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Federation Star
COMMUNITY FOCUS
May 2021
Where are your heroes: in books, films or nearby? By Ida Margolis, GenShoah Chair
Y
ou may know that I was a teacher Ko rc z a k w a s t o l d in a public school, a university he could go the Ayran instructor and a social studies side of the ghetto, but supervisor. So, you might guess that I he refused to leave “his have a bias regarding the important work children.” Witnesses have that teachers do and the impact that a said that these children great teacher can make. Recently, you were dressed in their may have heard about unsung heroes best clothes and carried of the pandemic and that teachers have a knapsack and a toy as been included in the list of those who they were forced to march have helped so many so much during through the ghetto to the this past year. Umschlagplatz (deportaRuby Bridges and her teacher, Mrs. Barbara Henry Books about and by teachers have always tion point to the death her names, carried signs and shouted at been among my favorites. I wrote about camps). There is a legend that an SS little Ruby. rabbis and other clergy as heroes. “Rabbi” is officer recognized Korczak as the author Not one white family in the comoften defined as teacher, and you may recall of one of his favorite children’s books munity would send their children to that, recently, I wrote about Rabbi Ariel and offered to help him escape. There are school, so Ruby was all alone, except for Burger’s excellent book, “Witness,” subtitled other versions of the legend, but what is her teacher, Mrs. Barbara Henry. Mrs. “Lessons from Elie Wiesel’s Classroom.” known is that Korczak refused to leave Henry was the only white teacher willing Wiesel, Holocaust survivor, author, Nobel his children. He boarded the trains with to teach a Black child and she did so for a Laureate and activist, was also considered a them and was never heard from again. It year, though Ruby was the only child in brilliant and master teacher. is believed that he and the children were her class. As an adult, Ruby recalled that I am currently reading a book by likely all gassed at Treblinka. “even though there were mobs outside Michael Sandel, who is There is a beautiful and that school every day for a whole year, one of the most popular touching monument to the person that greeted me every mornprofessors at Harvard. commemorate Korczak at Heroes ing was (my teacher), a white woman Thousands of students the site of the orphanage Heroines who actually risked her life as well.” And have attended his Justice in Warsaw. The monuRuby noted, “Mrs. Henry was the nicest class and, through the ment was finally unveiled &Helpers teacher I ever had.” miracle of technology, on Children’s Day, June 1, millions of people around the world have 2006, at a state event attended by digviewed his course. nitaries, including the President of the My first hero article was about artist Republic of Poland. There are beautiful Friedl Dicker-Brandies, who used her books and films available about this heroic skills to teach children at Terezin concenteacher, including a book titled “Janusz tration camp. She was sent to AuschwitzKorczak: The Man Who Knew How to Birkenau with 30 of her students, where Love Children.” To: Rosalee Bogo they all perished. I find it so distressing to read that In memory of your I have always been moved by the stoonly one teacher was willing to teach a brother Sam Aaronson ries of two very different teachers, both of certain 6-year-old child in 1960. The From: Karen & Stan Deutsch whom I consider heroes, Janusz Korczak child was Ruby Bridges, the little Black Joan & Marc Saperstein and Mrs. Barbara Henry. Korczak was girl who was given permission by a judge Jane Schiff a pediatrician who designed a unique to attend the all-white William Frantz Betty & Les Schwartz orphanage for Jewish children in Warsaw. Elementary School in New Orleans. Arlene & Bob Subin In 1940, when the Germans created the Many, many people have seen either Warsaw ghetto, the orphanage was forced a film, photo, painting or book about David Willens to move to the ghetto. In August 1942, brave Ruby Bridges, as she entered the To: Norma Claussen and the German soldiers took the approximately school accompanied by federal mar Catholic Jewish Dialogue 200 children and staff to the Treblinka shals, while crowds of angry whites In memory of extermination camp. gathered outside the school. They called Bob Claussen From: Marty Gauthier
There are many heroes and villains in the story of Ruby Bridges, and certainly Mrs. Henry is a hero, as was Ruby. If you have 10 minutes, you can read the beautifully illustrated children’s book continued on page 15
Monument commemorating Korczak and “his children” at the site of the orphanage in Warsaw, by Jan Bohdan Chmielewski
Tributes
To: Dr. Martin Cohen In honor of your birthday From: Deborah & Larry Hermalyn To: From:
David Fisher In honor of your birthday Gracia Kuller Marilyn Weinstein
To: From:
Susie Goldsmith In memory of Ron Goldsmith Nancy L. Kaplan Delores & Corky Levine Jane Schiff
To: Judy & Martin Isserlis In memory of Joan Isserlis From: Louise & Derrick Novis
To: From:
Arlene Levin & Family In memory of Sandy Levin JoEllen & Len Rubenstein Jane Schiff Sue & Tom Tolpin
To: From:
Pat Levy & Family In memory of Lester Levy The Canasta Group – Dena, Dorothy, Cookie, Corrine, Judy, and Joann
To: From:
Judy & Mayer Levitt In appreciation of your friendship and warm hospitality Rosalee & Jerry Bogo
To: Sheryl Sashin In memory of Alvin Sashin From: Helena and Allan Striker To: From:
Michal Wiesler In memory of Mordechai Wiesler Rosalee & Jerry Bogo Nancy L. Kaplan Gail & Mel Ufberg
Tributes require a minimum donation of $18.
To place a Tribute in the Federation Star in honor or memory of someone, please contact Nathan Ricklefs at the Federation office at 239.263.4205 or nricklefs@jewishnaples.org. Tributes require a minimum donation of $18. A note will be sent to the person you are honoring. Tributes help further the work of the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples.
