Vol. 33-No.5 ISSN 0892-1571 May/June 2007-Sivan/Tammuz 5767 ver 200 people attended the American Society for Yad Vashem Annual Spring American and International Societies for Yad Vashem. Gladys’s involvement in OLuncheon, in tribute to a Woman’s Legacy: Not by Might, Not by Power, But philanthropic causes and her efforts to enhance the lives of the Jewish people, with Love, held on Thursday, May 3, 2007 at the Park Avenue Synagogue. This both in the United States and Israel, is seen through her support of Israel Bonds, year’s Luncheon was made especially meaningful by the active participation of Yad Vashem, American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), Jewish National many members of the third generation, who expressed their commitment to carry Fund (JNF), Hadassah and numerous other American and Israeli Jewish organizations. the torch for the Legacy of Remembrance. Adina Shainker Burian, Young Rita Levy of Roslyn, New York was presented with an award recognizing her ded- Leadership Associate Board Member and this year’s Spring Luncheon ication to Remembering the Past and her commitment to use her creative talents Chairperson, led the way for members of this new group. to further Holocaust Awareness and Education by Julie Schwartz Kopel, a Young Yonina Gomberg, granddaughter of Gladys Halpern and member of the third gen- Leadership Associate Board Member and member of the third generation. eration, introduced Gladys Halpern of Hillside, New Jersey, who received an award Mrs. Levy is deeply committed to Israel, Holocaust Remembrance and Jewish recognizing her Resistance and Courage in the Face of the Holocaust and her cultural preservation. Her father, Nathan Katz z’l was a Member of the Board of the Commitment to Pass the Lessons and Legacy of the Shoah to her children and American Society of Yad Vashem and the American Gathering of Holocaust grandchildren. Survivors. Mrs. Levy and her mother, Sima Katz, were founding members of the Mrs. Halpern, a Holocaust survivor, is active in numerous Jewish communal International Women’s Division of YIVO. Rita was a founding member of the San organizations. Since its inception, she has been a member of the American Society Francisco Jewish Community Federation Working Women’s Forum and has for Yad Vashem Spring Luncheon Committee and a member of the Annual Tribute served on the Strategic Planning Committee of the Brandeis-Hillel Day School. In Dinner Committee. Her husband, Sam Halpern, is the Vice Chairman of the addition she is active in many other American and Israeli organizations. “MAY YOU EACH GO "M'CHAYIL L'CHAYIL"” and Sima Katz. Nathan and Sima are out- ELI ZBOROWSKI, CHAIRMAN OF THE standing examples of the partnership of AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR YAD VASHEM which I just spoke. They rose from the ashes of the Holocaust to build a life for ommittee Chairperson, Elizabeth themselves and their family in the United Wilf; Luncheon Chairperson, Adina C States. While the German Nazi war Burian; Guests of honor Gladys Halpern machine annihilated most of their extend- and Rita Levy, and Dear Friends: ed family, it could not rob the Katzes of At our first Spring Luncheon seven their basic value system. Perseverance, years ago, we honored the noted optimism and acts of chesed which were Holocaust scholar Professor Nechama ingrained in them before the war are the Tec. At that time, Prof. Tec talked about values that they have ably passed along gender differences during the Holocaust. to their children and grandchildren. Rita She said that men and women traveled has enthusiastically embraced her par- different roads to their final destination. ents' legacy and is committed to its per- While husbands and fathers were the first petuation through her children. to suffer public humiliation and instant or the first time this year, members death, mothers and wives struggled to of the Third generation, represented keep their starving families away from F by our Young Leadership Associates, death. Together, men and women, and have taken a prominent leadership role in each in their own way, demonstrated 2007 Spring Luncheon Honorees Gladys Halpern and Rita Levy with Eli Zborowski , Chairman of this luncheon. We are grateful for the ded- enormous resilience and courage. the American Society for Yad Vashem. Park Avenue Synagogue, New York City, May 3, 2007. ication of Caroline Massel, Chair of the Ultimately, however, one's "Jewishness" new lives in new lands. While husbands engaged with our organization in Young leadership Associates; Adina rather than gender was the determining and fathers went out to make a living, Holocaust remembrance. The survivor Burian, Luncheon Chair; and Yonina factor in annihilation. wives and mothers became the backbone generation is represented by Elizabeth Gomberg and Julie Kopel, Luncheon Co- It is not surprising that following the war, of family and communal life. It was the Wilf, this year's Committee Chairperson Chairs. Our choice of a Guest Speaker survivors sought mates who had shared women that enabled families to flourish and last year's honoree, and by Gladys was also informed by our desire to be this horrific life-experience. Who else, and the tenacity of these partnerships that Halpern, whom we are privileged to honor future-oriented. Kevin Haworth is part of a other than another survivor, could possi- made possible the establishment of formal today. As a mother, grandmother, great- cadre of gifted young writers in their thir- bly understand what we had been organizations for commemorating the Shoah. grandmother and a person who has lent ties and forties who have chosen to through? In marriage, we forged partner- This afternoon's program is a celebra- her vitality to numerous communal organ- explore Holocaust themes in their work. ships that produced families and created tion of successive generations of women izations, Gladys is a role model for her We are pleased that Kevin accepted our family and for all women. invitation to share his thoughts and reflec- ince its inception, Gladys and Sam tions with us this afternoon. I would also IN THIS ISSUE SHalpern have been active with the like to acknowledge the efforts of Rachelle American Society for Yad Vashem. Grossman, our Events Coordinator who, The American Society for Yad Vashem Spring Luncheon..................................1, 8-9 Gladys owes her survival to a Christian together with the staff, is responsible for Yom Hashoah observed around the world...............................................................2,7 family who hid her and her mother during the Luncheon arrangements. Resisting the Nazis despite the odds...........................................................................5 the war. As an expression of gratitude, the On behalf of the American Society for The secret life of Britain’s Ann Frank...........................................................................6 Halperns who are Yad Vashem benefac- Yad Vashem I thank all of you for partici- To be a woman in the Holocaust.................................................................................10 tors supported the refurbishment of Yad pating in this wonderful event. I conclude Holocaust exhibit in France a vital lesson...............................................11 Vashem's Avenue of the Righteous by extending a heartfelt mazel-tov to How one man can make a difference....................................................................................................12 Among the Nations The crimes of I.G. Farben.........................................................................13 Gladys Halpern and her family and to Rita Rita Levy is a member of the Second Teaching of Holocaust must focus on ugly truth......................................................13 Levy and her family. May you each go Generation, whom we are delighted to Holocaust survivor died saving students’ lives........................................................14 "m'chayil l'chayil" from strength to strength. honor today as well. She is the proud Ambitious Nazi counterfeiting plot recalled by Holocaust survivor.......................15 daughter of survivors Nathan Katz, z’l (Coverage continues on pages 8-9) Page 2 MARTYRDOM & RESISTANCE May/June 2007 - Sivan/Tammuz 5767 YOM HASHOAH OBSERVED AROUND THE WORLD U.S., MANHATTAN, NY: The Holocaust vivors lighting candles with their grown The annual Yom Hashoah commemora- and read out names of members of their is a grim reminder that Jews must be grandchildren. tion attracted a multi-generational group families who perished during the tragedy. active in stopping genocide anywhere in *** of local participants, ranging from elderly the world, Sen. Charles Schumer warned U.S.,QUEENS, NY: The Queens Jewish Holocaust survivors and military veterans at a candlelit ceremony in lower Manhattan Community Council, along with the of World War II to school children from marking Holocaust Remembrance Day. Queens Jewish Historical Society and communities throughout South Florida. “Thinking of the Holocaust should move Congregation Toras Emeth on April 15 Miami-Dade County is home to nearly us to fight other genocides as strongly as presented “Fighting Back: The Jewish 3,800 Holocaust survivors and more than we can,” he told more than 1,000 people – Resistance to Nazi Tyranny.” Keynote 4,800 children of Holocaust survivors. including survivors of the Nazi death speaker was Sam Bloch, a Warsaw This year’s Yom Hashoah program camps – at the Museum of Jewish Ghetto freedom fighter. Also in attendance included an intergenerational