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Nathan & Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center A program of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation BOARD OF DIRECTORS: STAFF: Bev Greenberg, Chair Dr. Shay Pilnik, Executive Director Kari Altman Mark Miller Brittany R. Hager McNeely, Director Bill Appel Mary Munson Murphy of Education & Engagement The Nathan & Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center Danny Arnstein Dr. Monica Olague-Marchan Sara Sillars, Educator Nancy Kennedy Barnett Ronna Bromberg Pachefsky Alaina Winston, Intern WINTER 2017 NEWSLETTER Gene Bass Lynne Pearson Dr. Rachel Baum Bruce Peckerman Our Mission Gitta Chaet Arleen Peltz The Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Betty Chrustowski Joe Peltz Pictured right: Joe Devorkin Miriam Peltz Pinat Hatikvah, A Corner of Hope – Education Resource Center (HERC) is Howard Frankenthal Harry Pelz an outdoor space dedicated to life after the Holocaust, situated on the dedicated to building a better world, Lorraine Hoffmann Judy Schwerm Milwaukee Jewish Federation’s Karl Becky Komisar Rabbi Ron Shapiro Jewish Community Campus in embracing diversity, and confronting Mary Jo Layden Jodi Habush Sinykin Whitefish Bay. racism and hatred by teaching the lessons of the Holocaust. ‘Hate is a Terrible Thing’: The Story of Albert Beder from Kovno NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION By Jeff Beder Milwaukee Jewish Federation, Inc. US POSTAGE PAID 1360 N. Prospect Ave. MILWAUKEE, WI s a member of the Speakers Bureau, my father, Albert Beder, has Living conditions became Milwaukee, WI 53202-3094 PERMIT NO. 5632 spoken to dozens of school groups. I have witnessed many of desperate because of overcrowding these talks and seen the faces of middle school students as they and lack of food; additionally all A listened intently to his story of nightmare and survival. Over the of their possessions were taken. years, dad has distilled his presentation to include sufficient detail without Thirteen year old Albert burned his overwhelming the students. At the end of his talk, when he asks if there beloved stamp collection rather are any questions, someone always asks “what is your message from this than hand it over to the Nazis. experience?” He always responds, “Hate is a terrible thing.” His message According to Albert, this was a of tolerance and refusal to blame an entire group of people for the evil time when the Jews were basically actions of some, leaves the students with hope for a better world. robbed of everything including gold during the Gold Accion Albert was born in Kovno, Lithuania, on June 13, 1928. From his (Action). In July of 1941, the first large scale killing took place at the descriptions, life in Kovno was simple and his family, which comprised Seventh fort (a military fortification built by the Tsar). Five thousand his parents, and five siblings, were poor but happy. His father worked in a people were killed. This action was the beginning of the implementation men’s clothing store, and they lived in a one room apartment. Albert of the Final Solution in this part of Eastern Europe. experienced anti-Semitism, including when he was enrolled in a Jewish School and reported of the occasional beatings if the local Maccabi soccer On October 28th, all remaining twenty seven thousand ghetto residents team was victorious over the Christian team. At this time, the Russians were ordered to appear in a large field called Democratic Square. A sergeant were in control of Kovno, and the local Jewish population felt a sense of named Rauca sat in the middle of the field deciding which families would security. This all changed for Albert and the Jews of Kovno on June 21, go to the left and live and which would go to the right and die. It was that 1941; the day that the Germans invaded Lithuania. simple, with the pointing of his finger he made the determination. Ten thousand people sent to the right, ended up in the Ninth Fort, where they Albert was 13 years old and had just gone to Palange (a resort town on were murdered. Fortunately, Albert and family were selected to go to the the Baltic Sea) where he was attending a summer camp. There were many left. Now, it was up to his ability to work that would determine his survival. young people from different backgrounds, and it seemed like it was going Being young and strong, Albert worked hard at an airfield, sometimes to be a wonderful experience. Very early in the morning on June 22, 1941, working double shifts for others including his father. His older sister Luba the peace was shattered by the sound of artillery. The Germans had invaded. helped bring in food by sneaking out of the ghetto to bring back potatoes. Albert and the others grabbed their belongings and started running north. One day, she got caught because her footprints in the snow left a trail. But they were quickly overrun, captured and sent back to Palange. There She was beaten severely for that action. Albert felt responsible for her they slept overnight in a barn. punishment because he was supposed to cover up her tracks. He always Albert and about 250 other people, including felt bad about it. babies, were put into a synagogue for two days with no toilets and little food and water. He was wise enough to know that hate is a terrible The crowded inhuman conditions made it hard to breathe. Fortunately, a German thing and hating the hater only hurts oneself. Maybe officer gave the order to break the windows forgiveness isn’t the right word, but refusing to harbor of the synagogue. While this action defaced the holy building, it provided fresh air for the hate and blame allows for peace in one’s soul. inhabitants who were choking. They stayed in Palange for two weeks, forced to endure In October of 1942, the family was moved out of the ghetto to the city of scorn and laughter by the Germans and Riga in Latvia. The city had become a labor camp run by the Luftwaffe, Lithuanians while having to burn Torahs of the German air force. In September of 1943, the SS took over command and the synagogue and Soviet books and flags. Albert Beder the camp now became part of a larger concentration camp known as When he returned to Kovno, he discovered Kaiserwald. Conditions worsened as the commandant named Zorge would We thank Harry and Marilyn Pelz for years of dedication that his two older brothers had fled to Russia and his little sister, who had call evening roll calls (Appelplatz), where people had to stand outside in to HERC and for their generous Create a Jewish Legacy gift, been lost in the confusion, was gone. (He later discovered that she had the cold and listen to him cuss and belittle them. He would always warn helping to secure the future of Holocaust education in been adopted by a Lithuanian couple who saved her; she survived the them that at in the last five minutes they would all perish. During this Wisconsin. war). Albert also found out that his uncle had been shot by Lithuanians; period, Albert’s father fell ill and passed away. Through all of this, Albert but at least Albert was back with his mother and father and two sisters. maintained his will to survive. For more information on Legacy giving to HERC, contact The Jews were moved to the Slobodka ghetto of Kovno. Thirty thousand In May of 1944, Albert worked at an airfield in Ponyenvich. Later, they were Dr. Shay Pilnik at [email protected] people were now crammed inside of barbed wire with armed guards. sent to Stuthoff in Northern Germany. It was there that he saw his mother and sisters for the last time; they did not survive. Continued on page 7 8 This newsletter is generously supported by Jim & Nancy Barnett. 1 HERC DONORS & VOLUNTEERS We would like to thank the following people for supporting the Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center in 2016. From the Chair Rabbi Steven & Gail Adams Friess Lake School District Sari Luber Fredric & Rena Safer Kari & Michael Altman Clemencia Fromer Maureen Luddy Steven & Kelly Savatski he Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center I am immeasurably grateful to our precious Ric & Esther Ancel Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc., Michele Ludvigsen Sandy Schmidt is dedicated to remembering and honoring the victims and survivors and their Speaker Series, to our Bill & Elaine Appel Calvin & Rivka Gershowitz Dr. Richard Lux Elizabeth Schneider T survivors of the Holocaust. The organization is committed to volunteers, staff and board. Our board is Steven Appel Sara Gimbel Mark & Staci Maiman School District of Fort Atkinson reaching out to children, youth, universities and our communities to dedicated and proud to serve our Bruce & Tanya Arbit Frank & Anne Gimbel Alejandro Marchan Amalia Schoone inspire people to be tolerant and respectful. We encourage an organization especially during these Brent Arnold Jeffrey Gingold Susan Marcus Judy & Gerald Schwerm understanding and appreciation of individual differences. The lessons we challenging times. We see and have Danny Arnstein Sam & Terri Gingold Ann Margolis Joseph Sectzer teach learned from the horrors of the Holocaust are needed, unfortunately, documented changes in behaviors in Alfred & Isabel Bader Jeffrey & Terri Gingold Barbara Matz Marsha Sehler more today than ever before. Working with approximately 100 schools middle schools after our volunteers and staff Rosie & Mike Bamberger Alan Goldberg Sally Jo Michalko Edie Shafer Jim & Nancy Kennedy Barnett Anna Goldstein Mark & Goldi Miller Rabbi Ron & Judy Shapiro per year, HERC partners with both public and parochial schools, with the teach the students about the Holocaust and Gene & Marilee Bass Bill & Idy Goodman Shirlyn Miller Dr. Amy Shapiro Milwaukee Public School system (MPS), the largest district in the state, the necessity of respect for ALL people.

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