Page 23 - Jewish News | November 2021

JEWISH INTEREST November 2021 23A

First global searchable database contains more than Aging Jewishly – What our traditions teach us about growing old

2,500 official Jewish discrimination Acts over 2,000 years The Holocaust’s official beginning

compels the story of an extraordinary man

have many others), but few are aware By Rabbi Barbara Aiello
that official Jewish discrimination has t was November 9 and 10, 1938, Marceau. We became friends, most- Marceau recalled how he em- aging friends, that he shared these re-
been going on for almost 2,000 years when the streets of major German ly because our connection was more ployed his pantomime skills to encour- markable and important memories.
and in so many different parts of the Icities were covered with sparkling than theatrical. Marceau and I bond- age the little ones not to speak. And This year, as we approach the 83
rd
world. This compendium of Official shards of glass, but unbeknownst to ed as Jews, however it would be sev- being an accomplished magician, he anniversary of the beginning of the
Anti-Jewish Acts reaches back 2,000 the world, those eral more decades before I learned of performed sleight-of-hand tricks for Holocaust, Marcel Marceau’s story be-
years to authoritatively verify the per- pieces were the Marceau’s creative courage at saving a group of Nazi guards, who were so comes even more poignant, especially
sistence of this pernicious hatred.” initial testimony Jewish children from certain death at mesmerized that they didn’t notice that because he waited so long to share it.
to the unspeak- the hands of the Nazis. the children had walked right through In care facilities throughout the world
able Nazi horror
REWARDS yet to come. Of- Mangel and grew up Jewish in Stras- over the years, it was only shortly be- caust stories that need to be heard. If
Point your cell camera at this QR code REWARDS Marcel Marceau was born Marcel the checkpoint to freedom. there are survivors who have Holo-
Although we maintained contact
Point your cell camera at this QR code
bourg, France. For more than 60 years
you know someone with a story to tell,
UP TO
ficials did noth-
UP TO
STOPPERS
STOPPERS $ 3000 $ 3000 he performed professionally in what he fore his death in 2007 that Marceau encourage them to speak up. On this
ing while Jewish
disclosed his work with the French Re-
called “the art of silence.” As a small
year’s Kristallnacht memorial day, in
homes, businesses
of Sarasota County
Pd by CSTF of Sarasota County sarasota crimestoppers.com sarasota crimestoppers.com FOR ANONYMOUS TIPS and synagogues boy he imitated the antics of Charlie sistance and how he was able to save honor and memory of those lost, those
Pd by CSTF Pd by CSTF
FOR ANONYMOUS TIPS
were destroyed.
Rabbi Barbara Aiello
941-366-TIPS THAT LEAD TO AN ARREST Streets were littered with broken glass, Chaplin, amusing his friends while he the lives of Jewish children. In fact, saved and those like Marcel Marceau
941-366-TIPS
THAT LEAD TO AN ARREST
Marceau, an acclaimed international
who were the saviors, if you have yet
developed his craft.
When the Nazis invaded France,
SEE SOMETHING? SAY SOMETHING!
SEE SOMETHING? SAY SOMETHING! so much so that the rampage became Marceau was only 16 years old, but he performer who starred in dozens of to share your own story, now is the
SEE SOMETHING? SAY SOMETHING!
time to consider doing so.
known as “Kristallnacht” or “The
films and theatrical productions, had
Night of Broken Glass” – the event knew enough to change his surname to this to say about his life: “My greatest Rabbi Barbara Aiello served Aviva
that marks the official beginning of the Marceau in order to hide his identity. accomplishment was guiding the chil- Senior Living in Sarasota as resident
Holocaust. He joined the French resistance, forg- dren to safety.” rabbi for 10 years. She now lives and
Kristallnacht happened 83 years ing new identity cards for desperate Marceau spoke those words from works in Italy where she is rabbi of
ago. Forty years ago, I found myself in Jewish families. his apartment in an assisted living fa- Italy’s first Reconstructionist syna-
Australia, where I chanced to meet an Later, his dedication to orphaned cility where he spent the last two years gogue. You may reach her at Rabbi@
extraordinary man who, 14 years ago, Jewish children led him to con- of his life. And it was there, among his RabbiBarbara.com.
passed away quietly in an assisted liv- coct a daring plot to save nearly 100
ing community in the south of France. six-, seven- and eight-year-olds whom Rabbi Barbara Aiello’s most popular
The man I met in Adelaide, Aus- Marceau had in his care. Posing as a
tralia, all those many years ago was a scout leader assigned to take these columns are now published in her new
performer. At that time, I worked in youngsters on a hike, Marceau had
the theater as well. Our professional his charges dress in heavy coats, hats, book, Aging Jewishly, available on
puppet troupe provided the opening act scarves and boots and follow him in a
for none other than the world-famous dangerous trek over the Alps to safe Amazon. It makes a great Chanukah gift!
pantomime artist, the great Marcel passage into Switzerland.

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