Martyrdom & resistance, November/December 2019

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR YAD VASHEM Vol. 46-No. 2 ISSN 0892-1571 November/December 2019-Kislev/Tevet 5780 American Society for Yad Vashem Annual Tribute Dinner “WE MAY BE MANY, BUT WE ARE ONE.” On Sunday, November 17, 2019, the American Society for Yad Vashem (ASYV) gathered at the Pierre Hotel in New York City for its Annual Trib¬ ute Dinner, honoring three generations of one family. Holocaust survivors Paula and Jack Gora re¬ ceived the ASYV Remem¬ brance Award, while their daughter Mona Gora Ster¬ ling and her husband David Sterling (board member) re¬ ceived the ASYV Leader¬ ship Award. Samantha and Jonathan Friedman and Paz and Sam Friedman, all ac¬ tive members of the YLA, re¬ ceived the ASYV Young Leadership Award. The Gora-Sterling- Fried man family reflects the theme of this year’s dinner, which comes from a passage in Kohelet. “Two are better than one... and a threefold cord cannot quickly be bro¬ ken” (Kohelet 4:9-12). All three generations of the family are deeply committed to Yad Vashem’s mission of Holocaust remembrance and education. As stated by Dinner Chair Mark Moskowitz, “They are a truly extraordinary family and the outpouring of attendance and support this evening is a vivid testament to the esteem in which they are held by family and friends and those whose lives they have touched.” Over 600 people attended this year’s Tribute Dinner. Esteemed guests included rabbi Marc Schneier, Cantor Netanel Hershtik (the Hampton Synagogue), Rebbetzin Chaya-lta Lau and Rivi Lau (wife and daughter of Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, former chief rabbi of Israel and chairman of the Yad Vashem Council). The evening’s program began with “The Star- Spangled Banner,” performed by Rebecca Gabin, and “Hatikva,” performed by cantor Netanel Her¬ shtik. ASYV Chairman Leonard Wilf welcomed everyone and introduced a video message from Avner Shalev, chairman of the Yad Vashem Direc¬ torate, as well as a beautiful video showing the passion and heart that every single person at Yad Vashem brings to his or her work. Guests also watched a video of highlights from the recent Yad Vashem International Missions and were invited to join for the 2020 Generation to Generation Mis¬ sion to Berlin and Jerusalem. Stanley Stone addressed the room for the first time as executive director of the American Society for Yad Vashem. Both of Stone’s par¬ ents were able to escape from Nazi Germany to Great Britain and eventually to the United States. This is just one of the many reasons he feels so privileged to have joined the ASYV family this year. Addressing the room, Stone af¬ firmed that “by being here tonight, each of [us] is ensuring that the message of Yad Vashem remains strong in these uncertain times.” Board member David Halpern, son of Sam, z”l, and Gladys Halpern, presided over this year’s In Memoriam, in which we honored the memories of those members of our Yad Vashem family who have passed on since the last time we gathered. Halpern emphasized how lucky we are to still have survivors with us: “We should spend time with them, care for them, listen to them, remember what they begged us to remember, and love them with all our hearts.” у honoring those who perished, we are not only remembering the past, but also securing the future. Dinner honoree Sam Friedman poignantly expressed this sentiment in his remarks. “We represent each and every one of those children who were murdered by the Nazis, and it is our duty to make sure that their legacies, their tradi¬ tions and their values did not die with them.” It is through education and outreach that we can continue to honor the memories of those who perished and the testi¬ monies of those who lived. Education and out¬ reach are two of the fun¬ damental components of Yad Vashem's and the American Society for Yad Vashem’s mission. These are also the things that will allow us to combat the current surge of anti-Semitism in the world. We live in trying times, and, hon¬ oree David Sterling said, “As the flames of hatred grow higher and higher, the water to ex¬ tinguish them is the ed¬ ucational work that Yad Vashem does.” As an internationally recognized institution with the world’s leading experts on anti-Semi¬ tism, Yad Vashem has the ability to reach diverse communities all around the globe. We strive to engage anyone and everyone. As Dinner hon¬ oree Jonathan Friedman reminded everyone, “you don’t need to be the son or daughter, the grandson or granddaughter, of someone who survived or perished in the Holocaust.” After the conclusion of the evening’s program, guests fil¬ tered into the next room to dance and celebrate life. We rejoiced in the miracle that we are still here and reaffirmed our commitment to the fu¬ ture. Finally, we confirmed the words of Dinner honoree Sam Friedman — “We may be many, but we are one.” BY JILL GOLTZER Dinner honorees (standing) Samantha Friedman, Jonathan Friedman, Mona Gora Sterling, David Sterling, Paz Fried¬ man, Sam Friedman; (sitting): Paula Gora, Abe Friedman, Jack Gora.