Martyrdom & Resistance, May/June 2009

OMEN, RESISTANCE & RENEWAL THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR YAD VASHEM ANNUAL SPRING LUNCHEON Over 200 attendees at the American Society for Yad Vashem Annual Spring Luncheon gathered in the Pegasus Suites of the Rainbow Room on the sunny afternoon of May 21st to honor two distinguished members of the survivors’ community, Stella Skura and Anna Erlich. After greeting the audience, the Chairwoman of the Luncheon, Marilyn Rubenstein said: «I Д/ e gather here in support of Yad V V Vashem, the Jewish People's National Memorial to the Holocaust, and the largest repository of documents on the events that befell our people in recent his¬ tory. Yad Vashem is the institution serving as the keeper of the legacy of the Six Million Kedoshim and Survivors for gener¬ ations to come. “This year's theme is Women, Resistance & Renewal, and we are pleased to honor two women, Stella Skura and Anna Erlich, who have dedicated their lives to remembering the Shoah and passing on to their children and communi¬ ties that it is not a mere commemorative act, but a sacred legacy. “I am honored to introduce our esteemed and dedicated founder and Chairman, Eli Zborowski. Eli continues to be the driving force behind the American Society for Yad Vashem. For close to 30 years he has worked tirelessly in the name of Remembrance. Those who wish to deny that the atrocities of the Holocaust ever happened will have people everywhere who will be fortified with the knowledge to prove them wrong. We who are commit¬ ted to this cause now, including the third generation, are following his lead. Constantly mindful that the world never forgets, Eli, along with Yad Vashem, works to make sure that the world is armed to prove wrong those who would deny the Holocaust. “Today, we celebrate our accomplish¬ ments and reaffirm our commitment to Yad Vashem by acknowledging the sur¬ vivors who triumphed over tremendous adversity, rebuilding their lives. We also salute the contributions of our Young Leadership to the noble cause of Remembrance. We all derive inspiration from our Chairman and founder, Eli Zborowski.” In his speech, the Chairman of the American Society for Yad Vashem, Eli Zborowski, said: K”T” дтег|сап Society for Yad I Vashem’s achievements are evi¬ dent throughout the Yad Vashem land¬ scape in Jerusalem. They include more than thirty major projects which have ren¬ dered Yad Vashem as the Global Guardian of Holocaust Remembrance. For this, I owe a personal debt of gratitude to all of you who continue to support our endeavors. I would also like to acknowledge the role of my wife, Elizabeth Zborowski, who served as a sounding board for ideas and who worked along with our staff in making this afternoon a success. “In 1997, we inaugurated our Young Leadership Associates. They have since grown from a handful of young adults to a membership which numbers in excess of 700. Under the able guidance of Caroline Massel, their activities have significant¬ ly impacted Holocaust awareness and education. We are delighted to show¬ case their interest. This afternoon’s program includes remarks from several of their members. “The theme of this year’s luncheon is ‘Women, Resistance and Renewal.’ The two women we honor, Anna Erlich and Stella Skura, as well as our guest speak¬ er, Prof. Nechama Tec, are each in their own way the embodiment of this theme. “Anna Erlich was for many years a friend and a neighbor of ours in Forest Hills, a community that became a nurturing home for scores of survivors and their families. Despite the many hardships and devastat¬ ing losses the Erlichs experienced during the war, Anna and her late husband, Jacob, chose to renew their lives through Tikkun Olam. Especially noteworthy is their commitment to the Cause of Remembrance. Anna has been a devoted member of the Society since its inception in 1 981 . She has demonstrated her stead¬ fast resolve by her attendance at and sup¬ port of all our events. On behalf of the American Society for Yad Vashem, I am pleased to extend a hearty mazel-tov to Anna on being honored this afternoon. “Friendships among survivors are differ¬ ent than most conventional friendships. They are far more intense, more lasting and more meaningful. For sixty years, starting in the DP Camp Feldafing, Sam Skura, z’/, was my best friend, and my most trusted colleague. Not only were we best friends, our wives were best friends. Stella and my late wife Diana were soul-mates who spoke to each other almost daily. “Stella and Sam were partners in their many Holocaust-related activities. The decision to form an organization in sup¬ port of Yad Vashem was made at a parlor meeting of about 10 people in the home of Stella and Sam Skura. Their support for the Society has been unwavering and includes being Benefactors of the Valley of Communities and Benefactors of Project 2001. Stella served on the committee that inaugurated the Spring (Continued on page 8) IN THIS ISSUE American Society for Yad Vashem Annual Spring Luncheon . 1, 8-9 Yom Hashoah resonates in our hearts . . . 2 Remembering “The Dutch Auschwitz” . . . . . 5 Muddling the Holocaust in Lithuania . . . . 6 Cogs in the murder machine? . 7 Pope visits Yad Vashem in Jerusalem . . . ....10 In Berlin, teaching Germany’s Jewish history . 11 Original “Schindler’s list” found in Sydney. . . . . . 12 Photographer tricked Nazis to save Auschwitz images . . 13 A book brings Holocaust close to home . ......15 Holocaust museum lets local voices memorialize . . . ..16 Marilyn Rubenstein, Spring Luncheon Chair; Eli Zborowski, Chairman of the American Society for Yad Vashem Inc.; Guest Speaker Professor Nechama Tec; Saul Kagan, Executive Vice President Emeritus of the Claims Conference; and Fanya G Heller, American Society for Yad Vashem Inc. National Vice Chair, NY.