Vol. 38-No. 2 ISSN 0892-1571 November/December 2011-Kislev/Tevet 5772 PRESERVING THE PAST – GUARDING THE FUTURE: 30 YEARS OF ACHIEVEMENT ANNUAL TRIBUTE DINNER OF THE AMERICAN & INTERNATIONAL SOCIETIES FOR YAD VASHEM he annual gathering of the American passed on but whose spirit joins us on this and prejudice. We are always pleased to the imperative of Holocaust remembrance Tand International Societies for Yad joyous occasion. I am proud to see how far have with us and recognize the major lead- and thus help ensure that no nation – any- Vashem is an experience in remembrance we have come since that first meeting, ership of this spectacular 800 member as- where, anytime – should ever again suffer and continuity. This year the organization thanks to the generosity of all who are here sociation. a calamity of the unprecedented nature is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary. At tonight and those we remember with love. “The Young Leadership Associates are and scope that befell our people some 70 the Tribute Dinner that was held on No- We witness the growth of Yad Vashem, its the guardians of the future and will be re- years ago in Europe,” said Rabbi Lau. vember 20 at the Sheraton Hotel in New many sites and museums built, and pro- sponsible for ensuring our legacy. Recognizing the tremendous contribu- York, survivors were joined by the genera- grams established, through our efforts. “Our thoughts tonight are bittersweet; we tion of the Societies’ chairman Eli tions that are their inheritors of Jewish con- “And we see our future leaders, the remember our loved ones and all which Zborowski to the cause of Holocaust re- tinuity. Young Leadership Associates, many fol- was lost in the Holocaust, but we are en- membrance, Rabbi Lau said. The theme of the 2011 dinner was “Pre- lowing their parents’ footsteps, who are de- ergized by our determination to ensure a “Eli, I pray that the Creator of the world serving the Past – Guarding the Future: 30 termined to ensure remembrance. future free of hatred and prejeudice. I am continues to grant you a long, healthy, and Years of Achievement.” The contributions vigorous life that will enable you to carry on of 30 “Pioneers” and 30 “Visionaries” were your hallowed labor of memory, as well as recognized at this year’s event, which was to transmit your torch onwards to the com- attended by more than 800 hundred peo- ing generations.” ple, including members of the diplomatic he importance of the work of the corps, dignitaries, and heads of major Jew- TAmerican Society for Yad Vashem ish organizations, showing their support of and Eli Zborowski’s personal devotion to the Yad Vashem Memorial. Holocaust remembrance was the central The release of the biography of the theme of the speech delivered by the founder of the American Society for Yad Chairman of the Yad Vashem Directorate, Vashem, Eli Zborowski – A Life of Leader- Avner Shalev. ship: Eli Zborowski: from the Underground “As we gather to celebrate the thirty to Industry to Holocaust Remembrance, years of achievement that have marked written by Rochel and George Berman – the unique existence and activity of the was noted at the event. Under Eli American Society for Yad Vashem, I join Zborowski’s leadership more than $100 you in recalling and saluting the founding million has been raised to support the pioneers who established the Society three Holocaust Memorial. In his address to the decades ago. All were distinguished by a Dinner guests Eli Zborowski said: matchless verve and dedication to ensur- “On this 30th anniversary of the Ameri- ing remembrance of the Holocaust that can and International Societies for Yad they and their loved ones had personally Vashem, I reflect back on our courageous David Halpern, Dinner Chairman; Avner Shalev, Chairman of the Yad Vashem Directorate; Eli endured. That group of vigorous, deeply beginning, when a group of friends, dedi- Zborowski, Chairman of the American & International Societies for Yad Vashem; Ira Mitzner, Din- committed survivors has been led from the cated survivors, met to discuss the forma- ner Chairman; and Leonard Wilf, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. start by Eli Zborowski, the Society’s vision- tion of an organization committed to “Of the many endeavors the American gratified by the presence of so many ary founder. Remembrance. Firm in their resolve to Society has undertaken in recent years, friends, indeed a record number. May we “Eli Zbrowski is a dear friend and true help make Yad Vashem the world’s center none brings us more pride than the growth look forward to celebrating the next twice- partner in the ongoing mission to establish for Holocaust remembrance and educa- and development of our Young Leadership time 30 years of the Societies’ achieve- Yad Vashem in Jerusalem as the world’s tion, we established the American and In- Associates, members of the second and ment towards our 120th Anniversary.” leading institution for Holocaust remem- ternational Societies for Yad Vashem. third generations. Each year, for the past inner guest speaker Rabbi Yisrael brance. Those were the Pioneers. decade, they have sponsored a Profes- DMeir Lau, Chairman of the Yad “Eli was instilled by his parents with the “Over the years, this group of Pioneers sional Educational Conference, on various Vashem Council, talked about the utmost values of integrity, diligence, and respon- was joined by an outstanding group of Vi- themes relating to the Holocaust, that at- importance of the work that is being done sibility, as well as a strong Zionist legacy. sionaries, who were determined to ensure tracts several hundred teachers from the by the American Society and its supporters These principles have motivated him to en- the future of our organization, and through Tri-State area and beyond. By transmitting and contributors. sure the future of Holocaust commemora- this the future of Yad Vashem. the lessons of the Holocaust to present “You are the loyal guardians of the em- tion and education for generations to “We gather here tonight to pay tribute to and future generations, these young peo- bers of memory, the carriers of the torch. come. He was among the first Holocaust the Pioneers and Visionaries, those who ple are increasing awareness and fostering “Your shining example extends world- survivors to bring these goals to the center are with us today and those who have sensitivity in reducing hatred, intolerance, wide, so that others may learn from you (Continued on page 15) IN THIS ISSUE American & International Societies for Yad Vashem Annual Tribute Dinner........1, 8-9, 15 Amidst the shadows of trees........................................................................................................4 Diaries reveal how much wartime Germans knew.........................................................5 The schoolgirl who survived the Holocaust by fooling the Nazis................................6 Ignoring Romania’s Holocaust complicity: Not an option............................................7 Unraveling the Mengele mystery......................................................................................7 Rare survivor attends Israeli memorial.........................................................................10 Heroic tale of Holocaust, with a twist.............................................................................11 Recipes recall darker days............................................................................................11 Grandchildren of Nazis delve into family past..............................................................12 Elusive justice: The search for Nazi war criminals......................................................14 Page 2 MARTYRDOM & RESISTANCE November/December 2011 - Kislev/Tevet 5772 HOLOCAUST MASS GRAVES MEMORIALIZED HITLER’S FIRST “OFFICIAL” PLAN TO MURDER JEWS he Lo Tishkach Foundation, in coop- from Jonathan J. Rikoon, facilitated by the BOUGHT BY HOLOCAUST ORGANIZATION Teration with the Association of Jew- United States Commission for the Preser- he first known document in which At the time of the letter, Hitler was in Mu- ish Communities of Ukraine (VAAD) and vation of America’s Heritage Abroad. TAdolf Hitler wrote about the “irrevo- nich, where he was struggling to find a pur- the United States Commission for the Memorial stones were to be inaugurated cable removal” of Jews has been bought pose after the slaughter in the trenches of Preservation of America’s Heritage in Baryshivka, Fastiv, Dymer, Brovary, and by a Holocaust museum in Los Angeles. WWI. Abroad, is commemorating the mass mur- Tarascha. The 1919 diatribe charts his plans for In July that year he was appointed a po- ders of Jews in Ukrainian towns with the The memorialization of these sites marks their extermination a full 21 years before lice spy of an intelligence commando when setting of memorial stones at these sites, the first stage in a vast renovation and the massacres began in Russia and in he was sent to infiltrate the German Work- marking 70 years since the mass killings memorialization project currently under- death camps in occupied Poland. ers’ Party. of Jews during the Holocaust. taken by the Lo Tishkach Foundation, The paper, known as the “Gemlich Let- However, he became obsessed with the which was set up in 2006 by the Confer- ter,” was sent to Adolf Gemlich, who was notion of a “non-Jewish” idea of Socialism ence of European Rabbis and the Confer- in charge of the post-World War I German and liked the anti-Semitic, anti-Marxist ence on Jewish Material Claims