More questions, fewer answers

By Ida Margolis and Shelley Lieb

Many people have been recently asking one another many questions, many of which are not likely the usual questions. Are you thinking of leaving the U.S.? Where would you go? Do you think we should move to Israel? Where is the safest place to go? Can you believe the increase in antisemitism in the U.S.? Can you believe how much antisemitism is growing in Canada, in Europe, on college campuses? Can you believe how many groups are anti-Israel, pro-BDS? Why can’t Israel have better public relations? Why is the media so biased against Israel?

I am sure you have heard all these questions. Have you heard any good answers? Meanwhile, the 2Gs, the children of Holocaust survivors frequently say that they asked their parents, the ones who were in ghettos, the ones who were in work camps or concentration camps, and the ones who were in the most horrible death camps — why didn’t you leave?

The most frequent response that their survivor parents gave depended a little on where they lived — in Germany, they felt like citizens, assimilated. After all, Jews had fought for Germany in WWI. Our frequent readers know this. You have read about it and seen it in films — Jews in other Western European countries like Austria, felt very secure that nothing would happen to them. You may have heard that there was the “Fiddler on the Roof” response from Eastern European Jews — we have had trouble before, it will pass. But it didn’t, and then it was too late.

Now there is often this question from 2Gs — how will we know when we need to leave? A very real and very serious question. What is the answer?

We don’t know the answers. So, in the meantime we continue with our lives and live with hope as our parents did. We hope that someone will give us the answers, and in the meantime, life goes on and so do our activities. We present some thoughtprovoking programs, some memorial programs and even social programs. We thank old and new members for their participation and support.

Please look for answers and attend programs that you will find of interest.

• Sunday, March 2 at 1 p.m.: The Annual “Our Stories” Get Together where 2Gs will share stories about their parents. Send your RSVP to liebro@gmail.com.

• Wednesday, March 19 at 2:30 p.m. at the Museum: Popular speaker Sam Varsano will present “The Holocaust in Salonika.” RSVP required at hmcec.org.

• Sunday, April 6 at 1 p.m.: Our genealogy maven, Hank Bitterman, will help people find family once again. Send your RSVP to liebro@gmail.com.

• Sunday, April 27 at 4 p.m. at Temple Shalom: Attend the annual Yom HaShoah service. Send your RSVP to jewishnaples. org. If you are a survivor or 2G, please consider attending a member reception at 3 p.m. Contact liebro@gmail.com for more information and to RSVP for the reception.

GenShoah SWFL is a group for children and descendants of Holocaust survivors, and anyone interested in the mission of GenShoah of SWFL which is:

• Promotion of Holocaust education and human rights

• Preservation of history and memories of the Holocaust

• Connecting the Second Generation with one another

• And support of the Holocaust Museum & Janet G. and Harvey D. Cohen Education Center

GenShoah, an affinity group of the Holocaust Museum, is always open to those interested in our mission. If you would like to receive our newsletter and program announcements, just send an e-mail to liebro@gmail.com.

As in our mission, we encourage all GenShoah members to join the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center. For information about membership please e-mail hmcec.org.