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Federation Star
COMMUNITY FOCUS
October 2020
Important programs for discussion and action set virtually By Ida Margolis, GenShoah Chair
Ida Margolis GenShoah Chair
E
ven now, when we cannot gather for face-to-face programs and discussion, important programs and the opportunity for discussion can be brought to you. GenShoah SWFL, with the help of the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center, will present programs consistent with its mission that includes promotion of Holocaust education and human rights.
Movies That Matter In October, GenShoah is one of the sponsors of Movies That Matter, a series of human rights films. All of the issues presented in the films are extremely important and relevant, and the local relationship of these issues will be discussed by a panel of experts following the films. You will find more information
about Movies That Matter, including how to view the films and zoom discussions on page 16 of this issue. After viewing these films and listening to the discussions, hopefully many people will be motivated to act to help make a difference. Indeed, that is the mission of Movies That Matter: “We can make a difference.” And since these films and panels are virtual this year, you can help by informing your friends about Movies That Matter, wherever they live.
Kristallnacht The annual Kristallnacht Commemoration will be presented on Sunday, November 8 at 2:30 p.m. Kristallnacht, the “Night of Broken Glass,” is often said to be the night the Holocaust began. To get the Zoom link for this program register at jewishnaples.org. For more information about this program, see page 13 .
Heroes, Heroines and Helpers On Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, a very special program will be presented, featuring Pastor Chris Edmonds,
son of Master Sergeant Roddy Edmonds, who, during WWII, saved over 200 Jewish servicemen. You will not want to miss the inspirational story of a true hero, who is one of only five Americans awarded the title, “Righteous among the Nations,” Israel’s highest honor for non-Jews who risked their own lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. The program about Roddy Edmonds is among those related to this year’s special theme of “Heroes, Heroines and Helpers.” Future important and inspirational programs about heroes will be announced in upcoming issues of the Federation Star and in the GenShoah e-newsletter. A variety of upcoming programs include those that will feature local survivors and their rescuers, and 2gs will have an opportunity to tell a story about a hero in their life. If you would like more information about programs or joining GenShoah, or if you would like to receive the GenShoah newsletter, contact Ida at genshoahswfl@gmail. Some of the Zoom presentations are being recorded and are available on the
Museum’s YouTube channel. To access them, search for Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center in YouTube.
Telling your story GenShoah has asked for children of Holocaust survivors to help accept the responsibility of telling their parent’s story. We have asked that the stories be written in the format below: • 500-700 words • Include appropriate geographical background • Be certain that historical facts contained are accurate • Include a personal highlight • Include a photograph The stories, which may be edited, will be available to the public and used for instructional purposes in print and/or digital format at the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center of Southwest Florida. They may also be printed in a book that can be a valuable keepsake. For more information, contact Rochelle at liebro@gmail.com.
“We Are All Jews”
Heroes, Heroines and Helpers series features Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds By Ida Margolis, GenShoah Chair
L
ast month, the theme of “Heroes, Heroines and Helpers” was introduced as the program theme for the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center and GenShoah SWFL. In addition to many films, lectures and programs centered around the theme, each month, the GenShoah e-newsletter and the Federation Star will be highlighting an historic hero and asking for nominations of both famous and unsung heroes. We will include stories about people who defend a moral cause, help someone in need, and have performed heroic acts with recognition of possible risks and without the anticipation of external gain. This month, we are featuring Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds. Edmonds served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He participated in the landing of the American forces in Europe and was taken prisoner by the Germans. Together,
with other American POWs, including Jews, he was taken to Stalag IXA, a camp near Ziegenhain, Germany. There, the Germans singled out Jewish POWs, and many of them on the Eastern Front were sent to extermination camps or killed. In some cases, in the west, Jewish POWs were also separated from the others. Sometime in January 1945, the Germans announced that all Jewish POWs in Stalag IXA were to report the following morning. Master Sergeant Edmonds, who was in charge of the prisoners, ordered all POWs—Jews and non-Jews alike—to stand together. When the German officer in charge saw that all the camp’s inmates were standing in front of their barracks, he turned to Edmonds and said, “They cannot all be Jews.” To this, Edmonds replied, “We are all Jews.”
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Roddy Edmonds The German took out his pistol and threatened Edmonds, but the Master Sergeant did not waver. Rather, he responded, “According to the Geneva Convention, we have to give only our name, rank and serial number. If you shoot me, you will have to shoot all of us, and after the war, you will be tried for war crimes.” The German gave up, turned around, and left the scene. Thanks to Edmonds’s courage, Jewish POWs were saved from this attempt to single them out. When Edmonds returned home, he never spoke about his wartime experiences
or how he had saved the Jewish GIs. Like many of the “Greatest Generation,” he was humble about his war experiences. He told his own family little about his time as a POW. He was never given any recognition by the Army for his courage. He never received a medal or a commendation. After Edmonds died in 1985, his son, Chris Edmonds, pastor of the Piney Grove Baptist Church in Marysville, Tennessee, began to piece together his father’s story. In 2015, Yad VaShem recognized Roddie Edmonds as a Righteous Among the Nations. Edmonds, clearly, at the risk of his own life, saved Jewish lives and the lives of generations to come. Edmonds was only the fifth American recognized for the special Yad VaShem honor. On Jan. 27, 2016, a ceremony was held at the Israeli embassy in Washington DC, where Israeli ambassador Ron Dermer and Yad Vashem Council Chairman Rabbi Lau presented the Righteous medal and certificate of honor to Edmund’s son. The ceremony was attended by the President of the United States, Barack Obama. In November, we hope to announce a special program about hero Master Sgt. Roddy Edmonds. To submit your nomination for the “Heroes, Heroines and Helpers,” please email genshoahSwfl@gmail.com.
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