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AMERICAN & INTERNATIONAL SOCIETIES FOR YAD VASHEM Vol. 43-No. 5 ISSN 0892-1571 May/June 2017-Iyyar/Sivan 5777 WE WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP THE FLAME OF REMEMBRANCE SHINING BRIGHT ANNUAL BENEFIT GALA IN LOS ANGELES here wasn’t an empty seat or a mentaries dealing with the incompre- forgotten…will never be twisted, dis- commitment that these heroes have T dry eye in the Beverly Wilshire hensible reality that was the torted or denied. In this room tonight, shown in becoming vital parts of their Hotel Ballroom as the American Holocaust were being produced.” Wilf we bridge a powerful nexus of communities. Society for Yad Vashem — Western announced an eight-day international, Hollywood and legacy.” As the number of Holocaust sur- Region and the Jewish Life multigenerational mission to Vienna Bill Bernstein, Western Region direc- vivors continues to diminish every Foundation hosted their annual benefit and Israel in July, 2018 marking tor of institutional advancement of day, the importance of keeping the gala on June 14, 2017. The evening Israel’s 70th anniversary year, and ASYV, recognized the 40 Holocaust memories alive plays a crucial role in honored the late Edita and Abraham invited all to participate. survivors that were in attendance and educating future generations about Spiegel family, represented by daugh- onsul General of Israel for Los introduced Max Webb, the oldest the Holocaust. Shaya Ben Yehuda, ter Rita Spiegel; the feature CAngeles Sam Grundwerg also Holocaust survivor in Los Angeles, Yad Vashem’s managing director of film Denial; and world-renowned musi- noted the contributions of the enter- who recently celebrated his 100th the International Relations Division, cian, singer and famed KISS reinforced this concept in his co-founder Gene Simmons poignant remarks, when he and his mother, Holocaust sur- stated, “We will continue to vivor Flora Klein. keep the flame of remem- Karen Sandler served as brance shining bright.” the gala chair and introduced Following video messages Chairman of the Yad Vashem from Harvard Law Professor Directorate Avner Shalev, Emeritus Alan Dershowitz and who began the program with from Deborah Lipstadt, author a powerful message welcom- of the book History on Trial: ing the guests and recogniz- My Day in Court with a ing the evening’s honorees. Holocaust Denier, on which Lenny Wilf, chairman of the feature film Denial was ASYV, enumerated several of based, Jonathan King, execu- the important areas of Yad tive vice-president of Vashem’s efforts, including Participant Media, presented the ongoing work of the the Vanguard Award to Denial Holocaust History Museum, producer Gary Foster. “We and the International School have been overwhelmed by for Holocaust Studies, which the response to the film,” said educates tens of thousands Foster. “Deborah’s story has of scholars and educators moved people to tears and throughout the world in how emboldened them to speak to teach the Holocaust to Lenny Wilf, chairman of the American Society for Yad Vashem; Gene Simmons, recipient of Legacy Award; Rita Spiegel, out. We live in a world where future generations. Lenny recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award; Gary Foster, recipient of the Vanguard Award; Ron Meier, executive director facts mean nothing and false recognized the ongoing sup- of the ASYV. narratives are everywhere. So port of the Hollywood community, tainment community, stating, “We birthday. Bernstein stated, “For me, at how do we differentiate between truth which “has for many years been an salute Hollywood to show apprecia- this challenging time in world history, and lies?” He continued, “That is why essential partner; starting in 1945, the tion for those who use their God-given Yad Vashem takes on a very special we need places like Yad Vashem. It year that marked the end of World talents and voice to insure that the meaning and responsibility. It is gives us our best chance to make an War II and the liberation of the con- stories, lessons and truths of the through the lessons learned from the impact on future generations.” centration camps, films and docu- Holocaust will never be Holocaust that we must remain vigilant “It would’ve been enough to tell in reminding the world that it is incum- Deborah’s story, but to have a film that bent on us…that without concerted elevates an issue that is so much in the effort from every corner of this earth, news and on our minds these days IN THIS ISSUE this terrible human tragedy will contin- made it even better,” Foster said. ASYV and Jewish Life Foundation Annual Benefit Gala.....................1, 8,16 ue to rear its ugly head.” “There is a difference between truth, The unbelievable heroic story of Ireland’s “Oskar Schindler”....................2 hil Blazer, founder and presi- lies and opinion. There is a difference.” The Holocaust: Who are the missing million?....................................................3 Pdent of JLTV, introduced his Ron Meier, ASYV executive direc- Roses in a Forbidden Garden.........................................................................4 long-time friend and a Holocaust sur- tor, paid tribute to the Spiegel fami- Japan and the Jews.........................................................................................5 vivor, Jack Nagel, who recited the ly, heralding their building of the The clear and present danger facing Sweden’s Jews.......................................6 HaMotzi blessing. Blazer, celebrating Children’s Memorial at Yad Vashem ASYV Annual Spring Luncheon............................................................................9 over five decades in media, reflected as Edita and Abraham’s “crowning The Mufti and the Holocaust, revisited........................................................12 on the powerful platform that JLTV achievement.” He went on to say, for children of survivors, the trauma’s in the genes..................................14 has provided in telling the stories of “What they built changed the He remarkably escaped the Holocaust........................................................15 Holocaust survivors and the deep (Continued on page 16) Page 2 MARTYRDOM & RESISTANCE May/June 2017 - Iyyar/Sivan 5777 THE UNBELIEVABLE HEROIC STORY OF IRELAND’S OVERLOOKED “OSKAR SCHINDLER” application to Yad Vashem to have its Italian government collapsed ilies from the city.” BY MICHAEL RIORDAN, local hero, who is credited with con- O’Flaherty organized a group of s the Nazis began transporting THE TIMES OF ISRAEL cealing hundreds of Jews from the priests, anti-Fascists and diplomats to A Roman Jews to the camps, Gestapo, listed as Righteous Among help shelter Jews, escaped POWs O’Flaherty walked Ines Ghiron and s the Gestapo surrounds the the Nations. and refugees. He set up a network of her friends through the Gestapo-filled A palace of an Italian anti-Fascist O’Flaherty grew up the son of a golf safe havens in rented apartments and streets relying on false Vatican papers aristocrat, an Irish priest dashes to steward in Killarney, Ireland, and his religious houses throughout Rome. for safe passage. Ghiron wrote in her the cellar. He is wanted by the Nazis skill at the game helped ease his way Claudio-Ilan Jacobi, now living in memoirs that they all arrived safely at for his role in the daring rescues of Israel, is one of the Jews a convent in Monteverde run by Jews, POWs and refugees, but this O’Flaherty saved. He was Canadian nuns. time it seems there is no escape. away from the ghetto After the Gestapo became aware of Miraculously, a coal delivery being when the Gestapo raided O’Flaherty’s activities, it painted a white made to the palace offers the perfect it. line across St. Peter’s Square, dividing cover — the cleric blackens his face, “I saw the Monsignor the neutral Vatican from Fascist-con- hides his cassock and slips away to many times,” Jacobi wrote trolled Rome. Guards were placed freedom through the narrow cobbled in his statement for Yad nearby ready to snatch the monsignor streets of Rome. Vashem. “He helped my if he ever crossed. As a result, This dramatic scene, recreated in mother, my grandparents O’Flaherty became known locally as the 1983 movie The Scarlet and the and me find refuge from the Scarlet Pimpernel because of the Black starring Gregory Peck as the Nazis.” many disguises he donned during his Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, was just “He got false papers for forays into the capital. one of a number of close shaves for us from the Vatican as well The modest monsignor only came the doughty Irish priest and Vatican as food cards,” Jacobi to public attention in the 1960s when diplomat during his heroic campaign Lieutenant General John C.H. Lee presenting the US Medal of said. “I remember the books about his exploits were pub- to thwart the Gestapo in the Eternal Freedom to Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty. great appreciation my lished. City during World War II. mother had for all he did.” Holocaust survivor Tomi Reichental, “Monsignor O’Flaherty left the safe- into Roman society. The priest played On one occasion O’Flaherty even who was the keynote speaker at the ty of the Vatican to run his escape with social luminaries such as threatened the doorman of Jacobi’s 2013 presentation of the annual line,” said Jerry O’Grady, chairman of Mussolini’s son-in-law Count apartment with excommunication for humanitarian award named in honor the Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty Galeazzo Ciano, as well as the former speaking too freely about the Jewish of O’Flaherty, told The Times of Israel Memorial Society in the priest’s Spanish King Alfonso. All his connec- family hiding inside. that “If he saved one Jew it’s as if he hometown in Killarney, Ireland. “The tions were to become very useful “The test for recognition by Yad saved thousands.” Gestapo had a price on his head and when he took on the unforeseen man- Vashem is very rigorous,” said O’Flaherty died in 1963 — just as they tried to kidnap him many times.” tle of rescuer.