Thank you for the past decade

Ida Margolis, GenShoah Chair

I can hardly believe that I have chaired GenShoah SWFL for a decade. It’s been an honor for me to have this position, but 10 years is a long time and it’s time for this important group to have new leadership. After so many years and so many programs, events and activities that GenShoah has presented or been involved with, there are too many people to thank everyone individually, but a few thanks are in order.

Thank you to Godfrey Levy and Sandy Levine, who first started this group, and to Shelley Lieb, who was on the original steering committee. They helped make the then tiny group part of GenShoah International and continued to help in numerous ways.

Thanks to former Museum CEO, Amy Snyder, current CEO and President Susan Suarez, and Museum Staff, especially Joan Hogan, who sent out the monthly GenShoah newsletter.

Thank you to Steve Brazina, the movie maven, who located many Holocaustrelated films so we could include outstanding films in our annual programming. Thanks to every presenter, and we have had many.

Thanks to the volunteers who helped with programs, and thanks to everyone who attended programs and supported this group, especially Rene and Sam Geist, Denise McMahon, and from the South Regional Library: Shirley Besikof, Steve Fischer, Jeff Margolis and Linda Wertheim.

I’ve had many favorite programs during the past decade, especially those that involved other groups or organizations, such as churches, clubs and libraries.

I feel that our most popular and successful program was One Book, SWFL. If you were one of the 1,500 people who attended at one of the libraries or Temple Shalom, you will no doubt remember the captivating presentation by Michael Stolowitzky, who told his own astonishing story in the book “Gertruda’s Oath” by Ram Oren. (If you did not have the opportunity to read the book then, it’s not too late).

And how amazing was it that the renowned Mark Weitzman, Director of Government Affairs and Chief United Nations Representative at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, came to Naples to discuss Simon Wiesenthal’s important, gripping, impactful work on the possibilities and limits of forgiveness, “The Sunflower.”

I was astounded by the touching and beautiful butterfly art projects that the Pine Ridge Middle School students created after their teacher, Danielle Yarusevich, taught them about the Holocaust and the poem, “The Butterfly,” written by Pavel Friedman while in Nazi concentration camp, Terezin. It was amazing that a culmination of the yearlong “Butterflies of Hope and Remembrance” was not only a butterfly garden project chaired by Carol Mest, but the appearance of Sidney Taussig, the last surviving boy in the film produced by Music of Remembrance, “The Boys of Terezin.”

Many 2gs appreciated the opportunity to gather, discuss and tell their parents’ stories. When the steering committee met and determined the mission of GenShoah SWFL, they knew the importance of “connection of the Second Generation with one another.” The mission also included “preserving the history and memories of Holocaust,” which was done in many ways, such as collecting 2g stories about their parents.

The mission includes supporting the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center, which is of great importance to local 2gs. The members of GenShoah frequently express gratitude that there is such a wonderful Holocaust Museum in Naples.

Another key mission of GenShoah SWFL is “promotion of Holocaust Education and Human Rights.” This aspect of the mission is more important now than ever. It led to the establishment of Movies that Matter, where films about human rights issues are screened and discussed by a panel of experts.

In the light of recent developments, including the increase of antisemitism, hate groups and violence toward many minorities, this feature of the mission is of upmost significance and an imperative toward action.

Thank you again to those who have done so much for GenShoah SWFL and please continue to work for social justice and human rights. It has been said that the arc of the moral universe bends toward justice… but not without some help.

“Be the change you want to see in the world,” and as Hillel said, “If not now, when?”

We have work to do now.