stupefied,” Young said. “They said, can overcome unbelievable evil, that more about the ones who are still here. He got it--it was as much of an ‘We’re , and you’re telling human beings are a lot stronger than We need to find out what happened to experience for him as it was for me. us that to be American, we have to anybody believes we are.”

LEGACY OF THE HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS continued from pg. 4 religion, sex, skin color, and ethnicity. worth noting that the so-called suicide themselves, the planners and their children, implications of a criminal ideology that Education plays a central role in this terrorists also serve what they consider do not forfeit their lives for the same goal. sanctioned abuse, torture, and murder. matter. Basic moral values should be an exalted national goal. However, their The use of suicide attackers against Apart from our terrible personal imparted to children at an early age so illegitimate means besmirch their cause civilian populations was demonstrated experience, we witnessed the deaths of they, later on, may be inured to and stain their banner and struggle with against the United States on September many who could not endure it. Hence incitement and nurturing of hate. unsullied, precious blood. The real 11, 2001. Today it is being used against we call upon the enlightened public and It is sometimes said that, “The ends terrorists are the genuine brutes who us; tomorrow it may be invoked against everyone who values human life: do not justify the means.” This is a favored send them, incite them, train them, equip some other nation. Who knows where aid or abet the ascendancy and slogan of dictatorships, in which the ruler them, and finance them. These are the this method will lead humankind? The dissemination of ideologies that chooses a goal and sanctions all forms people who determined that their goal heads of all religions, intellectuals, and disregard basic values. Act against them of action, even the most illegitimate and justifies the despicable murder of enlightened leaders must censure this everywhere, with resolve and without unethical, on its behalf. No goal justifies children, the elderly, women, and crime and fight it to the finish. letup, for the sake of your children and the cold-blooded murder of absolutely unarmed men. They send brainwashed We Jews, especially those like us who posterity. This is the crux of our heritage, innocent people. In this context, it is people to their deaths while they survived the Holocaust, experienced the and it is our will and testament! TOGETHER 8 NEW LEADERSHIP AT U.S. HOLOCAUST MUSEUM

red S. Zeidman, has been Studies Program at Indiana University, appointed by President George a Holocaust scholar, author and FW. Bush to lead the United States lecturer. Holocaust Memorial Council. He has *Mickey Shapiro, Farmington pledged a “deep commitment and a Hills, Michigan, Second Generation, moral responsibility” to preserve and a real estate developer and investor pursue the mission and its work. and a former Director of the “As the Museum’s first leader Michigan Holocaust Memorial who is not of the survivor generation, I Center. carry a particular moral responsibility *Ronald Steinhart, Dallas, former to those who came before me and to Chairman and CEO of Commercial those who will succeed me,” said Mr. Banking Group of the Bank One Zeidman. Corporation. His grandparents were “As the eyewitness generation, killed during the Holocaust. Holocaust survivors, their rescuers and *Sheldon G. Adelson, Las Vegas, liberators, fades into history, the call to Nevada, Chairman of the Board of ensure the continued authenticity of the Las Vegas Sands, Inc. Hi-tech venture work of education and remembrance capitalist in Israel and, with his wife, increases in urgency. It is a solemn established drug abuse treatment obligation, an immense challenge, and Discovery Campaign Committee, Baylor *Sonia Weitz, Peabody, Mass., clinics in Israel and Las Vegas. a precious legacy. I pledge my deep College of Medicine. Holocaust survivor and author; Founder *Joel Geiderman, M.D., Los commitment and promise my energetic He also serves on the Executive and Director of Education for the Angeles, , Second efforts to work with the Council and Committees of the American Israel Holocaust Center, Boston North’s Center Generation, is Chair of the staff in its service.” Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC); the for Study of Human Rights Department of Emergency Medicine The Director of the Museum, Sara Houston Jewish Community Foundation; *Nechama Tec, Ph.D., Stanford, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. J. Bloomfield says “He is dedicated to the Texas Inter-Faith Housing , Holocaust Survivor, *Mervin G. Morris, Menlo Park, Holocaust remembrance, understands Corporation; and the Houston Ear Professor of Sociology at the University California, Chairman of Morris institutional leadership, the importance Research Foundation. He has played a of Connecticut at Stamford and the Management Company and a former of the Museum’s moral integrity and leadership role in a number of other author of five books on the Holocaust. Chairman and current member of the has a proven ability to work effectively organizations, including the Jewish *Tom Bernstein, New York City, Northern California Board of AIPAC with a wide variety of people.” Federation of Greater Houston, the President of Chelsea Piers Management Appointed for the remainder of a Zeidman, 55, is a prominent Houston- American Jewish Committee, the North Inc., President of the Board of Directors five-year term expiring in January based business and civic leader. He is American Jewish Forum, the Houston of the Lawyers Committee for Human 2004 is Aldona Zofia Wos, M.D., Managing Partner of WoodRock & Grand Opera, and Washington Rights and the Council on Foreign North Carolina, Second Generation Company; Chairman, Southwest University. In 2001, AIPAC recognized Relations. These new members join 44 other Region, Anti-Defamation League; Vice his efforts with its Southwest Region *Alice Kelikian, Waltham, presidential appointees to the Council Chairman of the Board of Regents, Distinguished Leadership Award. Massachusetts, Associate Professor of in addition to the ten congressional Texas Southern University; Texas State Soon after his appointment, Zeidman History Brandeis University and representatives and three ex-officio Chairman, Israel Bonds; Vice welcomed eleven new board members research assistant at the Center for members from the federal government Chairman, Republican Jewish Coalition; appointed by President George W. European Studies at Harvard University. departments of education, interior and Vice President and Director, Jewish Bush. The new Council members *Alvin H. Rosenfeld, Ph.D., state. The terms of office for Institute for National Security Affairs; appointed for five-year terms of office Bloomington, Indiana, Professor of approximately one-fifth of the council and is a member of the Investment in expiring in January 2007, are: English and Director of the Borns Jewish members expire each year. NEW MEDIA/OLD ISSUES by Mordechai Haller, Esq.

In recent years, at least half-a-dozen Professors Laurel Leff and of the Roosevelt administration’s which they feared would lead to anti- new books about America’s response to Deborah Lipstadt, who have studied refusal to bomb the Auschwitz death semitism. A welcome contrast is to the Holocaust have been published, one U.S. press coverage of the camp. Utilizing rare archival be found in Rona Sheramy’s study of of which (Edwin Black’s IBM & The Holocaust and are interviewed in the footage and interviews with key the Women’s Division of the American Holocaust) attracted national media film, describe how major newspapers participants, Erdheim documents the Jewish Congress and its involvement coverage. There have also been several had access to reliable and detailed process by which American in the anti-Nazi boycott movement. major films, one of which—concerning information about the government officials Whatever the actual impact of the rescue hero Varian Fry—premiered with Nazi slaughter, but learned the true nature boycott—and that remains a subject for a special screening at the White House. consistently buried it in of Auschwitz and the debate among historians—it is good to One university recently introduced a the back pages. Several reasons for their know that there were some who tried course devoted solely to the question of journalists who wrote decision to refrain to make a difference. These new films how the American media covered news for leading newspapers from bombing the and fresh scholarly research shed light of the Holocaust. An especially in those days also death camp. on an important chapter in the history powerful contribution to this field is the appear in Holocaust: Felicia Herman’s of the Holocaust, and offer insights to documentary Holocaust: The Untold The Untold Story and essay, “Hollywood, help clarify complex issues. Story, from The Freedom Forum/ try their hand at Nazism and the Jews, [To order back issues of American Newseum TV Productions, aired explaining why editors 1933-1941,” describes the Jewish History, call the Johns recently on The History Channel. This downplayed news about Nazi phenomenon of American Jewish Hopkins University Press at 1-800- examination of how the American press massacres of Jews. Meanwhile, organizations pressuring Hollywood 548-1784.] covered news of the Nazi genocide Holocaust researcher and filmmaker producers to avoid the issue of German shatters the myth that Americans did not Stuart Erdheim has released They Jewish suffering, in order to minimize Mordechai Haller is an attorney living in know about the Holocaust. Looked Away, a compelling analysis public discussion of Jewish matters, Jerusalem. Reprinted with permission.

TOGETHER 9 AMERICAN GATHERING LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE WASHINGTON, D.C., FEBRUARY 7, 2002 Resolution Condems Jewish Museum Exhibition “Mirroring Evil” The American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors condemns as morally repugnant the exhibition, “Mirroring Evil: Nazi Imagery/Recent Art,” [which opened] at the Jewish Museum in New York on March 17, 2002. This exhibition, which includes, among other highly offensive items, a “LEGO Concentration Camp Set;” a “Giftgas Giftset” of poison gas containers packaged with the designer logos of Chanel, Hermes and Tiffany & Co.; a cardboard “Prada Deathcamp”; a historical photograph of Buchenwald inmates into which the antist has digitally inserted himself holding a can of Diet Coke; and an installation of six busts of the notorious Dr. Joseph Mengele, desecrates the memory of the Holocaust, and demeans the suffering of its victims. It is unconscionable that one of the most preeminent Jewish cultural institutions in the world should legitimize the trivialization of the Holocaust. For the sake of simple decency, the American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors demands that the Jewish Museum withdraw the “Mirroring Evil” exhibition. In the event that this exhibition is not withdrawn, the American Gathering calls on all synagogues, churches, schools, Jewish and civic organizations, and individuals to cancel all visits and tours to the Jewish Museum while the “Mirroring Evil” exhibition is on display. Approved and adopted unanimously by the National Executive of the American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors, Washington, D.C., February 17, 2002. Commenting on the content of the resolution and the substance of the issue, Sam Bloch, senior vice president of the American Gathering, told the Associated Press, “The display of this outrageous exhibition is a disgrace to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust and is painfully insulting to the survivors.”

RESOLUTION ON HEALTH CARE SYSTEM FOR SURVIVORS At a time when the average age be morally, ethically and legally HEALTH CARE SYSTEM FOR representation of and advocacy on of Holocaust Survivors is necessary and of the utmost priority. SURVIVORS—which must include behalf of the Survivors, including all approaching 80, time now being the Accordingly, we call upon the home health care services and matters involving the subject matter enemy of the Survivors, and a Claims Conference, ICHEIC, all state benefits—utilizing for that purpose all of this resolution. significant number of Survivors insurance regulators and the insurance available sources, including undistributed require health care and home care industry together with representatives restitution and compensation funds. Adopted Unanimously by the

services, the American Gathering of of the Survivors and relevant social We reaffirm the American Leadership Conference of the Jewish Holocaust Survivors considers service agencies, to devise and Gathering’s position not to seek or American Gathering of Jewish a health care system for Survivors to implement, without further delay, a accept any compensation for its Holocaust Survivors THE AMERICAN GATHERING OF JEWISH HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS A record of past and present programs and accomplishments

The following are some highlights and examples of our ongoing activities:

• Today Yom Hashoah is commemorated throughout the United States not only by Jewish organizations but thanks to the efforts of the American Gathering, it is also commemorated by the United States government itself culminating in an annual ceremony conducted in the Rotunda of the Capitol. • Next year will be the 10th anniversary of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC and the 60th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. A gathering, a collaboration of the American Gathering and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, is to be held in Washington. I certainly hope that all of you will be able to attend this forthcoming event. • Yom Hashoah is also commemorated by the U.S. Armed Forces throughout the world. • The Yom Hashoah commemoration by the U.S. Government is a model for other countries to follow. • In 1981 we were instrumental in organizing a World Gathering of Holocaust Survivors in Jerusalem where over 10,000 American Survivors attended. • In 1983 the American Gathering continued its work by organizing a meeting in Washington, DC with over 20,000 survivors in attendance. • In Philadelphia in 1985 15,000 survivors participated in the Inaugural Assembly. • In Los Angeles, over 6,000 survivors participated in a major California gathering. • In Miami, there was a major reunion with 6,000 survivors. • In New York, the Statue of Liberty was the site for a gathering of over 10,000 survivors. • New York was also the site where 8,000 survivors participated in the observance of the 50th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising • It is worthwhile to note that Presidents, Vice Presidents, Members of Congress, as well as Supreme Court Justices attend all of these events. • The American Gathering was one of the main forces behind the creation of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. • The registry of Jewish Holocaust Survivors, a labor of love for over 25 years, contains more than 170,000 names of survivors in the United States. The recent four volumes of the Registry are an important addition to the most recognized museums throughout the world. • The American Gathering educational teachers’ program for about 18 years has been recognized as one of the most important teaching programs in existence for the study of the Holocaust and resistance. • The American Gathering was instrumental in working with the Claims Conference to obtain pensions for an additional 50,000 Holocaust survivors and restitution payments from the Swiss Humanitarian Fund • The American Gathering was instrumental in securing a one time payment of 5,000 DM for over 200,000 Russian emigrants most of the them Holocaust survivors. • The American Gathering was instrumental in securing up to 15,000 DM each for approximately 140,000 slave laborers as a semblance off justice.

The above are just some examples of our worthwhile accomplishments. It is noteworthy for you to know that all officers of the American Gathering participate on a volunteer basis and are not compensated for their efforts.

Our newspaper, Together, on an ongoing basis, is the voice of the survivors and their dedication to remembrance, commemoration, education and preservation of the memory of the Holocaust, the victims and their legacy.

TOGETHER 10 OPINION INSULT & INJURY, THE CONTROVERSY RAGES, BUT IS IT ART? ALL OF IT by Jeanette Friedman FOR NAUGHT As a journalist, I have an obligation to be objective about things; as an editor, I am often obligated to speak out on issues. As by Rabbi David Lincoln a child of survivors, I have an obligation to my “family,” the survivors, and as a Jew, I have an obligation to my people. As Senior Rabbi, Park Avenue someone with a degree in the history of art, I thought I might be qualified to decide what is art and what isn’t. So I was Synagogue, New York City conflicted when I heard about the “Holocaust” art show at the Jewish Museum. Menachem Rosensaft and the survivors were very eloquent in their opposition to this show, but they couldn’t stop it. They It is beyond belief that the Jewish generated lots of publicity against it. Although they did not see mounting this exhibition at the Jewish Museum as a First Museum should see fit to outrage a Amendment issue, I admit that I did, and I felt that I couldn’t prevent anyone from freely expressing their opinions (in this precious part of our people, those case via art), because someone might try to put a lid on me. So I reserved judgment and saw the show. who survived the Holocaust, with its There was a fair crowd, even for a rainy night. Apologias were posted on all the walls, offering all kinds of iconographic exhibit “Mirroring Evil: Nazi excuses for the exhibit, mounted in a maze of rooms on the first floor. The first film I saw was a series of clips from Imagery/Recent Art.” commercial films and TV shows strung together to depict scenes about Nazis and about the Holocaust—everything from Judaism is severe in its condem- Mel Brooks’ The Producers to Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone. We have seen these images since the war. Is it art? Not in my nation of insulting behavior. The rabbis book. Friends of mine have done the same thing on videotape for classroom use. of old decreed, “One who insults There was a room filled with another in public has no share in the portraits of Nazis intermixed with European Jewish community during world to come.” portraits of actors dressed like the Holocaust, has lost its way by A museum has the right to exhibit Nazis, Andy Warhol-style. OK. ignoring basic human decency and whatever it wants, but we have an equal exploiting Nazism. Clever. Who is real and who isn’t? right to protest against those who Is it art? Well, maybe, on a stretch. This show was an exhibition knowingly cause pain to survivors and about Nazis and their sado- But it’s been done before. Nothing their children and all of us who feel this masochistic perversions, not an art new here. matter is a profaning of the sacred. show about the Holocaust. It is I tripped over a beige Formica Such “art”legitimizes every trivial- especially unfortunate that the cross on the floor and images were ization of the Holocaust in the future. Museum chose to present the Nazis, to twisted and projected under my feet, but gays who needed to prove something to After all, it is the Jewish Museum mirror evil, without noting that this I couldn’t see what they were because the refined crowd on the Upper East showing this foolishness.No specious same material is being fed daily to Arab I was stepping on them and they were Side, so that, for once, they would “PAY academic speculation can convince me masses so that they will be inculcated totally distorted. Art? Failed art, ATTENTION” to the naughty children that any good can come out of this. If th with the hatred of Jewish people— perhaps. Another rather benign exhibit south of 34 Street. any other organization had the impudence especially now, during the Oslo War. was of a “Miss Kitty” sitting in a playpen, Tom Sachs, one of the artists, and to display such a show, we would protest holding a swastika rattle, multiplied a one of the only three Jews in the Imagine how those who hate Jews can use these images from the Jewish it as antisemitic. few times and arranged around the exhibit, said in the New York Times I was spared the terrors of the room. I guess it meant there was a Hitler and on film that this show is about the Museum, and using voiceovers, make it Holocaust, but only just. As a child, I Jügend. Art? I mentally shrugged. fascism of fashion designers. What seem as if, for example, we are extolling lived through the blitz in London and But then there was all that other stuff: is this fascination with fashionistas? Mengele for his acts. (Half a dozen walked to school daily with my gas The designer cans of Zyklon-B, the film No fashion designer, not even Calvin Mengeles on pedestals? Why?) Doesn’t mask. My father served in the Royal with the Diet Coke Can and the “artist” Klein, will put anyone in a Arafat make enough disingenuous superimposed on a historical image, the concentration camp for not wearing comparisons between Jews and Nazis Navy as my mother, sister and I Prada Concentration Camp, and the his or her clothing. It is a far cry from already? Does the Jewish Museum have huddled in a primitive bomb shelter Lego Holocaust building kit. Not to Women’s Wear Daily to Auschwitz. to feed him more material? night after night for almost six mention a room full of busts of Mengele Tom Sachs seems, frankly, arrogant In the end, this show is about the years.Our next-door neighbors were that were commissioned just for this and stupid. If he wants to tell us that failure of the artists to make a killed by a direct hit, and our house show, and the piece de resistance—a Gen-Xers don’t like commercialism, statement worth making and the was demolished. Some 65,000 civilians roomful of pornography imagining Eva well, who does? failure of many of our educational were killed in these raids and tens of Braun’s sex life in the bunker with you- Everyone hip knows the downtown systems that haven’t figured out how thousands were maimed. know-who. By the time I walked out, I scene is dead, heroin chic is dead (one to teach our children about the I do not expect the British felt like I needed a shower. film is obsessed with Obsession and Holocaust without glamorizing the Museum to show models of these Having spent years on the downtown Kate Moss) and this show is like a Nazis. The goal of Holocaust education victims holding Coca-Cola cans and scene, I recognized lots of the schlock retread from the 70s. is to teach people to treat each other perfumes, or commission busts of shock art in this show. It used to come But that is not what is offensive decently. The Jewish Museum, Luftwaffe pilots who caused that to one of the largest dance clubs in New about it. What is offensive is that the indecent to the survivors’ sensibilities, havoc or, indeed, of Hermann Goering York City, the Roxy. Jewish Museum, part and parcel of the indecent in choosing the content of this who sent them over! The Jewish Museum show had an old, Jewish Theological Seminary, an show, failed miserably to educate, It is too painful, even for me, and passé downtown aftertaste, as if it was institution that was charged with failed to serve the community and I must ask again: Why did they have put together by a group of straight-hating safeguarding the Judaica of the failed to ennoble Art. to produce this insult? THE TRAGEDY OF JEWS IN ARGENTINA by Wolf Finkelman

Recently my wife and I joined 40 The Amia. Despite spending a lot of time Many previously wealthy Jews are On a personal trip I visited the only people from the United Jewish and money, however, it seems that justice now living under highway bypasses in Holocaust Museum in South America. Communities of the King David Society will not happen. The same people who shanty towns. They are in trouble because they owe on a fact finding mission to Argentina. participated in the bombing are still part Many have changed their names— so much money and there is nothing We visited many Jewish institutions, of the trial. In my opinion, the only way they are ashamed to be recognized. coming in. I met with about 10 survivors Synagogues, Jewish Schools, Help to achieve justice would be for President Many people could not talk - they for lunch. They were telling me of their Centers, The Amia and The Dia. We Bush to pursue bringing justice to all started crying—they lost everything. plight and they were crying. They did were also able to visit with the President terrorists as he has promised to do. Many of us started crying with them. not have much to say. They had survived (at that time), the Treasurer, and the Many of the Argentinian Jews are now It is very difficult to describe the the atrocities of the camps and now they American Ambassador. leaving for Israel and the Israeli horrific conditions there. These are the don’t have anything to eat. We participated with a group, mostly representatives there are doing a good same Jews who set an example to the Since my return I have spent a lot of relatives, who meet every Monday job. It is very difficult for many of the world...the biggest contributors to time and effort with the United Jewish morning in front of the Justice families to be leaving their roots. Israel…They had more Jewish schools, Communities and with the JDC. Department seeking justice for the What we saw and what we heard is beautiful synagogues, so many large Everything moves very slowly...and in terrorist bombing of the embassy and beyond description. Jewish Centers. the meantime...people go hungry. TOGETHER 11 THE UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM

JOINS MEMOIRS PROJECT and Auschwitz death camps. Washington, DC—The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Guarded by Angels, Alan Elsner, Rockville, Maryland. Elsner recounts Holocaust Survivors' Memoirs Project, an initiative of Nobel Peace Prize the Holocaust-era experiences of his father and uncle, under both the Nazi Laureate Elie Wiesel, will be joining in a major initiative to and Soviet occupation of Poland, in the Soviet Gulag, in the make available survivor memoirs that have emerged from the central Asian Caucuses, and in the Red Army. Project, Museum Chairman Fred S. Zeidman announced to- Sobibor, Dov Freiberg, Ramlah, Israel. Freiberg is one day. of the very few survivors of the Sobibor death camp. The Museum will publish 10 volumes, consisting of 12 mem- Woman Courageous, Hugo Holzmann, Solana Beach, Califor- oirs, over the next three years, including three shorter manu- nia. Born in Germany in 1929, Holzmann relates his experiences scripts detailing the experiences of young women during the and those of his mother, a convert to Judaism, during the war years. Holocaust that will be released in an anthology, according to By Leaps and Bounds, Margaret Lambert (nee Gretel Zeidman. Bergmann), Jamaica, New York. Lambert, who is featured in the "We have a solemn obligation to the survivors to ensure Museum's traveling exhibition “The Nazi Olympics Berlin 1936,” that their experiences and their memories become an integral was an internationally acclaimed German-Jewish athlete who was part of the historical record. The Holocaust must never be refused a place on the 1936 German Olympic Team. studied exclusively from the perspective of the perpetrators. Holding On, Eva Nussbaum Soumerai, West Hartford, Con- Each survivor's story is unique, and adds to our understand- necticut. Soumerai, was sent from to safety in En- ing, and the understanding of future generations, of the Holo- gland on a Kindertransport at the age of 13, describes her experi- caust," said Wiesel, who serves as honorary chairman of the ences there during the war and her return to Germany in 1945 as Memoirs Project and is founding Chairman of the Museum. Menachem Rosensaft an Allied Civilian Employee. "There is no substitute for authentic testimony - the voices of the Holo- Simon's Quest, Simon Schweitzer, Ville St. Laurent, Canada. Schweitzer sur- caust, of the survivors themselves," Zeidman said. "They are a living me- vived the Nazi concentration camps of Buzlau, Goerliz, Dora-Nordhausen, and Bergen- morial, the historic witness, the moral voice that compels us to remember, Belsen. to learn, and to pass the lessons on. As the Museum enters its second Yesterday, Hadassah Rosensaft, New York. A survivor of Auschwitz- decade, our partnership with the Project provides an important opportunity Birkenau and Bergen-Belsen, Rosensaft, who died in 1997, kept 149 Jewish to ensure that authenticity is preserved for and transmitted to future gen- children alive in that camp from December 1944 until liberation in April 1945, erations." served as the administrator of the Bergen-Belsen hospital after liberation, More than 750 memoirs have been received in response to the initial call and became on of the leaders of the survivors in the British Zone of Ger- for manuscripts, according to Menachem Z. Rosensaft, director and editor many. She was a founding member of the United States Holocaust Memorial in chief of the Project and a member of the United States Holocaust Me- Council. morial Council. The Project, under the auspices of the World Jewish Con- Building from the Rubble, Joseph Tenenbaum, Toronto, Canada. gress, was launched in October 2000, with a $1 million grant from Random Tenenbaum survived the Zatorska, Plashow, and Wielichka/Mielec camps House, Inc., New York. near Krakow, Poland, as well as Ebensee concentration camp in Germany. "We hope to publish as many memoirs as possible, either as separate Three shorter memoirs of women survivors will be published together in volumes or in anthologies, and ultimately make all of them accessible for one volume: They are: research by scholars and students of the Holocaust," Rosensaft said. "Those My Escape into Prison and other Memories of a Stolen Youth, Jane chosen for initial publication represent a range of Holocaust-era experi- Lipski (nee Jadzia Szpiegelman, Tucson, Arizona. From Bendzin, Poland, Lipski ences, including those in Western and Eastern Europe, ghettos and camps. survived on Aryan papers and escaped to Slovakia, only to be confined in The authors include Jews who were under both German and Soviet occu- Moscow's notorious Lubianka prison. pation, those who survived in hiding, and a Kindertransports refugee." Survival, Lotti Kahana-Aufleger, Mevasseret Tzion, Israel. Originally from The first memoirs scheduled for publication are: Czernowitz, Romania, she survived in Transnistria. Against All Odds, Adam Boren, Rumson, New Jersey. Boren survived My First Life, Isabelle Choko, Boulogne, France. She survived the Lodz the Soviet occupation in Bialistock; the Warsaw ghetto; and the Majdanek ghetto, Auschwitz-Birkenau, and Bergen-Belsen. have been unwilling to live in peace At the Nuremberg trials, Adolf JEWS UNDER SIEGE with them. Eichmann deputy Dieter Wisliceny by Jack Kelly Hussein Hassouna, the Egyptian who is testified: “the Mufti was one of the Anti-Jewish sentiment (since show up in violent crime reports only ambassador of the 22-nation Arab League initiators of the systematic Arabs, like Jews, are Semites —children as victims. Jews are dramatically to the United Nations, told college students extermination of European Jewry and of Shem—it is ridiculous to call this anti- overrepresented in the educated in Pittsburgh that the dispute between had been a collaborator and adviser of Semitism) has been durable. It is as rife professions, despite, in the past, having Palestinians and is political rather Eichmann and Himmler in execution in France today as it was a century ago had difficulty being admitted to elite than religious, dating from the establishment of this plan.” during the Dreyfus affair. It is resurgent universities because they weren’t of the state of Israel. Public opinion in Palestine today in Germany and Austria and Eastern Christian, and, in the present, having Not so. Hitler was enthusiastically isn’t much different from the Grand Europe. And it is—as always—de rigeur difficulty being admitted to elite supported by Haj Amin Husseini, the Mufti’s. It is illustrated by the mother in the Muslim world. universities because they are white. Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, and other of a suicide bomber who said she About the only places in the world in Since last Septem-ber, Jews in Israel Muslim clerics and political leaders, wouldn’t be satisfied until all the Jews which anti-Jewish sentiment does not have been under a vicious assault which precisely because he hated the Jews. had been killed. Israel is under attack prevail are the United States, Canada, should appall all who are civilized. And this was well before the by monsters. And World Opinion is Australia and New Zealand. The Suicide bomb-ers have been targeting establishment of the state of Israel. siding with the monsters. After each ordinary Brit eating fish and chips in the the most innocent and the most helpless It was Husseini who suggested to new Palestinian outrage, world leaders pub has nothing against Jews. But the in Israeli society—teen-agers at a night Hitler what became “the final solution” call upon the Israeli government to old Etonians in the Foreign Office club, shoppers at a mall, revelers at a of the “Jewish question,” said Jack exercise restraint; i.e., to consent to consider them quite a bother, and editors wedding, commuters at a bus stop, Wheeler of the Freedom Research the murder of its citizens. Even at the Guardian and the Mirror froth at children at a day care center. Foundation. Hitler originally planned to President Bush has piled on. the mouth whenever Israelis are These attacks have followed not an get rid of Germany’s Jews by expelling No negotiated political settlement mentioned. Israeli provocation, but what arguably them to the Jewish portion of will appease the suicide bombers and I’ve never understood anti-Jewish was the most breathtaking offer of Palestine.”At a meeting in Berlin with those who send them. They won’t be sentiment. Aside from a distressing unilateral concessions in the history of Hitler on Nov. 21, 1941, Husseini satisfied until they have finished the job tendency to vote Democratic, most diplomacy, at Camp David in the convinced the Fuhrer that such a plan Hitler started. We shouldn’t help them. Jews in the United States have been summer of 2000. Since the creation of would result in a powerful independent model citizens. There have been Israel in 1948, the Israelis have been Jewish state, and that a far better Jewish gangsters (e.g., Meyer willing to live in peace with their solution would be a final one: “Kill all Reprinted with permission from the Post-Gazette and Lansky), but for the most part, Jews neighbors. It’s their neighbors who the Jews,” Wheeler said. The Blade of Toledo, Ohio (March 17, 2002)

TOGETHER 12 Bosnians... were casualties of genocide CONTEMPORARY in this century, but the Jews...well... they MATERIAL CLAIMS stipulations with regard to certain made it all up.” The dead writers are CONFERENCE defined time periods where harsh living LITERATURE also furious that neo-Nazism still conditions prevailed. The camps in by Philip Graubart flourishes in Europe. Sixty years after MEETS IN BERLIN question were located in Rumania, Hitler, there are still people “who can’t Slovakia, the former Yugoslavia, Libya, THANE ROSENBAUM, along with go a single day without trying to heil by Roman Kent and Somovit in Bulgaria. Until now, Melvin Bukiet and a few others, has somebody.” The golem’s rage survivors of these camps were not created a new genre in American eventually bursts into a Kristallnacht- As members eligible for compensation under the Jewish literature—fiction of the second type riot, where the ghosts rampage of the negotiating criteria established by Germany. generation. Through many short stories, through Manhattan leaving piles of team of the Thousands of additional survivors and now two novels, Rosenbaum broken glass in their wake. Claims denied pensions because of their place explores the dilemma of children of But healing and rescue play an Conference, of incarceration are now able to Holocaust survivors. In Elijah Visible equally important role. Ariel constructs survivors are receive symbolic compensation in the (1996), his story collection, and Second the golems because, like most human demanding that form of a monthly pension. Holocaust Hand Smoke, his first novel (1999), beings, she’s driven by a nearly all survivors who experienced the survivors are eligible for one of these Rosenbaum deployed a deft mixture of irresistible force to fix what’s broken. trauma of the Holocaust receive two funds if they spent six or more rage, absurdism and slapstick humor to This compulsion to rescue, in fact, compensation pensions from Germany. months in these camps; 18 months or probe the lonely lives of angry, mixed-up animates the original golem legend, Their insistence bore some fruit at the more in a ghetto or in hiding; 18 or more sons of irredeemably damaged parents. which Rosenbaum appropriates. Rabbi last meeting held in Berlin on March months living under false identity while His first two books were funny, inventive, Judah Loew’s 15th-century golem saves 6, 2002. under age 18--if at the beginning of the brave and well worth the read. But nothing the Jews of Prague; Ariel’s golems, The Gennans finally consented to time of persecution, they were younger could prepare us for what came next: The when they’re not trashing the city, focus compensate approximately 5,000 than 18 and were separated from Golems of Gotham, a sprawling, tragic, their powers on Oliver’s shattered soul. Holocaust survivors who are now family while living under false identity; comic, magical masterpiece. The question of whether the ghosts will eligible for payments that will be and if have an annual household income The Golems of Gotham tells the story succeed in putting Oliver and Ariel back disbursed through the Claims of $16,000 or under for persons living of Oliver Levin and his daughter Ariel. together again generates much of the Conftrence. alone or $21,000 or under for married On the first page of the book Oliver’s book’s suspense. It was agreed that certain camps not persons (excluding Social Security and parents, Auschwitz survivors, kill formerly acknowledged by the German other government benefits). In the case themselves—his mother by swallowing government would be recognized as of two applicants who are Holocaust cyanide and his father by blowing his concentration-like camps for the survivors and living in a common brains out while standing over a Torah purpose of eligibility for the Article II household, the income limit is $31,500. scroll. Oliver, in college at the time of the Fund and Central & Eastern European Persons who at the beginning of or double suicide, somehow perseveres, Fund (CEEF), both administered by the during persecution, were citizens of a managing to marry, father a daughter and Claims Conftrence. Western country except Germany,are write a series of best-selling legal These added camps included what not eligible, due to compensation mysteries. But disaster strikes again the Germans called labor camps and agreements Germany made with eleven when his wife abandons him and his 2- working battalions. There are Western nations between 1959 and 1964. year-old toddler. The action of the novel begins 12 years later, with Oliver suffering from Fly too close to the memory of the by Rosenbaum, “After Auschwitz, writer’s block and otherwise breaking Is the impulse to rescue merely a cruel Holocaust and you burn your wings. poetry is barbaric.” down. Desperate to pull off a rescue of folly? Can anyone be truly healed? But Rosenbaum, a law professor at This is the dilemma of survivor artists. her father, the 14-year-old Ariel, who Rosenbaum’s first two books offered Fordham University in Manhattan, knows Their suffering compels them to tell had been dabbling in Jewish mystical fairly depressing answers to these it’s not sufficient to discover the perfect stories—a process that could, in theory, texts, collects mud from the banks of questions. The “secondhand smoke” middle point between memory and create some healing. But, at least in their the Hudson River and fashions a metaphor that drives his first novel forgetting. In fact, by resuscitating six own minds, they can’t do justice to the miniature golem. But instead of creating suggests greater suffering for children suicidal Holocaust authors, he poses a awfulness of the tale. So some kill one rescuer, she accidentally summons— of survivors (in the same way that much more difficult question: How does themselves. Then, at least in Rosenbaum’s along with her dead grandparents—six secondhand smoke — tobacco smoke a survivor, or the child of survivors, or a novel, they come back to life and discover Holocaust writers, all of whom had inhaled in the air around a smoker — is culture for that matter, make Holocaust the myriad Holocaust testimonies, memoirs, committed suicide: Primo Levi, Tadeusz actually more dangerous than “firsthand” memories meaningful? For Rosenbaum’s films, poems, novels, children’s books, comic Borowski, Paul Celan, Piotr Rawicz, smoke). “Cattle Car Complex,” the first raging golems, certain kinds of memory, books, plays, songs, exhibits, comedies, Jerzy Kosinski and Jean Amery. story in “Elijah Visible,” ends with a particularly in the wrong hands, lead to television shows. And it’s all either junk or Rosenbaum seamlessly combines the Holocaust survivor’s son cowering in the pop-culture vulgarizations. They riot as woefully ineffective. Their sacred themes of rage and rescue, giving each corner of a locked elevator, convinced much against the films Schindler’s List memories generate either kitsch or denial. its due, allowing one to live alongside the he’s on a transport bound for Auschwitz. and Life Is Beautiful as they do against What’s a golem to do? Riot and rage. other, without compromising the force of But “The Golems of Gotham” is a Holocaust deniers. (The author himself But the second generation, now with either. For the golems, at first, the world warmer book, particularly when adamantly opposed the Jewish Museum’s their own grown children, and the rest of is a lark. Jerzy Kosinski disguises focusing on Oliver’s relationship with his controversial new exhibit, “Mirroring Evil: us, need more than rage and revenge. Our himself as a carnival barker and visits a daughter, or on the weird fellowship that Nazi Imagery/Recent Art” for precisely task is to transform the raw horror of the strip club called The Tasty Pasty. Primo develops among the dead writers. those reasons.) Holocaust into art and ritual that somehow Levi dresses up as a Salvation Army There’s plenty of room in the novel for But The Golems of Gotham forces heals without soothing. Rosenbaum’s Santa Claus. Together, the eight golems nihilistic rage. But Rosenbaum gives at us to ask: Did these writers do any brave story—outrageous, cynical and whisk away all forms of smoke from least equal time to the forces of healing better? Why, after all, did they kill sentimental—clarifies the Jewish the skies of Manhattan, clean out corrupt and reconciliation. themselves? Rosenbaum suggests their challenge for this century. The question Swiss bank accounts, relieve the Rosenbaum’s other great theme is artistic sensibilities left them vulnerable isn’t “What parts of the Holocaust should crowding on subway cars and, to the cultural memory. He uses his dead to unfiltered, cascading memories. “True we remember?” or “Are we teaching too consternation of Derek Jeter and the writers to seek a perfect calibration for survivors,” he writes, “were the ones much about the Holocaust?” or “too little?” rest of the New York Yankees, ban Holocaust commemoration. Too much who opened themselves up to the Or even, “Should we remember at all?” pinstripe clothing from the city (it reminds remembering and, like Levi, Celan, possibility of distraction. But the golems The question is “How do we remember them of death camp uniforms). Borowski and the others, you kill had been...fatally distracted.” wisely?” How do we summon our true But the golems quickly grow angry. yourself. But with too little, you abandon They also could have felt themselves golems without unleashing their infinite The world has trivialized, forgotten and the weight of Jewish history. You end failures at their self-appointed mission: rage? up like Oliver’s hapless agent, a Jew to transform the memory of atrocity into denied the Holocaust. “No one,” they Philip Graubart is the director of education all complain, “doubted that the who thinks you eat latkes on Passover. art. They might have come to agree with and programming at the National Yiddish Book Armenians, Cambodians, Rwandans, Rosenbaum invokes the myth of Icarus: Theodore Adorno’s famous line, quoted Center. TOGETHER 13 Palestinian population as obstacles IN HINDSIGHT to any viable peace process. But we THE ARTS by Menachem Rosensaft must first and foremost bear in mind SHTETL LIFE IN FOCUS AT MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE - the president’s fundamental A LIVING MEMORIAL TO THE HOLOCAUST To the dismay of knee-jerk admonition: “No nation can ideologues on the political right and left, negotiate with terrorists. For there notions of what a shtetl looked like in most American Jewish doves and is no way to make peace with those pre-war Poland, and they present a liberals fully support President Bush’s whose only goal is death.” stance on the Middle East. He spoke In December 1988, I was one of haunting portrait of the people of for the overwhelming majority of us, five who met with Szczuczyn leading vibrant lives, and earned our profound appreciation, Arafat and other leaders of the unaware of the tragic events about to when he declared that “America Palestine Liberation Organization in unfold. recognizes Israel’s right to defend itself Stockholm, resulting in the PLO’s During World War II, nearly all of from terror,” and that suicide bombers first public recognition of Israel. the town’s 3,000 Jews, including are by definition not martyrs but Together with most Americans and Kaplan, were murdered. Also lost murderers. Like the president, we also Israelis, I wanted to give him the were Kaplan’s photo studio and his understand that the Sharon benefit of every doubt when he said archive of negatives. The only prints government’s harsh treatment of the that he was committed to peace. We Palestinians, however deplorable, can’t were wrong. On Oct. 14, 2000, I to survive were taken out by families be equated with the slaughter of Jews wrote in that who left prior to the war or those that celebrating a Passover Seder. We thus Arafat was “willing to use both A woman returning from Paris were sent to family who had have utter contempt for the ever- Israelis and Palestinians as cannon wearing the latest fashions. Young emigrated. dwindling fringe of Jewish radicals fodder. . .If the Palestinians turn out boys posing by a prop rowboat. The Mike Marvins, a Houston who oppose Israel’s efforts to rid itself to be a nation of suicide bombers, town fire brigade and band in full photographer and Kaplan’s of a terrorist scourge. there seems little point in regalia. (see photo above). A couple grandson, has reassembled hundreds A recent full-page New York Times negotiations.” playing phonograph records, gazing of his grandfather’s images with the ad placed by the intellectually Other peace activists have grown cacophonous Michael Lerner was similarly disillusioned. For far too into each other’s eyes. Founders of help of his cousins. By contacting especially malevolent: In an exercise long, Arafat has promoted the cooperative bank. These are just people who had emigrated from of specious ethical relativism that blurs coexistence with Israel in English some of the many “life in a shtel” Szczuczyn, as well as the children of the distinction between justice and evil, while inciting hatred in Arabic. He photos taken by Zalman Kaplan, a these emigres, the family was able to it depicts Israel as a Pharaoh-like has also financed the callous killing photographer in the town of assemble hundreds of photographs. oppressor of the Palestinian people, of Jews. President Bush effectively Szczuczyn. Poland. Capturing shtetl Sixty of these photographs, depicting and (obscenely alluding to Nazis in the cut him loose, saying: “He’s missed life in all its modern aspects, Mr. the people of the town, town life, the Nuremberg dock) lauds Israeli army his opportunities, and thereby Kaplan took thousands of Jewish community, and leisure time reservists unwilling to serve in the betrayed the hopes of the people West Bank and Gaza for not activities, are on display at the he’s supposed to lead.” Right on. photographs from the 1890s to the “following orders.” In Lerner’s Perhaps “responsible Palestinian 1930s documenting life in one small Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living warped parallel universe of moral leaders” such as the Palestinian town for nearly half a century. These Memorial to the Holocaust in Battery equivalence, Palestinian accusations Authority’s East Jerusalem images challenge our pre-conceived Park City beginning March 12. against Israel are laid out in one- representative, Sari Nusseibeh, sided detail while Palestinian Palestinian Legislative Council atrocities are alluded to only Chairman Ahmed Qurei (Abu Alla) misrepresentation of the atrocities at euphemistically. Israel’s “oppressive and Arafat’s deputy, Mahmoud Auschwitz, namely that most images occupation” is deemed a far more Abbas (Abu Mazen) will heed the valued the reaction of the witness grievous offense than the deadly president’s call and “step forward more so than the issue itself and jihad against Israeli civilians. No and show the world that they are focused mainly on the diverse groups mention of Yasser Arafat’s truly on the side of peace.” While visiting the site rather than the site repeated glorification of suicide we wait for that, the devastation at itself. In response to this concern, he bombers as martyrs and role Ground Zero and burning began a photo-journalistic study models. No reference to the blood synagogues across Europe remind setting out to capture the unoccupied libels in the Arab press intended to us daily that if we are to prevail as bleakness of historical sites that had foment Moslem Judaeophobia. a civilized society, an unambiguous witnessed genocide, or moral I have long endorsed the commitment against all equivalences, in the past century. Palestinians’ right to independence, manifestations of terrorism must For Most of It I Have No Words but never at the expense of Israel’s remain our first priority. was organized by the Portland Art right to exist or its citizens’ right to Museum, Oregon and was purchased live. I regard the mushrooming Menachem Rosensaft is a NYC attorney with funds donated by Stephen L. Jewish settlements in the midst of and founder of the International Network of Cantor and Jessie Jonas. The an understandably hostile Children of Holocaust Survivors. Holocaust Museum Houston exhibition is made possible in part by the generous support of Joan onto the “pages” of a monumental encouraged to take one of these Morgenstern. photo album represented by a bed of stones and add it to any one of the HOLOCAUST MUSEUM Also on exhibit is Gathering stones. The stones are meant to five rectangles of the “album,” HOUSTON Stones. An Interactive Installation recall and evoke the Jewish ritual thereby slightly altering the “screen” WELCOMES TWO EXHIBITS by noted filmmaker and media artist custom in which cemetery visitors on which the changing images are Alan Berliner, on display in the Josef place a small stone on a grave projected. For Most of It I Have No Words: and Edith Mincberg Gallery, Morgan marker as a symbol of remembrance, Presented in conjunction with the Genocide, Landscape, Memory, an Family Center, through August 5, signifying a connection with Jewish photographs are the names of the exhibition by London-based photo- 2002. history, memory, and community; people pictured along with many more grapher Simon Norfolk, will be on A participatory video installation, between the living and the dead. At names for whom no image exists. display at the Holocaust Museum Gathering Stones incorporates the entrance to Gathering Stones is The Holocaust Museum Houston’s Houston through July 8, 2002. portrait photographs from Holocaust a supply of small white stones, commission of Gathering Stones is For Most of It’s body of work Museum Houston’s archive and local acknowledging this tradition. made possible by the generous originated from Norfolk’s own private collections and projects them As a gesture of participation and support of Charlotte and Pete concern for the historical in a series of orchestrated sequences commemoration, the visitor is Berkowitz.

TOGETHER 14 IN MEMORIAM

“Under Rabbi Miller’s leadership, American Zionist Federation and a Sammern-Frankenegg, entered the the Claims Conference negotiated founding vice president of the Jewish ghetto to resume the deportations. The numerous compensation and restitution Community Relations Council of Nazis were repulsed, suffering heavy agreements enabling more than 400,000 New York. losses at the hands of the resistance Jewish Holocaust survivors in over 60 Israel Miller was born in groups, all of them poorly armed with countries to receive compensation , and he graduated magna only a few smuggled guns, little payments of approximately $2 billion,” cum laude from Yeshiva College in ammunition and gasoline bombs. the organization said. 1938. He was ordained in 1941 at the ZOB headquarters eventually fell on He also helped with the recovery of Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological May 8, but sporadic resistance continued unclaimed Jewish property in the Seminary and was a chaplain in the into June and July. former East Germany. The sale of this Army Air Corps in the United States Meanwhile, Belchatowska, together property provided about $500 million the and overseas during World War II. with her husband-to-be Boruch Spiegel, Claims Conference used for In 1941 he was named rabbi of the the leader of a ZOB fighting unit, and humanitarian, research and educational Kingsbridge Heights Jewish Center some 50 other Jewish resistance efforts. He also directed negotiations in the Bronx. After his wartime fighters, managed to escape from the with the Austrian government on military service, he remained its ghetto to the forests outside Warsaw. From there, they continued to harass the Rabbi Israel Miller signs a special parchment property restitution and increased social spiritual leader for 25 years, until he during the groundbreaking ceremonies for benefits for Austrian Jews. joined the Yeshiva staff in 1968. Germans until the end of the war. the new Yad Vashem Historical Museum in He was a spokesman in many forums He started at Yeshiva as an assistant After the war, Belchatowska and May 2000. for both American and world Jewry, to the president, rose to vice president Spiegel moved to Sweden, where they Rabbi Israel Miller and his many positions included the in 1970 and was senior vice president married and where their son Chil, or who worked to obtain compensation chairmanship of the Conference of from 1979 to 1994. He also taught at Julius, was born. In late 1948 they went to Montreal after failing to obtain a visa from Germany for Holocaust Presidents of Major American Jewish the affiliated Rabbi Elchanan seminary. for the United States. survivors, died March 21, 2002 at his Organizations in the 1970’s. Over the Known as the “down-to-earth home in Jerusalem. He was 83. years he was president of the rabbi,” he was consulted and honored The Conference on Jewish Material Rabbinical Council of America, by U.S. presidents and Israeli prime Claims against Germany, as his chairman of the American Jewish ministers. organization is formally known, gave Conference on Soviet Jewry, secretary Miller is survived by his wife, Ruth, no cause of death. He had led the of the Memorial Foundation for Jewish four children, 19 grand-children and group since 1982. Culture, founding president of the three great-grand-children. Apartment and The Fortune Cookie. Bracha Patt In 1988 he received the Academy of Died January 23, 2002. Born Sheva Motion Picture Arts & Sciences’ Irving Brucha Zalcman in Warsaw in 1915, she Thalberg Award for lifetime was a member of a generation of achievement. idealistic Jewish activists who believed that justice and peace are possible in a Avraham Tory pluralistic society. She arrived in Survivor of Lithuania who wrote the America in 1940 with her husband, Dr. Holocaust diary about life as a young Emmanuel Patt, and was active in Jewish lawyer, died at his Tel Aviv Bundist, Yiddish and community Hela Young home on Feb. 24 at age 92. He was organizations, especially the Work-men’s Died Feb. 24, 2002. The daughter of secretary of the Jewish Council of Circle/Arbeiter Ring.Kazakstan, Holocaust survivors, Hela was born in Elders in the Kovno ghetto and hid Russia. After the war, she went to Israel and raised in Germany before her official papers and reports that Stuttgart, Germany to await a visa for family eventually settled in Newark. documented the struggle for survival Israel. After arriving in Israel, her Hela’s rise to stardom began in 1971 Billy Wilder during the Nazi occupation of the Soviet second child contracted polio. She lived when she won the coveted Miss New Died March 27, 2002. Was born Samuel territory from 1941 to 1944. there for five years, then came to the Jersey title and participated in the Miss Wilder on June 22, 1906, in the town of The diaries, written in Yiddish with United States to join her brother who America Pageant. She was among a Sucha in Galicia, Poland, which was then the help of his future wife, were buried had made his way to Los Angeles group of state representatives to part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. underground in crates. The diaries and shortly before her. Her memoir, When participate in a USO tour of South His father, Max, who died in 1926, ran a documents in three of the five crates Tears Fall Short, was published two Vietnam, staying involved in veterans chain of railway cafes. His mother, were smuggled through Europe in 1944 months before her death. causes for the rest of her life. Eugenia, died at Auschwitz during World as the couple fled to safety. The She was a long time member of the From there, Hela’s singing and acting War II. material was later shipped to Israel. World Affairs Council, San Francisco talents landed her appearances on many Wilder grew up in , where he Once in Israel, Tory set up his own Jewish Community Center, San Francisco popular soap operas, as well as featured became enamored of all things law firm and was a witness in the trials Jewish Community Agency Holocaust roles in national commercials and American. Wilder began his career as of a number of Nazi war criminals. Survivors Group and the Commonwealth industrial films. She was also New a journalist at the tabloid Die Stünde. However, the diary lay untouched for Club. Jersey’s Lottery lady, picking winners He wrote interviews, crime and sports decades after the couple arrived in on-air for many years. stories. Israel in 1947 because Tory felt they Chaike Belchatowska Spiegel Hela was a member of the New After moving to Berlin, he continued were “like fire —too emotional for him One of the last surviving combatants of Jersey Commission on Holocaust to work as a journalist, but as a Jew to deal with,” his wife said. the 1943 Warsaw ghetto uprising, died Education and a member of the working there was little hope of a future, The diaries were not published until March 26, 2002 in Montreal. She was 81. Commission’s Awareness Committee. and Wilder fled to Paris in 1933 and then 1988. They were first printed in In January 1943, Chaike Belcha- moved on to the U.S. Hebrew, and in 1990 were published in towska joined the Jewish Fighting Siegbert Freiberg During his career he wrote, produced English as Surviving the Holocaust: Organization (ZOB), which had been Perhaps the first Holocaust survivor to and directed such award-winning films The Kovno Ghetto Diary. formed the previous year to resist the talk about his experience in English on as Ninotchka, Hold Back the Dawn, The originals of Tory’s work are deportation of Jews from the ghetto to American radio, has died. He was 75. The Major and the Minor, Five housed at the Yad Vashem Holocaust the Treblinka . Freiberg, who escaped being sent to Graves to Cairo, Double Indemnity, Museum in Jerusalem and the diary also On April 19, the first night of Auschwitz, was featured on a New York The Lost Weekend, A Foreign Affair, formed the basis of a two-year exhibit Passover, a Nazi force equipped with radio program on July 6, 1947, during Sunset Boulevard, Stalag 17, Some at the United States Holocaust tanks and artillery and under the Like It Hot, The Seven Year Itch, The Memorial Museum in Washington. command of Col. Ferdinand von continued on pg. 16

TOGETHER 15 IN MEMORIAM continued from pg. 15 Opportunities for Former Slave Laborers: which he was reunited with his father, Judith E. Doneson A renowned scholar, her seminal book Due to changes in the German Social Security law, if you worked Max. within one of the following Polish Ghettos or within the annexed region Freiberg was born in Berlin in 1926. was The Holocaust in American Film. of Poland during the time of German occupation, there are now In 1938, his father was sent to the The author of numerous groundbreaking Buchenwald concentration camp. He studies in the representation of the Jew oppportunities to: was eventually allowed to leave in film, her recent contributions include · Apply for a new German Social Security pension, or Buchenwald and go to Shanghai. Anne Frank: Reflections on Her Life · Increase your current German Social Security pension Every member of Max Freiberg’s and Legacy, and Spielberg’s Holocaust: (Please note: Additional Polish ghettos may be considered family was eventually killed during the Critical Perspectives on Schindler’s in the near future.) war, except Siegbert. In 1943, Siegbert List. She was in the process of finishing Polish Ghettos: Freiberg was taken to a former also an Encyclopedia of Holocaust synagogue in Berlin, where Jews were Film. She also worked in the production Beichatow Bendzin Chrzanow being rounded up to be taken to of film and television, notably as a Dombrowa Gornitza Lodz Olkusc researcher for Claude Lanzmann’s Auschwitz. Instead, he broke his leg Ozorkow Pabiance Pajenczno and was sent to a hospital. He later was Shoah. After teaching Holocaust and Film at Tel-Aviv University between Piotrokow TribienaIski Prystain Sieradz sent to stay with a cousin who introduced Sosnowicz Stremiesryce Sucha him to his future wife, Herta. She and 1982 and 1987, she went on to teach at her mother agreed to hide him until the Hebrew University and was a Fellow Trzebinia Warta Warthenau end of the war. Freiberg then moved to at the Center for Jewish Studies in Wielun Zelow the United States. Philadelphia (formerly the Annenberg Institute). In St. Louis, she had been the director of the Holocaust Museum and The German government does not usually recognize slave labor Learning Center and had taught at as contributing to the accumulation of pension benefits. Since 1997, Washington University. however, German Social Security pensions have been available to survivors who performed labor for nominal pay in the Lodz ghetto, HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS and were residents of Germany between 1945 and 1949. A later KILLED IN ISRAEL amendment extended eligibility to certain other ghettos with similar conditions in the annexed or occupied area of Poland. George (Meir-Shlomo) Now a further change in legislation is being considered by the Yakobovitch German Houses of Parliament, which would liberalize and expand 76, was born in Hungary and was a well- German Social Security pensions to cover work performed in all Zypora Spaisman known lawyer and notary in the ghettos during Nazi occupation. One of the mainstays of the post-WWII community of Hungarian immigrants. With respect to Polish ghettos, the new legislation would extend Yiddish theater, died May 18 at 86. He was attending Passover services in eligibility to all ghettos in annexed or occupied Poland and would Spaisman, who supported herself by Netanya when killed by a Palestinian remove the 1945 through 1949 German residency condition. Since working as a recreation director at homicide bomber. George was buried in work in the ghettos would also be evaluated on a higher scale, senior centers, earned several awards the Yarkon cemetery in Tel-Aviv. He is survivors who are currently receiving a German Social Security for her acting with the Folksbiene survived by his wife and one daughter pension might be able to apply for an increase in their present rate Theater. She also served as the Yiddish from a previous marriage. in certain cases. acting company’s executive director. We want to emphasize the above information has not yet become Born in Poland, Spaisman survived Ernest and Eva Weiss law. If and when these amendments pass through Parliament, we WWII in a labor camp in central Russia, were married in 1946 in Romania. In will of course inform everybody. As of now, the expected deadline where she purportedly delivered more 1964 the couple immigrated to Israel and than 1,000 babies and organized Yiddish settled in Petah Tikva. Ernest, 80, was for filing is June 30, 2003. productions in the barracks. in the diamond business, Eva, 75, was a homemaker. They were attending Helen Ross Passover services in Netanya when killed by a Palestinian homicide bomber. Dutch Jews Reclaim Goods Was born Chaia Kochaisky in Nowy Ernest and Eva were buried side by side Dwor, Poland, on October 18, 1920. in Petah Tikva. After the news of September 11, 2001, Stolen by Nazis she said, “It’s another Holocaust,” went More than 50 years after World War II ended, the Dutch Jewish community Marianne Lehmann Zaoui is reclaiming what was stolen from them and their families during the Nazi to sleep and had a stroke in the middle 77, from Netanya, was born in Germany. occupation. of the night in a San Francisco hospital. During World War II, she fled to France The records were all there, tucked away in an attic cupboard of an old Between Nowy Dwor and Warsaw, where she hid under an assumed identity, canal house. Rings, watches, earrings, stocks, family photographs every item and months under Nazi occupation, she attending a Catholic school together with fled to Russia. Helen spent much of the her sister. Marianne taught English for the Nazis stole from Dutch Jews was carefully listed in the archives of a war in hiding and in forced labor in Gorky many years in high schools in France. now defunct bank. When the files were discovered three years ago, thousands and Kazakstan. After the war, she went Marianne and her husband Lucien of people sought copies of the index cards that recounted a small piece of to Stuttgart, Germany to await a visa for emigrated from France ten years ago. their family history. Israel. After arriving in Israel, her sec- They had been celebrating the Passover Now a shamed nation was taking another hard look at its failings toward ond child contracted polio. She lived seder in a hotel for several years. She its Jewish citizens. Although survivors had reclaimed lost real estate and there for five years then came to the was buried in Netanya and is survived major assets in the 1950s, the Lippmann-Rosenthal archive named for the United States to join her brother who by her husband, three children and bank used by the Nazis to confiscate Jewish property brought home the had earlier made his way to Los Ange- grandchildren. small injustices and humiliations suffered by Jews and aroused an impassioned les. Her memoir, When Tears Fall public response. Within a few months, the Dutch Government, insurance Short, was published shortly before her Michael Orlansky companies, banks and the Amsterdam stock exchange that profited from the death. 70, was stabbed to death by a Palestinian seized assets negotiated restitution settlements with Jewish representatives. Ross was a long-time member of the terrorist on his way to the synagogue By this past July, a total of NLG 584 million had been set aside to be divided World Affairs Council, the San Francisco for morning prayers in the community among war victims. Jewish Community Center, San Fran- of Neztarim in the Gaza Strip. Michael The Jewish community has decided to split the money equally among the cisco Jewish Community Agency Holo- was buried at the Segula cemetery in surviving Jews who lived in the Netherlands between 1940 and 1945, or their caust Survivors Group and the Common- Petah Tikva. He is survived by his three descendants. An initial payment was set at NLG 14,000, based on a rough wealth Club. children and 22 grandchildren. calculation that 36,500 people survived the war.

TOGETHER 16 the diary’s significance. An appendix The late Giacomo Debenedetti was a A HOLOCAUST gives details about the known diaries professor at the University of Messina and written by young people during this the University of Rome and Italy’s leading critic of 20th century literature. BOOKSHELF period, more than fifty-five in all. A second appendix provides a study of Dr. Alex Grobman is President of the Insti- related materials, such as rewritten and tute for Contemporary Jewish Life and the Brenn Institute; editor of Genocide: Criti- reconstructed diaries, letters, diary- cal Issues of the Holocaust(1983), as well memoirs, and texts by non-Jewish as In Defense of the Survivors: The Letters young victims of the war and Nazism. and Documents of Oscar A. Mintzer, AJDC Legal Advisor, Germany, 1945-46 (1999); Alexandra Zapruder was the exhibition and author of Rekindling the Flame: Ameri- researcher and educator for the permanent can Jewish Chaplains and the Survivors and traveling versions of Remember the of European Jewry, 1944-1948 (1992) and Children, Daniel’s Story at the U.S. Out of the Depths of Despair: Rabbi Nathan Holocaust Memorial Museum. She is Baruch and the Vaad Hatzala in Post-War currently an independent writer and scholar. Europe (forthcoming, 2002) THE HOLOCAUST: Origins, Implementation and Aftermath edited by Omer Bartov (New York: Routledge, 2000), 300p., US$24.99. DENYING HISTORY CAN$34.00. Who Says the Holocaust Never This volume presents a series Happened and Why Do They of essays by leading scholars on the Say It? by Michael Shermer and Alex Holocaust that challenge our common Grobman. Foreword by Arthur views and preconceived ideas about the Hertzberg. (LA: University of California Press, 2000), 330 pgs. Clothbound origins of anti-semitism and scientific $27.50, £19.95. Paper due in May, racism and the context in which $16.95, £11.95. SALVAGED PAGES: Young OCTOBER 16, 1943: Eight Jews the Final Solution was decided that go Denying History takes a bold Writers’ Diaries of the Holocaust by Giacomo Debenedetti (South Bend, beyond the debate of intentionalism and Indiana: University of Notre Dame Press, and in-depth look at those who say by Alexandra Zapruder (New Haven; Yale functionalism. 2001), 100p., US$18.95. CAN $26.00. the Holocaust never happened and University Press, 2002), 512 pages, Other essays provide pene- $35.00. explores the motivations behind such trating insight into the psychology In this book of three essays about of a perpetrator, the perspective of claims. While most commentators This stirring collection of diaries Italian Jewry during the Holocaust, the have dismissed the Holocaust deniers written by young people during the the bystanders, the fate of the victims and late Giacomo Debenedetti the limits of transmitting the experience of as antisemitic neo-Nazi thugs who do Holocaust reflects a vast and diverse has contributed insightful articles of the Shoah to future generations. not deserve a response, historians range of experiences-some of the historical significance. In the first essay, Michael Shermer and Alex Grobman writers were refugees, others were In the final disturbing piece entitled Debenedetti describes how on “Remembering in Vain,” we learn how have immersed themselves in the hiding or passing as non-Jews, some Saturday October 16, 1943 at 5:30 minds and culture of these Holocaust were imprisoned in ghettos. The book the insistence on preserving the memory a.m., more than a thousand Jews of the camps is being used to legitimize “revisionists.” They have conducted offers the first comprehensive collection throughout the city of Rome were new crimes of genocide in the Third personal interviews with the deniers, of such writings, with extensive brutally rounded up and taken to a read their literature, monitored their excerpts from fifteen diaries, ten of World while “conspiring against a military school before being sent to normalization of the present,” as was Web sites, attended their confer- which have never before been translated Auschwitz. Debenedetti’s eye- ences, engaged them in debate, and and published in English. The diarists argued recently in Germany by some witness account of these events, and groups. even traveled around Europe to con- ranged in age from twelve to twenty- those days preceding and following it, duct research at the Nazi extermina- two; some survived the Holocaust, but were written a year after the event, and Omer Bartov is Professor of European tion camps. Uncovering a complex most perished. Taken together, their are the most vivid and social movement, the authors go History at New Jersey’s Rutgers University. accounts of daily events and their often detailed description of the round-up. He has written extensively on the much deeper than ever before in not unexpected thoughts, ideas, and In Eight Jews, a companion essay, Holocaust, Nazi Germany and modern only trying to understand the motives feelings serve to deepen and complicate Debenedetti writes a response to the France. His books include Mirrors of of the Holocaust deniers, but also our understanding of life during the Destruction: War Genocide and Modern testimony of the Ardeatine Caves of Identity (2000); Murder in Our Midst: The refuting their points one by one. In Holocaust. The volume begins with a March 24, 1944 during which 335 the process, they show how we can Holocaust, Industrial Killing, and discussion of Anne Frank’s diary and civilians were massacred by the Representation (1996); and Hitler’s Army: be certain that the Holocaust hap- offers a new framework for thinking SS in retaliation for the killing two days Soldiers, Nazis and War in the Third Reich pened and, for that matter, how we about the diaries young people earlier of German soldiers by Italian (1991). can confirm any historical event. produced in this time of extreme crisis. resistance fighters. Alexandra Zapruder assesses the value The third essay, written by Estelle THE CASE FOR AUSCHWITZ: Dr. Michael Shermer is the founder and of these literary fragments as part of the Evidence from the Irving Trial by publisher of Skeptic magazine, Director Gilson, describes the seizure of the historical record of the Holocaust and rabbinical and community library of the Robert Jan van Pelt (Bloomington, of the Skeptics Society, Adjunct Profes- Indiana: Indiana University Press, 2002). sor of the History of Science at Occiden- provides informative introductions Rome Jewish community. While most of 570p., US$69.95. tal College, and host of the Skeptics Lec- about when and where each diary was the other Jewish libraries pillaged by the ture Series at Caltech. He is also the host written; the diarist’s biographical, Nazis were recovered after the war, the As a leading expert witness in the of a national TV show called Exploring religious, cultural, and economic the Unknown (Fox Network) and the au- fate of Rome’s community library con- libel trial of David Irving, Robert Jan thor of Why People Believe Weird Things circumstances; the fate of the diarist; taining “rare and unique items” dating van Pelt wrote a 700-page report (1997), and How We Believe: The Search the circumstances of the diary’s back to the 15th and 16th centuries addressing one of the key areas of the for God in an Age of Science (1999). Dr. discovery. Finally she offers a view of remains a mystery. case: the historical evidence proving TOGETHER 17 that gas chambers were at Auschwitz. Robert Gellately shows that the German memoirs—most of them never trans- “The purpose of this book is to In this masterful and brilliant work, van media and press provided information to lated before—Todorov shows highlight the positive aspects of human Pelt explains why Auschwitz became the general public about the activities of how public opinion, actions by behavior during the darkest chapter in a central point in Holocaust denial and the Gestapo, the persecution individual writers, clergy and government human history, by gathering the sparks in the trial. He provides overwhelming of the ”asocials,” “outsiders,” “useless officials thwarted the German plan to of light which pierced the darkness of evidence to document that at the eaters,” or “criminals,” as well as the exterminate the almost 50,000 Jews of the Nazi world. These sparks represent Auschwitz extermination camp more existence of the concentration camps. Bulgaria. glimmers of hope, helping us to confront than a million people were killed. By “building on popular images, The Bulgaria that emerges is not a the Holocaust, and not lose hope in cherished ideals, and long-held phobias heroic country dramatically different ourselves as responsible and caring in the country,” Hitler succeeded from those countries where Jews did beings...in a world torn asunder by strife in enlisting the support of theperish. Todorov does find heroes, espe- and senseless killings.” German people to the policies of the cially parliament deputy Dimitar Peshev, Nazi Party. Throughout the Third Reich certain writers and clergy, and public Mordecai Paldiel holds a doctorate from he and his govern-ment invested much opinion. Yet he is forced to conclude that Temple University and has served for energy and resources to track public the “good” triumphed to the extent that eighteen years as Director of the Department opinion in order to maintain their it did hecause of a tenuous chain of of the Righteous among the Nations at Yad backing. Gellately shows how even when events. Any hreak in that chain—one Vashem the Holocaust martyrs and heroes Germany “spiralled toward defeat,” and intellectual who didn’t speak up as memorial in Jerusalem. This is his third book terror was being openly directed against forcefully, a different composition in Or- on the subject. The author and his family Germans who dared to resist, most thodox Church leadership, a misstep by were rescued during the Holocaust by a Germans did not waver in their support. a particular politician, a less wily king— French Catholic priest, who helped them escape from Southern France into A crucial contribution to our would have undone all of the other ef- Switzerland. In his broad analysis of Holocaust understanding of the relationship forts with disastrous results. revisionism or “negationism,” Van Pelt between consent and coercion in discusses Irving’s gradual emergence modern dictatorship, this orginal and Tzvetan Todorov is Maître de from respected historian to full-fledged outstanding book uses a wealth of new Recherches at the Centre National de la negationist. The bulk of the book is the source materials, including the daily Recherche Scientifique in Paris and has been methodical and chilling presentation of press, to examine the public face of the a visiting professor at various North materials presented at the trial: first- Nazi “law and order” government. American universities. He is the author of person accounts, photos, historical Illustrated with never-before-published numerous books, including On Human Diversity (1993), Introduction to Poetics documents, diagrams, scientific photographs, Backing Hitler debunks (Minnesota 1981) and Mikhail Bakhtin: The evidence, testimony of former SS the myth that Nazi atrocities were not Dialogical Principle (Minnesota 1984). guards interwoven with Irving’s linked to the will of the people. testimony and defense. Holocaust denial did not end with Robert Gellately is Strassler Professor Irving’s stunning defeat in court. Not of Holocaust History at the Center for long after the trial, Irving was hailed as Holocaust Studies, Dept. of History, Clark a hero at a meeting of Holocaust University. He is also the author of The RECOMMENDATION deniers in California. Gestapo and German Society: Enforcing Racial Policy 1933-45. WHETHER TO CONFISCATE, DESTROY AND BURN ALL Robert Jan van Pelt is Professor in the School of Architecture, University of JEWISH BOOKS by Johannes Waterloo, Canada. He is co-author (with Reuchlin, trans. by Peter Wortsman Debrah Dwork) of Auschwitz: 1270 to the (New Jersey: Paulist Press, 2000) 90p., Present, winner of a National Jewish Book US$9.95. CAN$14.00. Award, 1996, and of the Spiro Kostof Award of the Association of Architectural Historians, 1997, and co-author (with Carroll William In 1510, Johannes Reuchlin, one of the foremost jurists and legal Westfall) of Architectural Principles in the Age SAVING THE JEWS: Amazing of Historicism. scholars of his time, was asked by the Stories of Men and Women Who Archbishop of Mainz to provide a legal ” by opinion about accusations that Jewish Defied the “Final Solution Mordecai Paldiel (Maryland: Schreiber writings attacked Christianity, sometimes Publishing, 2000) 256 p., US $24.95. using profane language. The allegations were made in several pamphlets that THE FRAGILITY OF GOOD- Dr. Mordecai Paldiel has devoted were published between 1507-1509 by NESS: Why Bulgaria’s Jews Sur- his life to honoring the heroic acts Johannes Pfefferkorn, a Jew who had vived the Holocaust by Tzvetan of those who defied the Nazis to save recently converted to Christianity. In Todorov, translated by Arthur Denner Jews. In his latest work, he explains the this campaign, he had the active assistance (Princeton: Princeton University Press, various types of assistance given by the of important members of the Domini- 2001) 197p., US$26.95 CAN$36.00. righteous, the criteria used by Yad can order in Cologne, who used Pfefferkorn to “spread the flames While living under German Vashem in designating an individual as of the Inquisition in 1492.” occupation, the citizens of Denmark and a righteous gentile, why certain Although not a friend of the individuals were not given an award Hungary were unique among the coun- Jews, Reuchlin wrote a spirited and despite saving Jews, and provides a list tries of Europe in provid-ing protection landmark defense of Jewish books which BACKING HITLER: Consent to their Jewish citizens. Denmark has of 17,433 of the righteous, by country he concluded should be protected un- and Coercion in Nazi Germany by received much attention for smuggling and ethnic origin, who have been der Imperial and Royal Laws. By list- Robert Gellately (New York: Oxford a little more than 7,000 Danish Jews to honored as of January 1, 2000. The ing the books under review, he University Press, 2001) 359 p., neutral Sweden on small fishing rest of the chapters highlight the succeeded in his primary objective US$35.00. CAN$47.00. boats. Much less is known about Bul- activities of the rescuers. In an appendix, of stripping away the superstition garia and why it chose to save its Jews. Paldiel responds to the criticism of some and strangeness that surrounded It has generally been assumed that That is why this is such a useful and who maintain that Jews who risked their these works. A classic treatise much of the terror perpetrated in Nazi significant study. lives to save their fellow Jews should against antisemitism that should Germany had been conducted in total Assembling key evidence, from let- also be acknowledged by Yad Vashem be in every Jewish library. secrecy. In this important work, historian ters, diaries, government reports and as well.

TOGETHER 18 BOOST PROJECT FOR NEWS BRIEFS wearing religious symbols in the JEWISH MUSEUM IN German capital to avoid antisemitic POLAND URGED TO RETURN speaker. The Strassler family has been POLAND attacks by Arabs. “The Berlin police WARSAW—An international con- JEWISH HOMES BEFORE EU a distinguished donor to the University expresses its great regret if ill feeling and particularly to the Holocaust Center. ference with Israeli Foreign Minister has been caused in Israel or the Jewish ENTRY David Strassler is a university trustee Simon Peres is expected to boost plans community by the official’s remarks,” BRUSSELS—Poland has been asked and was past chair of the school’s $106 to build a museum to the history of Jews Berlin police said in statement. “It has to start returning property confiscated million capital campaign. As a former in Poland, organizers said. A to be taken for granted that anyone can from Jews who lived there before and national chairman of the ADL, he has presentation of the plans for the display in public symbols of his religious during WW II. Poland is the only long been concerned with how the Museum of the History of Polish Jews beliefs.” country from Eastern Europe besides Holocaust will be remembered after the and its collection of over 2,000 works that has not enacted a property last generation of survivors is gone. of art, 70,000 books and 40,000 POLISH DEVELOPER GETS restitution program, and is being urged Four years after launching the country’s photographs is to be made to the PERMISSION TO COMPLETE to do so before it joins the EU in 2004. first Ph.D. program in Holocaust international honorary committee that VISITOR CENTER NEAR Poland is one of the largest repositories history, Clark University is expanding will be crucial in raising the estimated of old Jewish property and also the site it to include genocide studies “By $55 million (62.3 million euros) needed AUSCHWITZ SITE of Auschwitz. Current Polish looking at these different genocides, we for construction. “We hope that the WARSAW—Polish provincial procedures for restitution of property are start to see patterns,” said Deborah committee will make a declaration of authorities will allow the completion of often too lengthy for ageing war Dwork, director of the 2,000-student support, including financial support for a visitors’ center with a restaurant and survivors, some of whom complain that school’s Center for Holocaust and the project,” said Ewa Junczyk- shops near the former Nazi death camp judges and municipal authorities are Genocide Studies. “And when we see Ziomecka, director of development for of Auschwitz, despite a Jewish group’s reluctant to order any return of property. those patterns in history, we can the museum—to be built near the charge that it would desecrate the At stake is property worth about $23 recognize them when they happen monument to Jews who died in the 1943 memory of Holocaust victims. Much of billion. today and help prevent them.” uprising in the Warsaw Ghetto. the project by a Polish entrepreneur is inside a 100-meter protective zone MORE NAZI VICTIMS TO GET AUSTRIANS AGREE TO CZECH TOWN BUILDS around the Auschwitz camp museum, PENSIONS where any business activity requires COMPENSATION MONUMENT WASHINGTON—Germany will pay VIENNA—Austrian officials struck a authorization under a law preserving pensions to thousands more Nazi victims PRAGUE—Construction has begun former Nazi death camps in Poland. deal with the country’s Jewish on a monument comprising stones in recognition of their suffering in places Authorities say they will use all legal community to compensate it for inscribed to the memory of some 2,600 it had not previously seen as communally held property stolen or means to prevent the center from concentration camps. “This new victims of Holocaust in the town of violating the site’s dignity. About 1.5 destroyed during the Nazi era. Pilsen, southwest of Prague, the CTK agreement will enable them to receive million people, mostly Jews from Representatives from Austria’s nine news agency reported. Jewish symbolic compensation in the form of across Europe, perished there during provinces agreed to pay out 18.2 million families wrote their their loved ones’ monthly payments,” said Dr. Israel World War II. euros ($16.2 million) in compensation names on the stones, which were then Singer, chairman of the Jewish Material for synagogues and other property held placed inside a frame made by rafters Claims Against Germany. The deal, by the Jewish community over five years, VANDALS LOOSE IN struck with Germany’s finance ministry, from a former Jewish school in the said the governor of the province of town, some 80 km (50 miles) from SLOVAKIA will affect up to 5,000 survivors forced Upper Austria, Josef Puehringer. In the BRATISLAVA—Vandals destroyed to toil in “concentration camp-like” labor Prague. The monument, built to mark compromise deal reached Jewish 135 tombstones at a Jewish cemetery camps and working battalions during the 60th anniversary of Jews being representatives agreed to back away transported from Pilsen to Nazi death in Slovakia’s second-largest city in World War II in Bulgaria, Libya, from their earlier demands that the Kosice in eastern Slovakia and home Romania, Slovakia and the former camps, was inaugurated near the provinces increase the sum to make up to the country’s second-largest Jewish Yugoslavia, the claims conference said. town’s synagogue. Some 80,000 Jews for paying it out in installments. The 18.2 from Bohemia and Moravia were community. Dozens of grave markers million euros is to be administered killed by the Nazis. Their names are were torn down, and some were broken LITHUANIAN PM CALLS FOR together with a fund of 254 million euros inscribed on the walls of the Pinkas into several pieces. During World War TALKS ON PROPERTY ($223 million) established by the Austria synagogue in Prague’s Jewish II, when the formerly communist RESTITUTION government to compensate former slave quarter. country served as a puppet state to VILNIUS Lithuania’s prime minister and forced laborers of the Nazi regime. Nazi Germany, about 70,000 Jews were invited the international Jewish GOVERNMENT CONDEMNS sent to concentration camps, where community to open talks with leaders most perished; today, only about 3,000 JAPAN’S AUSCHWITZ VANDALISM in the Baltic state on the restitution of Jews remain in Slovakia. Kosice’s city MUSEUM TO MOVE TO ATHENS—The government condemned Jewish property lost during World War hall issued a statement strongly acts of vandalism at a Holocaust II. Algirdas Brazauskas told public FUKUSHIMA protesting “the largest attack on the memorial and a Jewish cemetery. radio that international, Israeli and US KYOTO—The Auschwitz Museum Jewish community in our city since the Government spokesman Christos Jewish groups jointly enter in Tochigi Prefecture dedicated to Holocaust.” Protopappas described both incidents as negotiations, saying he felt a people killed during the Nazi “barbaric” and said he had not thought “responsibility to take action in this Holocaust will move to the city of THE HIAS LOST AND FOUND it possible for such acts to take place in area.” Brazauskas also called on Shirakawa, Fukushima Prefecture, NEW YORK—When Harry Magid, Greece. Red paint was splashed over Lithuania’s judiciary to be more active museum officials said. The museum Holocaust Survivor and retired the Holocaust memorial in the northern in tackling antisemitism. About 90 will reopen in October on land offered businessman from Los Angeles, made Greek city of Thessaloniki, and the word percent of Lithuania’s 220,000 pre- by a local brewing company for an a phone call from HIAS World “Palestinians” was written in paint war Jewish community perished annual rent of about 70,000 yen, the Headquarters in New York, not only did officials said. Moving to the nearby. In the northwestern city of during the Holocaust. he jump over five thousand miles across northeastern Japan city will cost at Ioannina, three gravestones were the ocean to a Ukrainian town, he also damaged at a Jewish cemetery. “We least some 50 million yen and the jumped sixty years into the past. He CLARK UNIVERSITY museum has so far raised 5 million consider it unacceptable and condemn RENAMES HOLOCAUST spoke to Lyubov Shirko, a Ukrainian yen from donations, the officials said. in the most categorical way this barbaric peasant woman, who during the years act. We condemn it unanimously and CENTER Auschwitz Heiwa Hakubut-sukan of the Holocaust helped her father, Philip BOSTON—Clark University president, opened April 16, 2000, to lease part wholeheartedly,” Protopappas said. Shirko, to save Harry and his family John Bassett has announced that the of the collection of Poland’s from death by the Nazis. Clark University Center for Holocaust Auschwitz museum. It was BERLIN POLICE APOLOGIZE Harry’s father, Joseph, was a mill and Genocide Studies is being renamed established by Shinshin Aoki, 67, who BERLIN—Police in Berlin apologized owner in Stepan, a Polish village that for the David Strassler Family. The conceived the idea of the museum Tuesday for a police official’s was annexed by the Bolsheviks when ceremony took place in mid-April and after visiting the site of the Auschwitz suggestion in an interview with Israel’s featured Steven Emerson as the guest concentration camp when he was 49. Army Radio that Jews should stop continued on pg. 20 TOGETHER 19 returned, and the company profited from In January, Israeli Deputy Foreign NEWS BRIEFS the “ joint venture.” SNCF President Minister Michael Melchior said France Louis Gallois told the French Jewish was “the worst western country for anti- continued from pg. 19 were “provoked by positive statements community, that the company would give Semitism.” Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Stalin and Hitler signed the treaty in on restitution of Jewish property made donations to a series of memorial Sharon made similar comments. 1939. As the Nazis moved east, they by the country’s authorities,” the projects. Gallois said,”The SNCF was killed almost all of the 3,000 Jews in that document added. used by the Nazis, with the assent of the INSURANCE MUST PAY region...only 36 survived. Philip Shirko Vichy government, as an instrument of DAMAGES took Joseph Magid and his family from SS COMMANDER DENIES deportation.” SCNF intends to build a PARIS—France’s highest administrative the mill and brought them to a distant GIVING ORDERS website for research into the role of the body ruled recently that the state must hamlet. HAMBURG—A 93-year-old former French railways during the Holocaust pay half the damages owed to victims After a while, the Magid family was Nazi SS commander on trial for a 1944 and has donated money to fund a by Maurice Papon, a former Vichy reported to the local police and they had wartime massacre of Italian prisoners memorial museum and traveling official sentenced to 10 years in to flee again. Several times the said he did not order the killings. exhibition about deported children. prison for his role in the persecution Benderovtsy (Ukrainian nationalists) Friedrich Engel, who headed the elite of French Jews during the Holocaust. caught them but they managed to Nazi SS in Genoa at the end of World CHURCH HAS IDF KILLING France must pay $175,500 to Papon’s escape, each time thinking they would War II, went before a Hamburg state JESUS victims—nearly a third of the be killed if caught again. Another court in what promises to be one of EDINBURGH—A 9ft artwork, which $657,000 Papon was ordered to pay. Ukrainian man, Gordey Kondratyuk, Germany’s last Nazi war crimes trials. hangs on the side of St John’s Episcopal The council increased the amount to then hid the family in a barn. He showed little emotion during the Church in Edinburgh, Scotland depicts about $330,000 to cover legal costs Finally, the Nazis retreated. Before trial’s opening day. An Italian military Jesus as a victim of the current conflict incurred by the civil parties in the the Russians arrived, the Benderovtsy court in Turin tried and convicted Engel in Israel. Jesus is flanked by Roman case against the 90-year-old Papon. proclaimed that any Jews who were in absentia in 1999, sentencing him to soldiers on one side and Israeli troops Papon has declared himself bankrupt hiding could come out, without life for war crimes in connection with on the other. His thorn of crowns is and unable to pay the fines. However, fear. Those who came forward were a total of 246 deaths. made of barbed wire and his cross has a court ruled in September that he shot, among them Harry’s father. been broken in the conflict. John went bankrupt deliberately. The court The rest of the Magid family survived CEMETERY ATTACKS IN McLuckie, St John’s associate rector, ruled Papon’s home would be and in 1949, with HIAS’ help, they NORTH GERMANY said, “It’s the traditional image of dead returned to his estate and used to immigrated to the United States. BERLIN—Suspected racists wrecked Jesus in the arms of his mother but it is compensate his victims and their Recently, Harry contacted HIAS several tombstones and disturbed graves meant to symbolize modern victims,” families. Location Service to help him locate at a Jewish cemetery in the northeast he said. “It’s meant to make people think those who had risked their own lives to coastal town of Rostock in the second about the violence that is going on and WIESENTHAL CENTER help his family during the war. After a such attack in the region that week, the to consider what lies behind the violence RELEASES HATE CD successful search, HIAS contacted Yad graves were discovered just two days coming from both sides. We think Israel LOS ANGELES—The Simon Wiesenthal Vashem and, in March 2002, Filip and after damaged graves were found at a ought to abide by the UN resolution and Center has released a CD-ROM Nadezhda Shirko and Gordei and Jewish cemetery in the town of Grabow, let Palestine have their territory, that compilation of Internet hate sites. Called Nadezhda Kondratium were awarded near Schwerin and followed a similar occupation should end.” “Digital Hate 2002,” the CD-ROM is an the title “Righteous Among the incident in the town of Boizenburg earlier interactive report of over 3,000 Nations.” Harry Magid is listed in the this year.Holocaust memorials in Raben SWISS COMPENSATION problematic web sites and features more Benjamin & Vladka Meed Registry of Steinfeld and Woebbelin have also been COMPLETED than 200 web sites that are animated hate Holocaust Survivors. damaged recently. GENEVA —A fund set up five years ago games, online enrollment for suicide If you are interested in asking the to help needy survivors of the Holocaust bombers, Neo-Nazi online identity theft HIAS Location Service to help you, VANDERBILT TURNING OFF after Switzerland’s receiving and other examples of transnational hate, contact Valery Bazerov, HIAS Location JEWISH STUDENTS international condemnation for its and promotion of terror after the 9/11 & Family History Specialist, by writing NASHVILLE—Vanderbilt University, activities during WWII, has finished its terrorist attacks throughout the World to: HIAS, 333 Seventh Avenue, 17th Flr, an elite institution in the middle of the work having paid out $179 million to Wide Web. New York, NY 10001. Bible Belt, is aggressively recruiting 309,000 people around the world. “Cyberspace is the new weapon of Jewish students in a campaign that is The government established the fund choice for terrorists and the promotion HOLOCAUST DENIER IRVING making some Jews uncomfortable. The in 1997 with contributions from Swiss of the ‘big lie’ tactics” according to DECLARES BANKRUPTCY university has portrayed the move as banks and private companies. Simon Wiesenthal Center Associate LONDON—Holocaust denier David part of a broad effort to increase In its final report, the Swiss Fund for Dean, Rabbi Abraham Cooper, adding Irving declared bankrupty last month diversity. But the administrator in Needy Victims of the Holocaust/Shoa that “the Internet has become an after he failed to pay Penguin Books charge of the effort acknowledged that said 84% of the money went to 255,000 incubator for hate and terrorism.” outstanding legal costs. He owed them Vanderbilt is also trying to tap into a Jewish survivors, many in Eastern The Simon Wiesenthal Center, utilizing $213,300 for suing them over claims in group of students who tend to score Europe. The rest was given to non- personnel in Toronto, New York, Los Deborah Lipstadt’s book Denying the highly on the SAT. “It dredges up Jewish survivors including Gypsies, gays Angeles, Buenos Aires, Paris and Holocaust: The Growing Assault on stereotypes and issues we really don’t and those persecuted for political beliefs Jerusalem scrutinize over 25,000 web Truth and Memory, that he was a want on the table,” said Jessica or for having helped rescue Jews. sites monthly. “Holocaust denier.” The Appeal Court Keimowitz, director of college A separate commission reviewing last year rejected his bid to overturn counseling at the New Jewish High Swiss activitties during the war NATIONAL YIDDISH that ruling. School of Greater Boston. The only Top concluded that, contrary to the widely BOOK CENTER LAUNCHES 25 university with fewer Jewish held belief in Switzerland that the country SPIELBERG DIGITAL CONCERNS GROW IN students than Vanderbilt is the had stood firm against Germany, its YIDDISH LIBRARY LITHUANIA University of Notre Dame, a Roman authorities had knowingly adopted With a $3.5 million grant from famed VILNIUS—Lithuania’s Jewish Catholic school. policies and practices that helped the director Steven Spielberg, Intel pioneer community is concerned over a Third Reich. Max Palevsky and others, the National growing number of antisemitic FRENCH RAILWAYS MARK Yiddish Book Center recently launched incidents following the more positive THE DEPORTATIONS ATTACK IN STRASBOURG the Steven Spielberg Digital Yiddish attitude of the authorities towards the PARIS—SNCF, the French national STRASBOURG—Unknown arsonists Library on the World Wide Web. The restitution of pre-World War II Jewish railway, commemorated the 60th tried to burn down a building at a Jewish project offers computer users on- property. “The Lithuanian Jewish anniversary of the first deportations of cemetery in Strasbourg following demand reprints of more than 12,000 community wants to draw attention to France’s Jewish citizens to the death attacks on synagogues and a Jewish Yiddish titles, many of which have been the increasing number of manifestations camps. The company has come under butcher’s shop over Easter weekend. out of print for generations. Today, one of antisemitism,” said a statement fire for its cooperation with the Nazis Israel’s ambassador to France said can log onto www.yiddishbooks.org and signed by community’s chairman, during WWII. Estimates of the number young Arabs were behind recent anti- search the catalog by author, title or Simonas Alperavicius. The community of Jews deported vary between 72,000 Jewish attacks that were directly linked believes the antisemitic manifestations and 80,000. Only a few thousand to the worsening Middle East violence. continued on pg. 21 TOGETHER 20 NEWS BRIEFS DEADLINE TO FILE HOLOCAUST INSURANCE continued from pg. 20 is a particularly ghastly example of the CLAIMS EXTENDED keyword and retrieve a list of items. mass murders carried out by Nazi forces Superintendent of Insurance Gregory V. Serio has advised that the deadline With technology from Pitney Bowes and in the name of ‘racial purity.’” for Holocaust survivors and their heirs to file insurance claims with the VTLS, Inc. one can find any of the The Nazis’ advance written order for International Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance Claims (ICHEIC) to available titles, purchase a copy and the mass murder referred to the operation have it digitally reproduced in short as a “resettlement” of the ghetto’s obtain benefits from any Holocaust-era insurance policies has been extended order. Later this year, Yale University inhabitants, but the ‘resettlement to September 30th. Press will be publishing English territory’ specified in the order consisted “I am pleased that the deadline has been extended which will allow for translations of the most important works of two killing pits near Slutsk. more valid claims to be honored,” said Serio. “The extended timeline gives available. Gorshkow was born in Estonia and insurance companies an opportunity to fulfill their commitments to victims of immigrated to the United States from the Holocaust who have insurance coverage. ICHEIC’s decision to extend JEWISH CHIEFS: Germany in 1951. He was naturalized the timeline will allow adequate time to collect lists of insurance policyholders ANTISEMITISM GROWING as a U.S. citizen in St. Louis County, from the companies, process them and publish the names with adequate time BRUSSELS—The executive committee Minnesota in 1963. for the public to review the lists.” of the demanded The proceedings to denaturalize The New York Holocaust Claims Processing Office stands ready to assist better protection by authorities. Gorshkow are a result of OSI’s ongoing all insurance claimants. Their toll-free telephone number is 800-695-3318. In Secretary-General Avi Beker said efforts to identify and take legal action addition, claim forms may be obtained by calling the international commission antisemitic incidents in France heralded against former participants in Nazi toll-free at (800) 957-3203 in the United States or visiting the ICHEIC Web worse to come for Jewish communities persecution residing in this country. Since site at www.icheic.org. As of Dec. 7, 2001, ICHEIC has received 20,116 in Europe. 0SI began operations in 1979, 67 Nazi U.S. claims, of which 4,794 are from New York State. “There is today an anxiety on the part persecutors have been stripped of U.S. The new deadline has been extended by ICHEIC. of Jews when they go to the religious citizenship, 55 such individuals have been centers, they go to their social centers, removed from the United States, and 165 when they send their children to school,” suspected Nazi persecutors have been JEWISH EUROPEAN LEADERS Beker said during a two-day emergency stopped at U.S. ports of entry and barred meeting of the Congress that represents from entering the country. More than 170 DISATISFIED WITH RESTITUTION groups from about 80 countries. “This is U.S residents are currently under active BUCHAREST-Jewish leaders from Slovakia and Albania couldn’t attend, quite shameful for Europe.” investigation by OSI. across Eastern Europe remain largely but sent written reports. The congress has decided to establish unsatisfied with their governments’ The fight for restitution is the most a European task force to counter HOUSE FAVORS HOLOCAUST antisemitism. TAX BREAKS efforts to return communal property pressing concern for Jewish Beker said even some of the 100 The U.S. House of Representatives and commemorate the Holocaust. communities, since returned property delegates in Brussels were verbally recently passed a bill by a vote of 392- The disappointment persists despite gives them a central space to rebuild abused on the streets and a Russian 1 that would exclude from federal taxes those governments’ interest in themselves after six decades of Nazi member was pushed around by a group any restitution payments received by addressing Jewish concerns as they and Soviet repression. It also stands as of youths who stole his hat. “This is really Holocaust victims or their heirs. Part negotiate to join the NATO military a source of income for communities that reminiscent of the worst times of of the estate tax cut passed last year, alliance. lease the property to support their Europe,” he said. “It is part of an and now the bill proceeds to the Senate Officials from 10 Central and Eastern revival. atmosphere. Not just a few hooligans.” where it faces a Senate deeply divided European Jewish communities gathered Governments in Poland, Hungary At a political level, Beker complained at the mounting red ink that is plaguing in the shadow of a NATO aspirant and the Czech Republic have all Europe is “leading the anti-Israel the federal budget. summit here March 25-26 for a addressed the issue differently: Jewish campaign.” He claimed European Union roundtable discussion organized by the leaders also reported briefly on politicians were taking too soft a line on American Jewish Committee. antisemitism in their countries and how Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat while Prime Ministers were made privy to the Arab-Israeli conflict has been being too critical of Israeli actions. SECOND the report. Jewish leaders from reported in the media. Bulgaria, , Estonia, Latvia, The most serious anti-Semitic JUSTICE DEPARTMENT GENERATION Lithuania, Macedonia, Romania, and concern comes from Hungary, where MOVES TO REVOKE U.S. CITIZENSHIP OF FORMER FILM OPENS Slovenia attended the conference, as did a Nazi-sympathizing party operates a GESTAPO INTERROGATOR leaders from Poland, the Czech radio station, despite a Hungarian law WASHINGTON, DC—The Depart- IN ARGENTINA Republic and Hungary, which entered banning political parties from owning ment of Justice initiated proceedings to NATO in 1999. Jewish delegates from private radio frequencies. revoke the US citizenship of a Panama The first public screening of the City, Florida, man based on his documentary And We Were grandchildren, family and friends, and that they are trapped in. The film was participation in the persecution and mass Children took place on March 26th, members of Jewish organizations. produced in this milieu. murder of Jews and other civilians during 2002. This Bernardo Kononovich Jewish and non-Jewish journalists, For the pessimistic and the eternal 1942 and 1943. film, is based on an original idea by human rights activists, former disbelievers, Argentinian Jews now The complaint alleges that Michael Graciela Jinich, Diana Wang and prisoners from past dictatorships, send a most powerful message, Gorshkow, 79, participated in Nazi crimes Bernardo Kononovich. The 55-minute school administrators, teachers, and delivered as the last lines by a child in Belarus while serving in the Gestapo. film was viewed in silence in a deeply general public also attended. of the Shoah: “Life is stronger than According to the complaint, Gorshkow emotional atmosphere. At the end of The press was especially helpful. Death.” was a Gestapo interpreter/interrogator at the screening, each viewer discovered The three biggest Argentine the headquarters of the German security the same feelings in the eyes of his newspapers, La Nación, Pagina 12 Help Update the police in Minsk and participated in a Nazi neighbor, resulting in a tangible bond and Clarin, covered the event and mass murder at the Jewish ghetto in of brotherhood. The experience of published articles. Radio stations gave Slutsk in February 1943. Some 3000 National Registry of these children offers new ways of generous air time, especially hosts Jewish men, women and children were looking at wars, as well as at injustice Osvaldo Quiroga and Carlos Jewish shot to death at pits or burned alive when and evil. Nazi-led forces set fire to the ghetto and Ulanovsky. Holocaust Survivors. blocked the Jews from leaving. The public represented different Argentinians are immersed in a Office of Special Investigations layers of Argentinian society. There deep feeling of despair and were, of course, many Shoah hopelessness because of the See pg. 23 Director Eli M. Rosenbaum stated, “The liquidation of the Jewish ghetto in Slutsk survivors and their children, profound economic and moral crisis TOGETHER 21 LETTERS

Evangelische Kirchengemeinde FELIKS GOLDE Lieberose und Land 1820 Ave. V, Apt. 2C Am Markt 19 Brooklyn, NY 11229 15868 Lieberose Tel 033671/2682 und 2140 I hope you can help me get some information about my parents’ fate. They lived in Bialystok and perished during the Holocaust. Since 1945 I have been searching for information through 27 March 2002 such organizations as the Russian-, Polish-, and American Red Cross, the Jewish Historical Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, Institute in Warsaw, the Jewish community in Bialystok, the Bialystoker municipal office and others. To date, I don’t even know when and where my parents were killed. In February of 1945 a deathmarch of about My father’s name was Arnold Golde, called Roman or Romek by family, relatives and 1,000 Jewish concentration camp women friends. My mother was Zofia-Sara Golde. They lived at 109 Sovetska St. (formerly 23 went through Lieberose. They came from Lipova St. or 23 Pilsudski St.). My father was the principal at Kchwoles’ Gymnasium from 1920-1925. From 1930 to Schlesiersee (GroßRosen) via Grünberg and 1939 he was a principal of the gymnasium #304 “Spoletchne” of the Society for Dissemi- Guben to our home town. nation of Knowledge Among Jews in Bialystock” at 49 Kupetska St. From Sept. 1939 to Two of them were saved by a farmer fam- June 1941 he was a teacher at High School #14 (formerly Zeligman’s Gynasium) at 4 ily, their names: Dr. Ljubica Levy (1916) and Senkevitc St. He also worked as a lecturer in the Bialystoker Pedagogic Institute. Lili Goldberger (1926), both from Subotica/Yu- I would gratefully appreciate hearing from anyone who knew my parents. I would goslavia. They stayed in Lieberose until the also appreciate hearing from any of my classmates from the Spoletchne Gymnasium (1937) summer of 1945, then went back to Yugosla- or the Lvov Polytechinc Institute (which I attended in 1939-41). via and later to Israel. Both have sons. With best wishes, After Lieberose, the march was guided to Feliks Golde Bergen-Belsen, where only a small number of the women arrived in the first days of March Charles J. Silow, Ph.D. 1945. 26645 W. Twelve Mile Road, Suite 213 The farmer family in Lieberose, Emil and Southfield, MI 48034 Gabriele Fleischer, last year were declared “Righteous Among the Nations” by the Yad My name is Dr. Charles Silow and I am writing to inform you about a Holocaust Survivor Vashem Commission of Designation of the project that we have here in Detroit that may be of interest to your readers. I am a child of Righteous. This event will be celebrated this survivors myself and have organized a project to photograph as many Holocaust survivors as summer 2002 in Lieberose. In preparation of possible along with brief biographies for posterity’s sake. So far we have photographed about this day, we are looking for any survivors of 300 survivors and we are currently exhibiting them at the Jewish Community Center in W. this deathmarch. Bloomfield, Michigan. I am enclosing a copy of the Exhibition brochure and a copy of a review from the Detroit News. We call our project, “Portraits of Honor: Detroit’s Holocaust Survivors.” With best regards, We consider this a race against time as survivors are now aging. I am writing to suggest that Andreas Weigelt other communities also undertake such an endeavor to photograph and have brief interviews to further preserve for posterity survivors’ experiences. I hope that Together, can do an article on the Exhibition and/or encourage other communities to create their own local photographic projects GSD&M-IDEA CITY as well. 828 WEST 6TH STREET I can be reached at (248)-210-4849 or (248)-542-1215. AUSTIN, TX 78703 To whom it may concern; Dear Survivor: My mother is Irene Russ, a Hungarian Jew and survivor of two concentrationcamps. A few years I am writing to ask for your help. As you know, the Office of Special Investigations, in the back I urged her to write her memories of her ordeal Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice, seeks to denaturalize and deport so the family could have some kind of record that persons living in the United States who assisted in the persecution of civilians on behalf of the would not be lost to future generations. Nazis during World War II. As hard as it was for her, she wrote down what In Connection with pending or anticipated litigation, we are interested in identifying and interviewing she could remember, or at least what she didn’t block persons who: out and put her handwritten notes together with 1) survived the Nazi liquidation of the Slutsk ghetto in February 1943; some maps, and other articles relating to the 2) can provide information regarding supposed anti-partisan actions by German-led forces in the areas near Minsk (approximately June 1942 to October 1943); or Hungarian situation in a three ring binder book for 3) who came into contact with the Gestapo or any unit of the German Security Police or SD each of her children. (Sicherheitsdienst) in the Minsk area (from June 1942 to October 1943). Unbeknownst to her, my brother, Daniel, a You may contact OSI directly by calling Jennifer Kron or Angela Thaler at (202) 616-2492. If creative director for GSD&M advertising agency you leave a message, please give your name, phone number and address. We will return your call brought this “book” to Gerry Seence (the “S” in within a few days. OSI will accept collect calls from potential witnesses, and we welcome both GSD&M) for him to read. He was so moved by her English and non-English speakers. story, he let Daniel assemble a group of professionals to publish this book under the Thank you very much for your assistance in this important matter. company’s publishing arm, Idea University Press. Jonathan C. Drimmer A small, brief, spiral bound book is the result of Senior Trial Attorney their efforts. Reading your newsletter, I saw that Office of Special Investigations you had book reviews and thought you might be Criminal Division interested in her story. If you need any help or would United States Department of Justice like more information, please send any inquiries to 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 200 Daniel Russ at 512-427-4736. Washington, D.C 20520-0001

TOGETHER 22 TOGETHER 23 We will accomplish a mission that the victims assigned to us: to collect memories and tears, frag- ments of fire and sorrow, tales of despair and defiance and names...above all names.”--Elie Wiesel HOLD THE DATE Join us in Washington, D.C.

August 27-29, 2003 Under the auspices of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. On the occasion of the Tenth anniversary of the opening of the Museum And remembering the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in 1943.

TOGETHER 24