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Dispatch from a recent Holocaust conference, and more
By Shelley Lieb and Ida Margolis
The World Federation of Jewish Child Survivors of the Holocaust and Descendants held its annual conference in Washington D.C. Aug. 25 to 28 with over 300 in attendance, from survivors to fourth generation (4G). Among the child survivors from throughout the U.S. were a number of individuals from the UK, including those who had been on the Kindertransport. The majority of those attending were 2Gs who had traveled from all over the U.S. and Canada, including two GenShoah SWFL members, Jack Abel and Ida Margolis. Most of the workshops were for 2Gs, although there were some workshops for survivors and other generations of the Shoah.
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Executive Director Sara Bloomfield stopped by to give greetings and an update. Preconference docent-led tours of the Museum also occurred and a post-conference tour was offered of the USHMM Shapell Center in Bowie, Maryland, which houses the Museum’s collections and is a conservation and research climate-controlled center.
Included among the many information tables was one for Holocaust documentation, with research specialists from the USHMM Survivors and Victims Resource Center. Jude Richter, a research specialist, wanted our GenShoah members to be reminded that they can submit research requests online at https://www.USHMM. org/remember/.resources-survivorsvictims/.individual-research/services.
To help locate information about victims and survivors of Nazi persecution, individuals can submit an International Tracing Service Collection Research Request Form by going to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum’s website at ushmm.org/resource center/service. Or visit the Holocaust Survivors and Victims Resource Center on the second floor of the USHMM in Washington, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week.
It was announced that the next conference of this group will be held next September in Toronto.
Speaking of stories, GenShoah encourages all survivors of any generation to submit their family’s Holocaust story to be included in a collection that is posted on the website of our local Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center. This collection of “Portraits of Remembrance” is designed to be a resource for the greater community and our eighth graders in particular. Florida’s curriculum includes Holocaust education in eighth grade.
We have 15 stories posted so far and two more on their way. Anyone interested in writing their family’s Holocaust story should contact Judy Isserlis at jisserlis@aol. com for more information and guidance.
Survivors of all generations will be recognized and participating in a Kristallnacht program presented by the Naples Catholic-Jewish Dialogue Sunday, Nov. 5, 2:30 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church. Everyone is invited.
GenShoah SWFL is a group for children and descendants of Holocaust survivors and anyone interested in the mission of GenShoah 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
• Support of the Holocaust Museum & Janet G. and Harvey D. Cohen Education Center
Our group is open to all interested people. There are no dues or attendance requirements. If you would like to receive our newsletter and program announcements, just send an email to liebro@gmail.com. And, if you would like to volunteer to help with future programs, please let us know that, too!
