COMMUNITY

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Kristallnacht Memorial Service: November 8

This year’s memorial service, marking the 82nd anniversary of Kristallnacht and the 65th annual ceremony held at Emek Sholom Holocaust Memorial Cemetery, will be held on Sunday Nov. 8 at 2 p.m.

Due to COVID-19 concerns and restrictions this year, the service will be

transmitted live from the memorial at Emek Sholom. While the speakers, Cantor Dara Sage Rosenblatt and a few others involved in the service will be present, it is requested community members attend the service remotely.

To register, visit www.jewishrichmond.

org/calendar/emek-sholom-holocaust-memorial- The Holocaust Memorial at Emek Sholom Holocaust Memorial Cemetery is now believed to be the oldest memorial to the Holocaust in North kristallnach America. This year’s Kristallnacht Memorial Service on Nov. 8 will be streamed online. File Photo

The guest speaker will be Daniel Sta enberg, CEO, Jewish Community mond area. usually an hour long, traditionally with a Federation of Richmond. Alex Keisch, Best known to the Richmond Jew- guest speaker, family speaker, high school committe chair, will o er opening reish community for the Beth El section at students who have won the Esther Windmarks. The Shofar Call to Assembly will the entrance, Forest Lawn is also where, mueller Never Again essay contest, candle be led by Jay Ipson and Ben Ipson. Dr. Liin 1955, members of the New American lighting, reciting of El Maleh Rachamim mor Glazer Schwam will deliver remarks Jewish Club bought land and erected the and Kaddish prayers. on “Stories Behind These Names” related memorial to their loved ones who perished In 1998 the Virginia Department of to the names on the Emek Sholom Memoin the Holocaust. Historic Resources recognized the Emek rial Wall. Dr. Roger Loria will present the These new residents of the United Sholom Holocaust Memorial, one of the “E.J. Windmuller Never Again” Award. States pooled their meager resources and first Holocaust memorials in North AmerRudy Rochman is scheduled to conclude constructed this memorial to 200 family ica, by listing it as a Historic Landmark in the event to speak about Social Media. Also participating in the event will be members of the American Legion Post members who had perished in the Holocaust and whose final resting places will forever be unknown. Virginia. The following year, the U.S. Department of the Interior placed it on the NaA bugler from the American Legion plays “Taps” at last year’s Memorial Service. File Photo 144. Since then, every year on the Sun- tional Register of Historic Places. On Nov. obelisk, Inge contacted the Indianapolis

History of Emek Sholom day closest to the November anniversary 7, 1999, two flanking panels, bearing 239 Federation to obtain materials. They were

Tucked away in a section of the of Kristallnacht (The Night of Broken additional names, were dedicated by new puzzled about the request, and undertook sprawling Forest Lawn cemetery near the Glass), a memorial service is held to honor members of the Richmond Jewish comtheir own investigation. After researching RIR track on Laburnum is a beautiful and the slain relatives and all of the six mil- munity to memorialize their family memthe issue they determined there was neimoving memorial to the slain relatives of lion who were killed, continuing our com- bers who were killed in the Holocaust. ther written nor physical evidence that the survivors who emigrated to the Richmitment to Never Again. The service is Adjacent to the Emek Sholom Holocaust such an item ever existed. Memorial is a Jewish cemetery for HoWhile we do not know the origins of the

Thank you Friends of Reflector locaust survivors, their descendants, and others of the Jewish faith. story of the Indianapolis Holocaust Memorial, we now strongly believe that Richmond

The Reflector sta and Jewish Community Federation of Richmond thank Recently, after some research undertaken by Inge Horowitz we received some wonderful news. We have always said the is indeed home to the OLDEST memorial to the Holocaust in North America. Yet Emek Sholom remains one of Vivian Burton Emek Sholom Memorial is one of the oldest Holocaust memorials in North AmerRichmond’s best kept secrets. For more information about the Emek ica, having been under the impression for Sholom Holocaust Memorial Cemetery, for her recent donation many decades that our memorial was preplease visit emeksholomcemeteryrichmond.org/ to the Friends of Reflector. ceded by a memorial obelisk in a cemetery

As always, we thank the community for supporting the in Indianapolis, Indiana. Reflector. Stay healthy and safe. Attempting to find out more about this

Jules Mintzer

Continued from page 13

His memory of his work there and interaction with the Survivors would guide Jules in later years as he worked to fight prejudice and building understanding among people of di erent religious faiths.

The horrors of his time helping the Survivors would stay with him during the rest of his life.

Jules said in the Dayton Herald in 1946 when he was assistant director of the Jewish Community Council in Dayton, Ohio, “I estimate 95 percent of those in the camp were formerly in concentration camps and their conditions were sickening.”

He wrote later, “I devoted considerable time counseling people who were su ering intensely from having been imprisoned in concentration camps.”

In 1978, Jules Mintzer retired in name only for just a few days as many recall.

As the Reflector noted in 2001, “Jules embraced the role of volunteer with equal zeal” as his professional career.

For 20+ years, he was among the most active volunteers in the community serving his Synagogue – Temple Beth-El – in many roles and later president. He also volunteered with other communual agencies as well.

He also was president of Rudlin Torah Academy, vice-president of the Seaboard Region of the United Synagogue of America, chairman of the JCC Forum, editor of the Anti-Defamation League quarterly bulletin, In additon, he produced the Federation’s 50th anniversary commemorative journal as well as a gala journal for Beth Sholom Home.

“He was revered by many in the community,” remembers Susie Davidow, “and even taught at Beth Ahabah. A devoted member of Beth-El, he served on many committees and the board for many years.”

Susie added, “He received awards and accolades from all of these organizations – every award imaginable. He was truly beloved - and and this is not just from his oldest child saying so,” she laughed. “Everyone who knew him; loved him.”

Her father believed in collaboration and cooperation. “He tried to bring individuals and organizations together to work for the good of the community.” Recognized as a terrific fundraiser, and according to Susie, “he not only talked the talk, but walked the walk. My parents were very generous to causes they believed in.”

She shared one story and is not sure if it is true or lore. She grew up hearing the story of how her parents were audited by the IRS because “the IRS couldn’t believe someone of his income level gave so much to charity!”

Susie talked about how compatible her parents were and how devoted they were to each other.

“My mother was a wonderful partner to my father. They were both bright and devoted to each other and their family.”

Susie says she and he brother and sister had happy childhoods and knew both parents loved and supported them and their endeavors.

She followed in her father’s footsteps, when she retired from a career at CocaCola in Atlanta, and took a job at the JCC using her Special Education degree.

“It just felt right to be a Jewish professional,” she remembers. “I got a lot of traits in the Jewish communal world from him.”

Susie has very fond memories of her time in Richmond. Friends called her “Club Mintzer” because she joined so many organizations. To this day she keeps up with some of her friends from here and also some of her parents’ friends – Amy Krumbein, Edith Glock ad Melanie Becker to name a few.

Among his many honors, he was awarded the State of Israel Medal, the Federation’s Distinguished Community Service Award, the Lion of Judah Award by the Israel Bond Organization, three prestigious Temple Beth-El Awards – the Samuel Gerson Outstanding Service Award, Distinguished Worker Award and Simhat Torah Award; A President’s Cup from the JCC,

Jules Mintzer receives a silver bowl from past president Nathan Petersiel of the RJCC on Jules’ 10th Anniversary of his leadership of the organization in 1963. Mr. Petersiel noted, “under your leadership, there has been a spirit of wholehearted unity ... Jules you have made

a lasting and substantial contribution to the community. JCFR archives

The Man the Month from the American Jewish Times Outlook and many others. His honors, awards, achievements and honors reads like a Who’s Who.

The City of Richmond recognized him several times with medals and awards – first in 1973 and later by Mayor Henry Marsh in 1978. He also was appointed by the governor to the Citizens Advisory Council of the State Department of Volunteerism and appointed by the chief judge of the Richmond Juvenile Court to the Citizens Advisory Council of the Court.

In a Reflector Editorial, “Thank You, Jules,” in 1978, it read, in part, “Jules has been a man who listens to opposing views, then finds the acceptable solution to the problem. He has been the calming influence, the leader whose quiet wisdom sets the example for others.”

Congressman Thomas J. Bliley, Jr., recognized Jules with extenseive remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives on Aug. 12, 1992, that were subsequently published in the Congressional Record.

In his conclusion, he noted, “It is a rare privilege to applaud Jules Mintzer for his many accomplishments as a civic leader, one who has given of his time and energy without expectation of monetary gain, but only to serve well his fellow man and for others who will follow.”

Someone who witnessed this first-hand for over three years is Steve Abramson, who was a graduate intern and later assistant director for the Federation under Jules.

“Jules let me be a fly on the wall at all types of meetings,” noted Steve who was promoted to succeed Jules as executive director of the Federation in 1978. He went on to become executive director of the San Diego, Calif., Federation for 24 years.

“He was very kind and such a great mentor. I learned so much under Jules and he was always willing to spend time answering questions. I would listen intently at long board and other meetings and then spend time afterward talking with him.”

Steve noted, “I could never have been the exec in San Diego without the foundation I received in Richmond under Jules.”

A longtime friend of Jules and his family, Saul Viener (OBM) said it best in the Reflector on Feb. 15, 2000, “Long a constructive force in our community’s growth and development in his role .... Jules endeared himself to several generations of Richmonders.”

Saul, a former Federation president and later a Reflector contributing writer, added, “After arriving in Richmond ... Jules established himself in the RJCC and commenced to energize the Council leadership while acclimating himself to the local scene. Relationships became friendships ... a caring and kindly gentleman was here to help and to encourage us. He instilled in all who had the privilege of working with him an understanding of Tzedakah and the Jewish perspective of unity and cooperation. We acknowledge ... his years of service did indeed insure the flowering of today’s Federation.”