Page 10 - Jewish News | November 2021

10A November 2021 FEDERATION NEWS

Our Holocaust survivors must never be forgotten

By Bette Zaret, Holocaust Education and Programming
ince 2017, the Claims Confer- munity-wide Kristallnacht and In- helps support our area survivors is must be remembered and stay in our
ence* has honored Holocaust ternational Holocaust Remembrance through its underwriting of the Jewish hearts forever. They are our living hu-
Ssurvivors each year during In- Day commemorations, paying tribute Healing Program at JFCS of the Sun- man link to the memory of the most
ternational Holocaust Survivors Night, to our local survivors, the Federation coast, which provides area survivors horrible genocide committed in mod-
an event which is celebrated on the has a Holocaust Speakers Bureau. critical case management and direct ern history. They bore witness to the
third night of Chanukah. Simultaneous During the last five years alone, over services. More than 150 survivors are empathy of the righteous, the criminal
candle lighting ceremonies take place 6,000 students have had the benefit of enrolled for services that JFCS pro- indifference of the bystanders and the
in Jerusalem, New York, Berlin, Paris, listening to a survivor speak and hear vides, including helping them to age incredible cruelty of the perpetrators.
London and Moscow. A date set aside their stories, either in person or, since in place, and to receive reparations and We should respect them, listen to them
to honor Holocaust survivors could not Covid, via Zoom. emergency financial assistance, and and learn from them while we can.
have come a moment too soon. The Federation also teams up with personalized case management. They They are the witnesses of the past and
“As we witness the passing of Ho- JFCS of the Suncoast, Gulf Coast JFCS also get the support of Rabbi Jonathan the cautionary voices of the future.
locaust survivors each day, there’s an in Clearwater and The Florida Holo- Katz, Community Chaplain and Di- They must never be forgotten.
urgency to honor them, listen to their caust Museum to celebrate Chanukah rector of the Jewish Healing Program, For information about Federation’s
experiences, recognize their suffering with Holocaust survivors in Sarasota who works in collaboration with Gulf Holocaust Education and Program-
and raise awareness about Holocaust and Manatee counties. In past years, Coast JFCS and the Jewish Materi- ming, contact me at bzaret@jfedsrq.
remembrance,” said Claims Confer- more than 150 survivors have enjoyed al Claims Against Germany (Claims org or 941.228.3676. For information
ence President Julius Berman. a wonderful meal, delightful entertain- Conference). on Holocaust Survivor Supportive
The inevitable passing of the sur- ment and good old-fashioned kibitzing This year, working with The Flor- Services, call JFCS at 941.366.2224.
vivor generation increases our respon- with one another. Since Covid preclud- ida Holocaust Museum and the State *Founded in 1951 by representatives
sibility to make sure that the history of ed an in-person Chanukah celebration of Florida Department of Health, JFCS of 23 major international Jewish or-
the Holocaust does not simply become in 2020, the survivors received a gift facilitated in-home Covid vaccinations ganizations, the Claims Conference
just a story from our past. We must in the mail. and was also able to ramp up its ongo- negotiates for and disburses funds
learn from their stories as it is imper- This year, they will receive a Cha- ing advocacy for reparations for those to individuals and organizations and
ative to honor the courage and endur- nukah gift bag with all sorts of goodies who qualify but had never applied. seeks the return of property stolen
ance of all Holocaust survivors, and to celebrate the Festival of Lights. The Indeed, our Holocaust survivors during the Holocaust.
that we carefully listen to their stories bags will be delivered to their homes
as a warning against the dangers of dis- by volunteers and staff who will help Learn about the Holocaust with
crimination and intolerance. bring holiday cheer to our beloved and
The Jewish Federation of Sara- cherished survivors, to whom we hold Classrooms Without Borders
sota-Manatee’s robust Holocaust Edu- a debt of gratitude. “Zooming” for By Bette Zaret, Holocaust Education and Programming
cation program has historically sup- Jewish holidays and celebrations, and
ported a Holocaust survivor initiative, the safe delivery of meals and special he Jewish Federation of Confronting the Complexity
the goal of which is to honor, lend sup- gifts to the doors of survivors, com- Sarasota-Manatee is pleased of Holocaust Scholarship:
port and to never forget our local Holo- bined with frequent telephone contact Tto offer our local community Reflections on the Past, Present
the opportunity to participate in two
and Future of Holocaust Studies
caust survivors who bore witness – to by JFCS, has become the new normal
continue their legacy, capture their sto- for connecting with survivors, helping enriching and fascinating Holocaust Join CWB and preeminent Holocaust
ries and learn from their experiences. them to feel less isolated. series via Zoom, through our partner- Scholar Michael Berenbaum as we
In addition to presenting our com- Another way in which Federation ship with Classrooms Without Borders explore the complexities of the field
(CWB). of Holocaust Scholarship. The rise of
Holocaust Museums antisemitism across the globe, along-
Around the World side the current data that points to a se-
A COMMEMORATION Alongside CWB scholars, we will trav- rious void in understanding about the
A COMMEMORA
TION
el monthly with museum historians, Holocaust in the 21 century, shines a
st
Join our community as we commemorate experts and contemporary witnesses to
the Night of Broken Glass. 10 different regions. We will explore
the history behind various exhibits,
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2021 discuss the nature of memory and me-
, NOVEMBER 7, 2021
A
Y
SUND
morials, and discover how the world
3:00 pm • Via Zoom remembers the Shoah and honors the
(registration required) lives we lost. We will also explore how
that memory is interconnected to geno-
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER cides, both past and present. Our ex-
AME HELEN HYDE
DAME HELEN HYDE perts will challenge us to grapple with light on a critical need to continue the

D
World renowned Holocaust issues of cultural identity, responsibili- task of Holocaust scholars to honor the
and Genocide Scholar ty to community and decision-making, memory of the Shoah. In each program
as well as ways in which individuals of this nine-part series, we will meet
and nations responded, or failed to re- top scholars in the field, and focus on
On November 9,1938, the Nazis unleashed pogroms against spond, to the crisis through close ex- their research and scholarship.
Germany’s Jewish community, known today as Kristallnacht, amination of the museums’ artifacts The monthly series began in Octo-
or the Night of Broken Glass. and memorials. ber, but you can join us for the next ses-
We remember. We commemorate. We stand up against The series started in September, sion, which takes place on Wednesday,
antisemitism and all expressions of hatred, together. but it’s not too late to join for the re- November 10 at 3:00 p.m.
mainder of the monthly series.The next To register for each of these free
session is on Thursday, November 18, series, please visit jfedsrq.org/events.
and the series will run through June For more information, contact me at
CHEVRA KADISHA CULTURE MOHEL SHABBA
bzaret@jfedsrq.org or 941.228.3676. T
2022.
SYNAGOGUE
CEMETERIES
HOLOCAUST
Ronnie Riceberg, Chair KOSHER CAMP
RSVP at jfedsrq.org/events SENIORS LONGBOAT KEY EDUCATION
ARTS
MUSIC
BRADENTON
YOUNG ADULTS
FAMILY
O
QUESTIONS? Contact Bette Zaret, 941.228.3676 YOUTH GROUP KI N G F O R S O M E T H I N G J E W I S H ? CULTURE
O
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING JEWISH?
L
YOUTH
or bzaret@jfedsrq.org ELDERLY SERVICES
JUDAICA FOOD VENICE
CHEVRA KADISHA
FIND IT IN THE DIRECTORY
HADASSAH
SYNAGOGUE
HILLEL JFEDSRQ.org/Directory EDUCATION
CULTURE
SARASOTA
941.371.4546 SUMMER CAMP MOHEL
HOLOCAUST
jfedsrq.org SOCIAL TEEN KOSHER CAMP CEMETERIES
SENIORS
SOCIAL
EDUCATION YOUTH GROUP NORTH PORT FAMILY
ARTS
SHABBAT
EDUCATION
CAMP YOUNG ADULTS BRADENTON