Wendy Auerbach | Jewish News

Son of Holocaust survivors to speak at Yom Hashoah

Wendy Auerbach — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 19:17:23 +0000

Wednesday, April 23, Ohef Sholom Temple, 6:45 pm

Dr. Irving Berkowitz is the keynote speaker for the community’s Yom Hashoah commemoration, which is presented each year by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Holocaust Commission. Dr. Berkowitz is the son of Holocaust survivors, as well as a Holocaust scholar and educator.

Berkowitz holds advanced degrees in public policy and sociology and most recently served as dean of Academic Affairs at Palm Beach State College. Earlier in his career he served as a dean at Norfolk State University. He says he looks forward to returning to Hampton Roads.

Throughout his 42-year-career, Berkowitz has been a passionate advocate for human rights and Holocaust education. He has advised post-communist governments, volunteered with civil rights organizations, and received numerous awards for his leadership and advocacy. All of Dr. Berkowitz’s work reflects his deep commitment to combating prejudice and preserving the lessons of history.

This year’s Yom Hashoah commemoration carries great significance as this observes the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII and of the Holocaust. The end of the Holocaust also marked the beginning of Holocaust denial and distortion, something the world continues to grapple with.

Ohef Sholom Temple is located on Raleigh Ave. in Norfolk’s Ghent neighborhood.

The Holocaust Commission encourages everyone in the community to attend and recognize this important anniversary. For more information, go to holocaustcommission.jewishva.org.

Commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day with local stories in “To Life: The Past Is Present”

Wendy Auerbach — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 20:15:49 +0000

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

In 2005, to commemorate the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the United Nations General Assembly designated January 27 as
International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

The resolution stated that every member of the UN should honor the six million Jews as well as others who perished in the Nazi genocide. The resolution also tasked them with the development and promotion of educational programs about this history to help prevent such atrocities in the future.

Tragically, denial and distortion of Holocaust history is rampant for all to witnesses, along with an alarming rise of antisemitism locally, nationally, and around the globe. More than ever, it is important that this dark chapter of human history is remembered.

One way to acknowledge the significance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day is to read a section in the Holocaust Commission’s To Life: The Past is Present, Holocaust Stories of Hampton Roads Survivors, Rescuers, and Liberators, a collection of stories and reflections from members of Jewish Tidewater who witnessed this brutal history. As the day specifically honors the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the stories of Sam and Irving Althaus, Paula Bromberg, Jan Frolich, Esther and Charles Goldman, Rosalia Kaplan, and Aaron Weintraub all take the reader into the largest and deadliest extermination camp in the vast network of 44,000 camps established by the Nazis and their allies throughout Europe. These stories, along with the others in the book, are a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of hope in the face of unimaginable adversity.

Other ways to reflect and learn about the Holocaust include listening to an episode of the podcast, Stars Among Us, watching a What We Carry film, or encouraging a student to enter the Elie Wiesel Writing and Visuals Arts Competition, all of which can be found on the Holocaust Commission’s website. Additional resources can be found by visiting the websites of United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (https://www.ushmm.org) or the Virginia Holocaust Museum (https://www.vaholocaust.org/).

To Life is available for purchase at the Simon Family Jewish Community Center, at all area temple gift shops, Prince Books, the MacArthur Memorial gift shop, and on the Holocaust Commission’s website.

For more information about the Holocaust Commission of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, visit holocaustcommission.org or contact Elka Mednick: EMednick@UJFT.org or 757-965-6100.

Giving the gift of memory: To Life honors Holocaust stories this holiday season

Wendy Auerbach — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 18:45:00 +0000

To Life: The Past Is Present, Holocaust Stories of Hampton Roads Survivors, Rescuers, and Liberators is a collection of stories and reflections from those who witnessed this brutal history. Published by the Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, the book is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of hope in the face of unimaginable adversity.

So much of what happened during the Nazi era and WWII still resonates today. It is important now more than ever to remember and explore one of the darkest chapters of the 20^th century. With more than 90 personal stories, hundreds of photos, and numerous historical notes, To Life: The Past Is Present explores the entire arc of Holocaust history in an engaging format whether readers are new to the subject or are deeply knowledgable.

To Life is available for purchase at the Simon Family Jewish Community Center, at all area temple gift shops, Prince Books, the MacArthur Memorial gift shop, and on the Holocaust Commission’s website.

For more information about the Holocaust Commission of UJFT and their programs, visit holocaustcommission.org or contact Elka Mednick at EMednick@UJFT.org or 757-965-6100.

Holocaust Commission donates copies of “To Life” to 14 public library systems

Wendy Auerbach — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 18:53:10 +0000

It is now possible to checkout a copy of To Life: The Past Is Present, Holocaust Stories of Hampton Roads Survivors, Liberators, and Rescuers as far north as Charles City and as far west as Isle of Wight in Virginia.

Last month, the Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, working with the Tidewater Area Library Director Consortium, donated books to every main and branch location in the 14 library systems that are part of the consortium.

Elka Mednick, director of the Holocaust Commission, says that “One of the primary goals of publishing To Life was to make this important history very accessible. There is no better way to do that than to partner with public libraries.”

Working through the consortium has laid the foundation for great opportunities to share other educational programming. In addition to To Life, the Holocaust Commission offers the podcast series, Stars Among Us, available on UJFT’s website and other streaming platforms, and What We Carry, a docent lead program that guides the audience through the journey of local Holocaust survivors through video and curated replicas of memorabilia.

The book, which includes more than 90 poignant personal accounts that span the entire arc of Holocaust history, is now available in every main and branch location in these systems: Blackwater, Chesapeake, Eastern Shore, Gloucester, Hampton, Heritage, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, and York County.

The primary mission of the Holocaust Commission is to provide a variety of educational programs and materials at no cost to educators and the community. The commission has been recognized by the Virginia Department of Education as a state resource for Holocaust education.

To Life is also available for purchase at the Simon Family JCC, Prince Books in Norfolk, and at the MacArthur Memorial giftshop, also in Norfolk.

For more information about resources provided by the Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, contact Elka Medick at emednick@ujft.org or at 757-965-6112.