Holocaust survivors are heroes to many

By Ida Margolis, GenShoah Chair

Since the theme for GenShoah programs this season year is “Heroes, Heroines and Helpers,” I have been writing monthly columns in the Federation Star and the GenShoah Newsletter about heroes. The focus of the theme includes not only heroes of WWII and the Holocaust, but heroes of any era — well-known heroes, lesser-known heroes and everyday, unsung heroes. As a lover of history, I have enjoyed researching heroes, from Friedl Dicker Brandies to Roddie Edmonds to Aldolfo Kaminsky, who were featured in earlier columns. I have recently been moved to see stories on TV about heroism of everyday heroes, including health care workers, clergy and teachers.

The 27th of this month is International Holocaust Remembrance Day, when UNESCO pays tribute to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust and also “reaffirms its unwavering commitment to counter anti-Semitism, racism and other forms of intolerance that may lead to group-targeted violence.” The date marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz by Soviet troops in 1945.

This month, I thought of many famous heroes but, thinking that this date pays tribute to victims of the Holocaust, I thought I would like to pay tribute to the survivors of the Holocaust. Surviving a tragedy does not necessarily make someone a hero. But all those who have read about, studied and know about the Holocaust, should be able to appreciate what these individuals had to endure. And the more one knows about the Holocaust, the more one understands that to survive such horrors and try to begin a new life alone, without a home, without family members, without resources, was quite an extraordinary accomplishment. To go to a new country without knowing the language or understanding the culture is difficult in and of itself. Add all the other aspects and these people’s lives certainly were heroic. Every time I read about some accomplished person and find out he or she was a Holocaust survivor, or a child or grandchild of survivors, I have tears in my eyes.

Rather than write about one of the very famous survivors, I think every Holocaust survivor who started a new life, found a job, had a family and became a good citizen of a new land should be the heroes of this month’s column. Especially heroic are those survivors who have dealt with the difficulty of telling their stories to audiences, allowing others to put a face to what happened so that such horrors will never happen again.

Our deepest gratitude and respect for those survivors who have dedicated so much of their time as volunteers for our Holocaust Museum, sharing their memories with students and adults alike, so that these important facts and personal stories inspire others to fight against hatred.

A number of years ago, members of GenShoah and I heard a child of survivors speak. She said it is so sad that Holocaust survivors, like her parents, cannot love their children. We looked at each other with sadness for her, as we had often said how lucky we were to have such loving, kind parents, even though they may have been overprotective, which we, as adults, now understand. I asked some of those who attended this presentation with me if they consider their survivor parents as heroes. All did.

Rene Geist said of her parents, “Each in their own way, both my parents were heroes. My mother was a magical hero. She was able to morph difficult situations into triumphant ones. On the death march at the end of the war, she walked for miles with holes in the sole of one of her shoes. She never complained. My father was a do-it-all hero. He was able, until the end of his life, to fix anything, alter anything, make anything, no matter whether he had any experience with it or not.”

Shirley Besikof thought her parents showed heroism in the “way they treated everyone with dignity and respect.” There was always generosity in their home, and “a delicious piece of cake was always served. “No one should ever be hungry!”

My mother was kind, courageous, patriotic and generous beyond her means. She received so many grateful thank you letters from students who heard her speak about her experiences and listened to her message of the importance of acceptance, the evil that results from hatred and the importance of doing good.

Let’s take a moment to think about the survivors and their amazing heroism.

For International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Rene Geist wrote this poem:

“Our Promise To You” On this Holocaust Remembrance Day And every day We remember you.

We remember your strength, your bravery.

On this Holocaust Remembrance Day And every day We honor you.

We honor your determination, your resolve.

On this Holocaust Remembrance Day And everyday We thank you.

We appreciate your guidance, your teaching.