Martyrdom & resistance, November/December 2018

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR YAD VASHEM Vol. 45-No. 2 ISSN 0892-1571 November/December 2018-Kislev/Tevet 5779 The American Society for Yad Vashem Annual Tribute Dinner FROM HOLOCAUST TO REBIRTH BY JILL GOLTZER On Sunday, November 11, 2018, the American Society for Yad Vashem (ASYV) gathered at the Plaza Hotel in New York City for its Annual Tribute Dinner, hon¬ oring Celina and Marvin Zborowski and Adina and Lawrence Burian. Over 700 people attended, including more than 150 members of the younger generation, by far the most in our organiza¬ tion’s history. Esteemed guests included Dr. Ari Berman (president of Yeshiva University), Malcolm Hoenlein (EVP of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations), our own Mark Wilf (chairman of JFNA), Andrew Lustgarten (president of MSG), Andrea Greenberg (president and CEO of MSG Networks), Hank Ratner (former presi¬ dent and CEO of MSG Networks), Titi Ayenaw (Miss Israel 2013), and Ambassador Danny Danon (Israel’s permanent repre¬ sentative to the UN). The theme for the evening was “From Holocaust to Rebirth,” which, as Dinner Chair Mark Moskowitz explained, “follows the modern histor¬ ical arc of the Jewish people, taking us from the depth of the horrors of the Holocaust to the exhilaration of the establishment of the State of Israel 70 years ago.” The presence of so many members of our Young Leadership Associates (YLA) is a testament to the notion of “rebirth.” Our YLA was heavily involved in the evening’s pro¬ gram, beginning with Halle Wilf and Jonathan Friedman, co-chairs of the YLA Tribute Dinner Committee, lead¬ ing our guests in the motzi. Award¬ winning a cappella group Six13 then led everyone in a magnificent rendi¬ tion of “Hatikvah”. aster of Ceremonies Jill Martin, ten-time Emmy award-winning sportscaster and television personali¬ ty, set the tone for the evening by emphasizing the importance of pass¬ ing the survivors’ stories “down to the next generation with accuracy, love and awareness.” Ms. Martin then introduced Dr. Ron Meier, executive director of ASYV, who noted that what “makes tonight extra special is that we are honoring the Zborowski family, who exemplify the first generation of survivors, together with the Burian family, who are the true leaders of the second generation.” Dr. Meier also shared stories about his personal connection to the Holocaust, specifi¬ cally Kristallnacht (“Night of Broken Glass”). This evening fell exactly 80 years after the events of Kristallnacht , and a mere two weeks after the violent anti- Semitic attack that took place on October 27th in a Pittsburgh syna¬ gogue. Dr. Meier reminded us that as we try to make sense of something that is entirely senseless, what is cer¬ tain is that Yad Vashem’s sacred mis¬ sion is as relevant today as it was 65 years ago when its gates first opened in Jerusalem. The shooting in Pittsburgh was the deadliest attack on the Jewish people in American histo¬ ry, and as Ambassador Danon aptly stated, “it was anti-Semitism in its classic and cruelest form.” ollowing a video message from Yad Vashem Chairman Avner Shalev, Jill Martin invited YLA mem¬ ber Laura Epstein to say a few words about her experience on the 2018 Yad Vashem Generation to Generation Mission this past summer. Epstein talked about the four sur¬ vivors on the trip — Felice Stokes, Edward Mosberg, Naftali Deutsch, and Leon Green, z”l. These four indi¬ viduals “opened their hearts to us and reinforced the idea of MeShoah LeTekumah — that even after living through the atrocities of the Holocaust, rebirth was not only a possi¬ bility, but in fact a reality.” We were very fortunate to be joined by some of our esteemed Holocaust sur¬ vivors. ASYV Chairman Leonard Wilf invited all the survivors in the room to stand and be recognized, and then asked everyone to join them as “we all stand as ONE!” Mr. Wilf thanked Dinner Chair Mark Moskowitz as well as board members Rita Levy and Marilyn Rubenstein for the tremen¬ dous work they put into planning this year’s dinner. He then presented the Yad Vashem Remembrance Award to Celina and Marvin Zborowski, who were joined by their sons Mark and Ziggy on stage. “It gives me enormous nachas that my children and grandchildren have fol¬ lowed in my footsteps and that they are also involved in the organization and the young leadership,” Marvin said. Celina and Marvin are both founding members of ASYV and are Guardians of the Valley of the Communities at Yad Vashem. Looking out into the audience, Marvin stated, “I will continue to do whatever I can to perpetuate our memories, so the world could never forget.” Following the moving tribute to the Zborowski family, Jill Martin invited board member David Halpern, son of Sam, z”/, and Gladys Halpern, to preside over this year’s In Memoriam. Together we honored the memories of those members of our Yad Vashem family (Continued on page 2) IN THIS ISSUE The ASYV Annual Tribute Dinner. . . 1, 8-9 Friend of the Jews . . 2 To Auschwitz and back . . 3 Veit Harlan: The life and work of a Nazi filmmal Seeking the truth about a Nazi war criminal . ^er . 4 . 4 Poland honors diplomat who saved 800 Jews d How an astonishing Holocaust diary resurface* Nazi collaborator or national hero? . uring the Holocaust . 7 1 in America . 11 . 12 The tragedy of the Jews of Rhodes . . 14 The day the rabbis marched . . 15 Dinner honorees Adina Burian and Marvin and Celina Zborowski; Chairman of the ASYV Leonard Wilf ; and Dinner honoree Lawrence Burian.