Nathan & Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center A program of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation BOARD OF DIRECTORS: STAFF: Arleen Peltz, Chair Dr. Shay Pilnik, Executive Director Bill Appel Mary Jo Layden Brittany R. Hager McNeely, Director Danny Arnstein Mark Miller of Education & Engagement Gene Bass Mary Munson Murphy Dr. Dan Haumschild, Holocaust Fellow The Nathan & Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center Dr. Rachel Baum Dr. Monica Olague-Marchan Ronna Bromberg Pachefsky Bruce Peckerman Kari Altman, Coordinator of WINTER 2018 NEWSLETTER Gitta Chaet Joe Peltz Outreach & Public Relations Betty Chrustowski Miriam Peltz Judy O’Hara, Administrative Assistant Our Mission Joe Devorkin Harry Pelz Dave Fantle Rick Rocamora Sara Sillars, Educator The Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Howard Frankenthal Judy Schwerm Education Resource Center (HERC) is Bev Greenberg Matt Seigel Pictured right: Jodi Habush Sinykin Rabbi Ron Shapiro Pinat Hatikvah, A Corner of Hope – dedicated to building a better world, Nancy Kennedy Barnett Brad Shovers an outdoor space dedicated to life after the embracing diversity, and confronting Becky Komisar Holocaust, situated on the Milwaukee Jewish Federation’s Karl Jewish Community racism and hatred by teaching the Campus in Whitefish Bay. lessons of the Holocaust. NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION Milwaukee Jewish Federation, Inc. US POSTAGE PAID 1360 N. Prospect Ave. MILWAUKEE, WI Rose Keeps Smiling Milwaukee, WI 53202-3094 PERMIT NO. 5632 ose Cygler was born in the small joying life. Rose got pleasure from town of Strzemieszyce, Poland, cooking the many ethnic dishes R on March 18, 1923, to Yachet and she had learned from her mother Yosel Cygler. She was the oldest of three and grandmother in Poland, and brothers and a sister, and enjoyed a their home was always filled with happy and loving childhood. When the friends and food. Her special- Germans invaded Poland in September ty was gefilte fish made from 1939, life changed quickly and dramat- scratch, which she shared with ically. Many of their non-Jewish neigh- her family and a few fortunate bors, whom they had grown up with, friends every holiday. turned their backs on Rose’s family. For more than two years, they lived under When their children were grown, the oppression of the Nazis. In 1942, Nazi Rose and Arthur bought a sec- soldiers came to their door and assured ond home in Florida and loved them that if one family member “volun- spending winters there. Arthur teered” to work in a labor camp, the rest passed away in 1998, and Rose, of the family would remain safe. Rose, devastated, found the strength to being the oldest, told her parents to stay 12 year old Rose go on without the love of her life. with her siblings, and she “volunteered” to save her family. When, soon after She joined the JCC and became a the Nazi lie became apparent, her father was sent to Buchenwald concen- regular in the water aerobics class. tration camp and her mother and siblings were She spent time with her family and Newlyweds, 1946 murdered in Auschwitz. went out often with her friends. After being transported to numerous work camps As Rose approaches her 95th birthday, she is blessed with her three daughters, and surviving hard labor, starvation, and typhus, 5 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, and many friends. If you see her walk- Rose was liberated from Bergen-Belsen Concentra- ing down the halls of Chai Point, you will always see a big smile on her face! tion Camp by the English army on April 15, 1945. At 22 years old, she did everything she could to find her family. She heard that her father was in a hospi- tal in Buchenwald concentration camp. On the train ride there, she met the man who was to become her husband, Arthur Chrustowski. They both went to see 15 year old Rose Rose’s father, who died of typhus soon after. Rose and Arthur married in Germany in September 1945. They traveled back to Poland together to see if they could find any members of their families, but, tragically, no one but them had survived. Several years later, in Germany, their first daughter was born, and in 1949 they emigrated to We thank Cantor Karen & Elliot Berman for helping to secure the the United States and settled in Milwaukee. With no finances, no trade, no future of Holocaust education in Wisconsin. family, and only speaking Yiddish, they worked hard and raised a family “We believe that the most effective barrier to repeating the terrible events of three daughters. Rose worked alongside Arthur to help support their of the past is effective education in the present. That is how we can family. When they were able to buy a grocery store, she worked long hours ensure that “we will never forget” and why we made a legacy gift to the there while still cooking and taking care of their children. Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center. With this The Holocaust survivors in Milwaukee became Rose and Arthur’s extended gift we honor the memory of Karen’s mother and grandparents who family. They loved going out, traveling, spending time with friends, and en- Rose & Arthur’s 50th Anniversary, 1995 survived the Holocaust, as well as those family members who did not.” For more information on Legacy giving to HERC, contact Dr. Shay Pilnik at [email protected] 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 2017. From the Chair & Executive Director Andi Abraham Bob & Susie Fono Scott Lone Robert Salchek Rabbi Steven & Gail Adams Berri Forman David & Madeleine Lubar Karen Samelson s two members of the leadership team of the Nathan and Esther Pelz of survivors who can no longer bear witness to Michael & Kari Altman Diane & Bill Forman Maureen Luddy Scott & Peggy Sampson Holocaust Education Resource Center, we are proud to present you their stories of suffering and perseverance. For Joyce & Al Altman Chris Francis Toby Lukoff Jayne Schmerling with the newest edition of our newsletter. We hope that, like all the those who survived the Shoah, not only were they David & Terry Amrani Kristy Frank Dr. Richard Lux Sandy Schmidt A Esther & Ric Ancel Howard & Jaynie Frankenthal Mark & Staci Maiman Alan Schneider programs and activities that we run throughout the year, you will find its con- scarred for life, but as the world could not bear to tent both thought-provoking and inspiring. remember, they could not bear to forget. After the Bill & Elaine Appel Frances Franklin Sandy Mallin Susie & Steve Schneiderman Rachel Apple Linda Freeman John & Annette Malloy Six Day War, remembrance of the Holocaust be- School District of Oostburg Thanks to our survivors, second generation speakers, Holocaust educators and Tanya & Bruce Arbit Yale & Nancy Freiman Norm Malmon came central to American Jewish consciousness. Rebecca Schwartz & Tim Truel the many volunteers and donors who have followed in their footsteps, our or- Brent Arnold Belle Anne Freund Susan Marcus Judy & Gerald Schwerm When Elie Wiesel’s book “Night” was published, it ganization has witnessed tremendous growth in recent years: in public interest Monica Arnstein Friess Lake School District Alan & Rita Marcuvitz Marsha Sehler allowed many non-Jews to draw close to Wiesel Art Arnstein Clemmie Fromer Ann Margolis in the Holocaust, in our programs’ quality and quantity, and in our outreach to Matt Seigel and through him, to confront the Holocaust. Danny & Randi Arnstein Judy & Doug Garfinkel Rachel & David Marks Marlene Seinfeld over 21,000 students and adults across the state of Wisconsin. When surveying Romaine Backer William Gartenberg Lee Marnett Arleen Peltz Mary Anne & Denny Selby the gamut of programs that we have run since our last newsletter, it is hard Today, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Bader Philanthropies Bruce Gendelman Bonnie Medved Helaine Shackman not to be impressed by the power of HERC. From Linda Hooper’s compelling Washington, D.C. is a focal point of Holocaust Rosie & Michael Bamberger Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Daniel Meissner Edie & Neil Shafer Melanie & Marcus Bandos Jill & Robert Gershan Janet Meister presentation on the Paperclip Project before 400 Milwaukee area middle and Remembrance, but many do not know of the long Barbara Shafton Barbara Ann Stein Charitable Lead Trust Calvin & Rena Gershowitz Robert Meldman high school students at Congregation Shalom, through Bill Marks’ workshop struggle to build this memorial. The museum will Dr. Amy Shapiro and talk about the history of Holocaust reparations and property restitution, to forever serve as a warning about the dangers of Nancy & Jim Barnett Gigi Bridal Shop Caryn Melton Steve & Judy Baruch Sara Gimbel Howard Melton Rabbi Ron & Judy Shapiro our current series on the Holocaust in Greece—these are mere examples of the unchecked hatred. We recognize the profound im- Gene & Marilee Bass Jeffrey Gingold Barrie Merar Charlotte Shavzin potency of our organization and its commitment to education. pact of both national and international Holocaust Dr. Rachel Baum & Orrick Nahmmacher Peggi & Bruce Glaser Danielle Merrill Yakich Peter & Arlene Shelley education organizations. Yet, this is not enough Doris Shneidman Thanks to the generosity of our community and its support of HERC’s critical Amy & Adam Bazelon Michael Goldman Steen Metz —and it is thanks to local Holocaust organizations Irving & Muriel Becker Roselyn Goldman Richard Meyer Pamela Shovers mission—to build a better world, predicated on the values of tolerance and like HERC, that Holocaust education can reach Stephen & Barbara Becker Phyllis Goldman Mark & Goldi Miller Brad & Marilyn Shovers diversity, dignity and respect to all human beings—we have been able to both public and parochial schools, communities in Al & Ruth Beder Kelly & Sheila Goodman Felicia & Jamie Miller Gladys Shukur make some significant additions to our staff that we would like to introduce to Sid Grinker Restoration the inner city and suburbs as well as small towns Jay Beder Idy Goodman Norm Mishelow you in this newsletter.