De Malyene–2009

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D E M A L Y E N E NEWSLETTER

OF

THE

VIRGINIA

A Word About Our Title In the slang of Eastern European Jews, “de malyene” meant “a hiding place.” De malyene is where you would protect your most precious valuables — gold, jewels or even a small child. Or yourself. Make a resolution not to hide,

HOLOCAUST

MUSEUM

VOLUME

XI,

NUMBER

3,

2009

museum honors senator john warner as the 2009 rule of law award recipient Unveils mannequin of Emilio DiPalma in honor of his receipt of the first annual Legacy of Nuremberg Award.

but to come experience the Virginia Holocaust Museum and all it has to share. With many programs and events happening in the upcoming months, we invite you to come share your time with us. We welcome your comments about De Malyene and about the Virginia Holocaust Museum. See the back page for our contact information. And thank you for supporting us.

Your gift to the Virginia Holocaust Museum could double in value if your employer has a matching gift program. Please ask your human resource office to match your contribution to the Museum.

Senator John W. Warner (left) stands with Emilio DiPalma and Jay M. Ipson (right) as the mannequin of Mr. DiPalma is unveiled in the Nuremberg Trials Courtroom Exhibit.

On Friday May 1, 2009, the Virginia Holocaust Museum and the Virginia Law Foundation honored two exemplary individuals at the annual Rule of Law Award Ceremony. The Honorable John W. Warner received the Rule of Law Award and Emilio DiPalma, the Legacy of Nuremberg Award. Senator Warner’s service in the Navy during World War II and as a Marine during the Korean War showed a true sense of patriotism, which he continued to exhibit by serving as an assistant U.S. Attorney, and later as Secretary of the Navy. With an impressive resume already in place, Senator Warner’s election to the U.S. Senate in 1978 would begin another stage of his career characterized by his thoughtful persistence in pursuing the highest levels of responsibility for himself and his constituents. continued on page 9


From the President Almost daily, visitors to the museum of all ages ask, “Were you scared?” My mind flashed back to the night of November 1943, not long after the Riga selection when my mothers’ parents, two brothers and a sister, were deported to their death. Mother and I were saved by a Jewish policeman that was a friend of my father (obm). The night was moonless and cold. My father cut the wire by the bridge crossing Paneriu Gtv. (Paneriu Street); the same street, that thousands of Jews were marched to their death at the 9th Fort. I was told to quietly run across the street and hide. “No matter what you hear or see, do not make a sound or come back. We will come for you.”

It seemed like an eternity. I huddled behind a fence across the street. I could hear the footsteps of the guard with his hobnailed boots walking his post on the cobblestoned street. My mind was racing. What was I going to say to the Lithuanian that lived in the house, if he should come out? I was fluent in Lithuanian, but what was I going to say? I was just over eight years of age, and alone. I trembled with fear. Eventually when the guard’s footsteps faded to the ear, my mother escaped through the same hole in the fence and by touching the ground found me. I have never experienced fear like that again, until maybe now. As with the veterans of WWII my generation of Holocaust survivors is disappearing. I am one of the youngest and on June 5, 2009 - I turned 74. We do not have many years left, there are thousands of Holocaust deniers even while we are still here as proof of the atrocities that civilized men and women have committed against us. What will happen when the last one of us is gone?

Recently, Michael Berenbaum, a Holocaust scholar wrote, “When the last survivor is gone, the Holocaust will become about the past and recede into the past. Whether it can still retain its current status is unknown but, perhaps, not unknowable. It is clear that courses will be taught on the Holocaust and Genocide. A college recently renamed its Center for the Study of the Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights, calling it the Center for the Study of Human Rights, in the future, this renaming and rebranding will happen more often and with much less opposition.” That is even more frightening. History can repeat itself if we stop being vigilant of our surroundings and allow convenient and cosmetic changes. Yes, I am scared now for the future, that some scholars will attempt to change the history of the past.

JAY M. IPSON PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR jipson@va-holocaust.com


2009 NEILSON J. NOVEMBER AWARD DINNER HONORING Senator Henry L. Marsh

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n October 18, 2009, The VHM will continue its tradition of honoring individuals whose lives have exemplified the values of tolerance by presenting Senator Henry L. Marsh, III with the seventh annual Neilson J. November Award.

Marsh began his legal career in 1961 with the firm of Hill, Tucker and Marsh and became a partner in 1966. Upon joining the firm, he immediately enlisted in the fight against the policy of “massive resistance”, Virginia’s response to the Brown v. Board of Education case. Over the next two decades, Marsh handled more than 50 cases against school boards across the state involving desegregation. Previous recipients have included his Excellency Timothy Kaine, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Dr. Eugene P. Trani, and The Most Rev. Walter F. Sullivan, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Richmond. For more information or to make a reservation for the dinner, please call Leigh Weedon at ext. 243.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2009 visual arts competition!

Sarah Cupka’s untitled work won first place in the Senior Division of the Competition.

One of the primary goals of the Joint Holocaust Education Committee of the Virginia Holocaust Museum and the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond is to encourage young people to apply the lessons of history to the moral decisions they make today. This competition provides students an opportunity to express themselves creatively about what they have learned. Limited to middle school and high school students, the artwork is evaluated in two divisions: Junior (middle school entries) and Senior (high school entries). Prizes are awarded to the winners in both divisions. 3


A TRIBUTE TO

AL ROSENBAUM, OBM Louis Albert Rosenbaum, affectionately known as “Al”, was an entrepreneur most of his life. He established many successful businesses, yet he enjoyed the arts and sciences equally well during the course of his life. In fact, through his business career, he was an avid glass collector. One day, while having a discussion with a friend about facing retirement, his friend challenged him to blow and/or sculpt his own art glass since he so much enjoyed this form of art. Approximately a week after his retirement on September 30, 1989, Al was enrolled in a three week course in the Asheville, N.C. School of Glass. He knew that he had found his calling. After the course in N.C., he enrolled at VCU to continue his love of glass sculpting, which eventually included metal sculptures as well.

While enrolled at VCU, Al started sculpting Holocaust Art - not that he intended to - he said his hands just took him in that direction. And so, Al Rosenbaum started his second career. He had a one-man show at the Valentine Museum. However, it was now time to find a permanent home for his art. Al’s friend, Mark Fetter suggested that they contact Jay M. Ipson, who was traveling around the state speaking to middle school children regarding the Holocaust, which Jay had witnessed first hand. Mark brought to Al’s and Jay’s attention that the second floor of Temple Beth El’s Religious School Building on Roseneath Road was available. The Board of Trustees of Temple Beth El gave their approval for the creation of the Virginia Holocaust Museum at 213 Roseneath Road, Richmond, Virginia. The rest, of course, is history! The Museum soon outgrew these premises. A larger location for the Museum’s new home fell into place rather quickly when the State of Virginia offered the present location of 2000 East Cary Street in Richmond to the Museum for its new home. This gave Al the opportunity to continue producing works of art with cherished passion and creativity. Al was instrumental in the design of various permanent exhibits in the Museum. He worked together with Dianna Gabay in the design as well as the installations. Al enjoyed working with all the people involved in the creation and


continuance of the Museum, and was very proud of the magnitude of the facility and its constant growth and improvement. Public recognition of the Virginia Holocaust Museum pleased Al enormously, especially the growing number of visitors the Museum meets and greets on a regular basis. He felt that the Virginia Holocaust Musuem is second to none! To celebrate his 80th birthday, the Museum held a retrospective of Al’s artwork in May of 2006. He was so proud of this special day, and throughly enjoyed every moment of it. All of his family joined him at the Museum in celebration of his second career. Al Rosenbaum passed away on April 11, 2009, leaving a wonderful legacy for which he will be remembered!

On these two pages are many of Al’s works. They are on permanent display throughout the Museum.

“We will miss his guidance and talents”. -Jay M. Ipson Co-Founder & Executive Director 5


Spring At The Museum

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1. Henri Maizels and Simone Schwarz (Holocaust Survivors) lit candles at Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Rememberance Ceremony).

2. Bill and Gail Moskowitz, Aldo Castaneda and Susan Rickman pose after Dr. Castaneda’s talk on “Medicine in Nazi Germany”.

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3. Children from Colonial Heights Public Schools performed No More Raisins, No More Almonds at the Museum.

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4. Karen Daly, Senior Assistant Registrar & Administrator of Nazi-era Provenance Research Registration at the Virginia Musuem of Fine Arts lectures on Art Looted in the Holocaust Era during Yom HaShoah.

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6. Senator John W. Warner speaks after accepting the Rule of Law Award. 5. Emilio DiPalma and Senator John W. Warner inspect Mr. DiPalma’s mannequin in the Nuremberg Trials Courtroom Exhibit.

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7 8 7. Emily Chetkowski, Dianna Gabay, Eli Rosenbaum (last year’s recipient of the Rule of Law Award) and Emilio DiPalma.

8. Mr. DiPalma signs copies of his book Just A Kid with his daughter and co-author, Emily Chetkowski.

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11. Carole and Marcus Weinstein (Chairman of the Board).

9. Jay Weinberg and Commander Paul Galanti.

10. Sonia and Bud Brodecki (Holocaust Survivors) with Museum guests. 7


UPCOMING EVENTS All events are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.

BOOK CLUB: Rethinking the Holocaust by yehuda bauer September 25th at 1 p.m.

To participate in this month’s discussion, please reserve your place with Laura Murphy at ext. 223.

6th ANNUAL FILM SERIES: television under the swastika October 1st at 7 p.m.

Using footage from 285 reels found in Nazi archives, Michael Kloft’s film explores how the Nazi regime used ordinary programming such as cooking shows, the Olympic Games, and street interviews to subtly broadcast party propaganda to the general public.

Neilson J. november award dinner honoring senator henry l. marsh October 18th at 6 p.m.

Tickets: $150 per person. To make reservations, please contact Leigh Weedon at ext. 243.

LECTURER: DR. CHRISTOPHER BROWNING November 8th at 7 p.m.

Colonial Heights Middle School Drama Teacher Honored Courtney Rice, Colonial Heights Middle School Drama teacher, was honored by both her school and her district as Teacher of the Year. Among Ms. Rice’s accomplishments was the production of “No More Raisins, No More Almonds,” a play written by Survivor Batia Bettman, and shown at the Virginia Holocaust Museum. With scenery built both at school and in the Museum, twenty-five of Ms Rice’s students sang songs, and acted, as they portrayed Jewish children’s lives in the ghetto. Students had help with the songs, which were sung in Yiddish. Jay Ipson, Executive Director of the Museum visited the school and translated the words. Congratulations to Ms. Rice for a well deserved honor!

yom hashoah v’hagvurah “day of rememberance” This past April, Holocaust Survivors, their families, and friends gathered at the Virginia Holocaust Museum for an annual commemoration of all that was lost during the Holocaust. Guests to the Museum gathered before a replica of the Vilna Ghetto, which had been serving as the stage for a children’s play. The play itself told the story of the youth trapped in the ghetto and how they still found time to sing and play despite their situation. This small display of humanity set the tone for the night, a ceremony allowing survivors to honor and remember those who suffered and died in the Holocaust, words and poems were shared, some of which were written in the ghettos and some from the memories of those who lived through this period. Karen Daly from the Museum of Fine Arts then gave a talk on the culture lost during the war due to Nazi confiscation, coercion, and destruction. She celebrated people like the Fischer Family whose social consciousness and progressiveness led them to house major collections of art, half of which escaped Germany with one of their sons. Ms. Daly showed pictures of European museums such as the Louvre moving important pieces to safe places before they could be stolen. The talk also emphasized the push for many families to recover their personal collections, citing examples of paintings given back to families from the collections of the Fine Art Museums after sufficient proof could be established that the paintings the family lost are the ones held in the Museums. The night ended with a powerful quote by Elie Wiesel which urges people to not sit idly by while injustice is happening. Elie Wiesel said, “There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.”


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only “one of millions of G.I.s who would have done the same thing.” In his introduction, Whittington Clement of the Virginia Law Foundation said it was impossible to cite As Mr. Jay Weinberg stated, “while our mission is tolerance through education, our vision is far greater one sole reason for the decision to present Senator Warner with the Rule of Law award, for there were “so and far broader, for we hope that our children and grandchildren will see the day where we don’t merely many examples of when he did the right thing - the tolerate each other, but we develop a bond between thing we would want any elected official to do.” In accepting the Rule of Law award, Senator Warner each other which is accented with mutual respect and consideration.” spoke of his involvement in choosing federal judges during his distinguished thirty-year career, noting Virginia Holocaust Museum’s that he was he was “proud, with a sense of humility” Teacher Education Institute (TEI) to have been involved in the appointment of both the Graduate Named Manchester first woman, and the first African-American man to Middle School Teacher of the the federal judiciary. He discussed the importance of Year the rule of law and its potential to protect and maintain human dignity. For Senator Warner, “the Rule of Law Peg Moncure, a graduate of last year’s Virginia [is that] which distinguishes America from other Holocaust Museum’s Teacher Education Institute countries in the world.” Senator Warner continued by (TEI), a one week three credit graduate class held in praising the Virginia Holocaust Museum as “a constant conjunction with the University of Richmond, has reminder to this generation and future generations of been chosen Manchester Middle School Teacher that measure of human suffering endured in the absence of the Year. of the Rule of Law.” As part of her final TEI project Ms Moncure In accepting this award, Senator Warner joins wrote a series of lessons for her band students. One the ranks of other distinguished recipients of the Rule of the lessons was an interdisciplinary event, which of Law award, Mr. Henry T. King, prosecutor at the was entitled, “A Night of Remembrance” and was a Nuremberg Trials and Eli M. Rosenbaum, the Director fundraiser for the VHM. At the beginning of the of the Office of Special Investigations. school year Peg presented her idea to several other “Emilio “Leo” DiPalma was also honored receiving Manchester Middle School teachers who expressed the first ever Legacy of Nuremberg Award. Mr. DiPalma interest in working on the project with their students. stressed the importance of sharing the experience of the “A Night of Remembrance” became a two Holocaust with others, saying, “I’m kind of a low-key night event featuring the band, orchestra, chorus, person, but I’ll do anything to enlighten people that art, technology education, English and history weren’t even born at that time.” As part of the tribute teachers and students. Approximately 600 parents, to the significance of Mr. DiPalma’s participation in family members, and community members Nuremberg, the Virginia Holocaust Museum unveiled came to learn about the Holocaust from the a lifelike mannequin of the eighteen-year-old Staff children. Many of our local Richmond survivors Sergeant standing at his post in the VHM’s Nuremberg attended the event to support the children and Courtroom Trials Exhibit. staff. The culmination of the two night event Mr. DiPalma shared some of the chilling instances resulted in a significant donation, and thousands of Nazi cruelty that he had helped to record as part of of pennies for the Museum’s penny campaign. his duty copying Nazi documents and photographs that Peg is already planning for next year, and reports documented Nazi atrocities. In recalling his work, Mr. that even more of the Manchester Middle School DiPalma declared, “I couldn’t believe what I read and staff have volunteered to be part of the event and they saw.” Mr. DiPalma continued to recollect his experiences are beginning their preparation by enrolling in this as a guard at the historic trial, sharing interactions year’s Teacher Education Institutes, June 21-26 and he had with war criminals such as Hermann Göring, July 26-31. To see Peg’s lesson, as well as the other Albert Speer, Julius Streicher, and Baldur von Schirach. lessons written for the Teacher Education Institute on Despite the remarkable nature of the stories he had to www.va-holocaust.com, Education page, Teacher’s share, Mr. DiPalma humbly maintained that he was Manual. 9


By the Ghetto Gate

Beyond Memory: the Future of Holocaust Education by Tim Hensley

In his most famous book – This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen – Polish author Tadeusz Borowski asks “if the Germans win the war, what will the world know about us?” He goes on to speculate that the victorious Nazis would create a society that, not unlike ancient Egypt, remembers little about those who were forced to build it. A similar question was raised earlier this year when the Auschwitz Memorial Museum announced it was experiencing financial difficulties. The news of their problems prompted Robert Jan van Pelt to suggest that the Museum allow the Birkenau section “to be surrendered to nature.” Despite the controversial tone of his comment, van Pelt didn’t say it out of disrespect; rather, it was an attempt to address what had become a logistical problem on the part of the Museum. He would go on to clarify his statement by saying that “the remains of Auschwitz are shells and shadows of the periphery of what is the core of the event, which is the industrialized killing of people.” Nevertheless, it became a fulcrum to an ongoing debate about the future of Holocaust and memorial sites, which invariably circles back to Borowski’s central question: “what will the world know about us?” At the heart of this discussion is a fear that when the last survivor is gone, no one will be left to speak for those who suffered and perished at the hands of Nazi aggression. What the majority of these exchanges neglect to mention is the influx of young people pursuing careers in academic and memorial settings. Even without familial ties to Nazi atrocities, they are entering the profession with an interest in pursuing a field that continues to offer a substantial opportunity to make a difference in their communities as well as their own lives. While it may be impossible to know how future generations will approach the study of genocide, without question the Holocaust will remain an important teaching tool for a variety of disciplines. Whether the lessons are learned in a museum or through outreach, the scope and accessibility of the Shoah will no doubt continue to be the standard for educating students on the dangers of hatred and intolerance.


Community involvement at the vhm stop hunger now packaging event

anthem “stride through time” 10k

Above: Alex Keisch (Holocaust Survivor) and family participate in the 10k.

Left: Approximately 120 Rotarians, family members, friends, and Interact Club members participated in the Stop Hunger Now Event. The group packaged 45,000 meals in just over two hours. The meals will be shipped to Liberia. Above: The many museums along the 10k route provide opportunities to sample the wealth of exhibits in downtown Richmond highlighting the city’s 400 year history. The VHM was one of the many sites along the way. 11


Virginia Holocaust Museum

Non-profit Org.

2000 East Cary Street Richmond, Virginia 23223-7032 (804) 257-5400 (804) 257-4314 Fax

U.S. Postage PAID Richmond, VA

Address Service Requested

Permit No. 195

http://www.va-holocaust.com Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday – Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on all major Jewish holidays,

Remember

Christmas and New Year’s Day.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Mr. Marcus M. Weinstein, Chairman Mr. Kenneth M. Dye, Vice Chairman Dr. I. Norman Sporn, Vice Chairman Mr. Jay M. Ipson, Founder, President and Executive Director Jay M. Weinberg, Esq., Secretary Mr. frank seldes, Treasurer Mr. D. Eugene Atkinson Mr. Ric Arenstein Rabbi Dennis Beck-Berman Mr. Charles N. Becker Amb. (Ret.) Randolph M. Bell irving M. Blank, Esq. Dr. Kathrin Bower dr. David D. Burhans ms. eva hardy

Mr. Ronny T. Ipson murray janus, esq. Mr. Stewart M. Kasen mr. benjamin kutner The Hon. G. Manoli Loupassi roderick mathews, esq. mr. abby moore The Hon. John O’ Bannon III, M.D. Dr. Frederick Rahal Marvin A. Rosman, Esq. Ms. Simone Schwarz Ms. Deborah Segaloff mr. stuart c. siegel ms. leah sievers ms. clare sisisky Morton G. Thalhimer, Jr. ms. sara villalona The Rev. Lynne E. Washington Ms. Thelma Williams-Tunstall Brett A. Zwerdling, Esq.

Tolerance Through Education Membership Application Dues

Founder ($10,000+) Benefactor ($5,000) Memorial ($1,000) Witness ($500)

Educator ($250)

Supporter ($100) Family ($50) Individual ($25) Young Friends ($20)

Name Address

To purchase a brick, please call Leigh Weedon AT 804.257.5400 or visit our website. STAFF

Jay M. Ipson, President and Executive Director Leigh Weedon, Assistant to the Executive Director Bruce Selznick, Director of Finance Dianna Gabay, Director of Exhibitions and Collections Tim Hensley, Libr arian Laur a Murphy, Director of Guest Relations Rena Berlin, Director of Education Matt Simpson, Executive Assistant Cissy Gershman, Gift Shop Manager Chuck Weitzenhofer, Volunteer Director of Or al History Archives Fr ank Seldes, Volunteer Facility Rental Manager Murr ay Carton, Reception Desk Volunteer

City, State, Zip Phone (day) (evening) Check is enclosed, or Please charge my dues in the amount of to my MasterCard VISA Discover American Exp. Card # Exp. Date Signature Please return to: Virginia Holocaust Museum 2000 East Cary Street Richmond, VA 23223-7032


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