USA

The American Society for Yad Vashem held its 20^th Annual Tribute Dinner on 7 November at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers, attended by over 1,000 guests. Consul General of Israel to New York Ambassador Arye Mekel, Chairman of the Yad Vashem Directorate Avner Shalev and Chairman of the American Society Eli Zborowski addressed the audience. Minister of Education, Culture and Sport Limor Livnat, MK (top, left, with Avner Shalev, center, and Eli Zborowski, right), was the guest speaker. The program was presided over by Dinner Chairmen David Halpern and Mark Wilf. This year’s theme of honoring the survivors, their children and grandchildren was marked by the presentation of the Key to Yad Vashem to Stella and Sam Skura (center, right), their daughter and son-in-law Cheryl and Moshe Lifshitz (center, left) and granddaughters Iris and Ilana (bottom).

“Yad Vashem 2001” Campaign Chair and major donor to the new Holocaust History Museum Joseph Wilf (right, with Shaya Ben Yehuda) toured the new Museum Complex in November. In an emotional meeting with Avner Shalev, Wilf expressed his admiration of the complex as it nears completion.

Mark Wilf (right), National Chair of the 2005 UJA Federation Campaign of the UJC, American Society for Yad Vashem executive committee member and leading member of the Second Generation accompanied the 70-member UJC Prime Minister’s Mission in October. After a tour of the new Museum, the group viewed presentations on archival documents, museum artifacts and Holocaust period art, the new Hall of Names and the Central Database of Shoah Victims’ Names.

Dr. Robert Cherry (right), son-in-law of Yad Vashem benefactors Sol and Gloria Silberzweig z”l, toured Yad Vashem and met with Head of the International Institute for Holocaust Research Professor David Bankier and with staff at the International School for Holocaust Studies.

Yad Vashem supporter and American Society for Yad Vashem executive committee member Andy Groveman (top, second from right) accompanied a Memphis Jewish Federation mission, headed by Executive Director Jeffrey Feld (top, third from right) to Yad Vashem in October. The group was given an overview of activities and the development plan from Director of the International Relations Division Shaya Ben Yehuda (left).

Vice Chairman of Lehman Brothers Harvey Krueger (right), his wife Connie, family members, and friend Barbara Mandel toured Yad Vashem in November. Harvey Krueger recently became a “builder” of the new Holocaust History Museum.

Treasurer of the American Society for Yad Vashem Marvin Zborowski and his wife Celina (center), their children Mark and Judy Zborowski (left) and Ziggy and Galit Zborowski (right), and their grandchildren toured Yad Vashem in September.

American Society for Yad Vashem Vice-Chairman Mark Palmer and his wife Myrna, National Vice-Chair (Illinois) Fred Weiss and his wife Gloria, and Executive Board Member William Mandell and his Paula, visited the Founders Square of the Valley of the Communities.

Richard and Debbie Born and their son visited the “No Child’s Play” exhibit during a tour of Yad Vashem in October.

Yad Vashem mourns the loss of Diana Zborowski z”l, beloved wife of American Society for Yad Vashem Chairman Eli Zborowski. Born in Ukraine, Diana was hidden for 14 months during the Shoah under a sofa in the home of her Catholic nursemaid. Eli and Diana met in a displaced persons camp in Germany and married in 1948. In 1952 they emigrated to the United States, settling in Forest Hills, New York, where they established a family, built a successful business career, and became active in the local and extended Jewish community. The Zborowski’s commitment to Holocaust remembrance and education led to their affiliation with Yad Vashem, beginning in the early 1960s. Over the years Eli toiled to build the American Society for Yad Vashem, with Diana’s steadfast support and encouragement. Yad Vashem remembers Diana as a dear and devoted friend, and joins Eli, their children Lilly and Murry, and their seven grandchildren in mourning her passing.

CANADA

The Canadian Society for Yad Vashem held a Gala Dinner on 14 November in Toronto marking the upcoming opening of Yad Vashem’s new Holocaust History Museum. World-renowned Museum architect Moshe Safdie was the keynote speaker. Dr. Max and Gianna Glassman (inset, with Moshe Safdie, center), who endowed “The World Rebuilt” balcony at the new Museum overlooking a spectacular view of Jerusalem, received the Yad Vashem Benefactors’ Award. The Koschitzky family was presented with the 2004 Yad Vashem “Zachor” Award for their contribution of Through Our Eyes—a new compilation of writings, art and photographs by children from the Holocaust period. The Hon. Art Eggleton, P.C. (center) was Dinner Chair and Will Hechter (second from left, with his wife Linda) chaired the Dinner’s fundraising campaign. Also in attendance were: Director of the International Relations Division Shaya Ben Yehuda (left), Director of the Division’s English Desk Solly Kaplinski (right), Helen Rosenbaum (second from right), Canadian Society Executive Director Hetty Shapiro (third from right) and Canadian Society Chairman Hank Rosenbaum (fourth from right

UK

Marking Yad Vashem’s 50^th year, over seventy 35-55 year-old businesspeople were invited to a Yad Vashem UK Foundation reception aimed at raising awareness of Yad Vashem’s work in the UK. Executive Trustee of the Foundation Jeffrey Pinnick (pictured) and Director of the English Desk, International Relations Division, Solly Kaplinski addressed the audience. 

Michael Gee (left), representing the Archie Sherman Charitable Trust, toured Yad Vashem with Chairman of the Yad Vashem Directorate Avner Shalev (right), including the new Holocaust History Museum. The Archie Sherman Charitable Trust has endowed “The Last Jews” chapter in the new Holocaust History Museum.

Yad Vashem supporter Lily Cantor of Sheffield visited Yad Vashem in early October.

FRANCE

French Society Seeks Information on Righteous

The French Society for Yad Vashem is currently collecting evidence concerning the following Righteous Among the Nations:

Professor Stanislas de Seze, who saved Jews at the Hospital of the Cité Universitaire, Paris and in the Grignon clinic, Orly; Father Giovanni Lucrini from Allessandria, Italy, who saved a Polish Jewish woman and her son, and Henri Askenazi; The Jolivet family, from Primelle, who assisted the family of Albert Bloch alias Blocher (Paris)—Henri Bloch, Roger Ulmann, Paul Meyer and his daughters Josette and Jacqueline—and Claire Rozanes, a lawyer in Paris; Paul Sclarovitz from Nancy, his wife and two daughters Paulette and Jacqueline, who were hidden in Mayet de Montagne near Vichy (Allier) by Mr and Mrs Etaix, and then by the Rochen family at St Germain Laval and by the Roux family at St André d’Apchon; Mr and Mrs Gotchouck (alias Garnier) and their two daughters Ginette and Monique from Mulhouse who were hidden by Mr and Mrs Lutrand at Livron (Drome), then by Mr and Mrs Breyto, Crest; Sister Leocadie  who hid 15 young Jewish girls at the Catholic boarding school “Ste Madeleine” in Velezay; and Mr and Mrs Boucher in Gonon la Voulte sur Rhone, who hid Klara Adler and her son Norbert.

If you have information about any of these people, please contact: Mr Louis Grobart, French Society for Yad Vashem, 64 Avenue Marceau, 75008 Paris, France. E-mail: yadvashem.France@libertysurf.fr

GERMANY

Two events were recently held in Hamburg marking Yad Vashem’s 50^th year: the first was a benefit concert at the Hamburg Music Hall, organized by Keren Kayemet L'Yisrael (KKL) together with Yad Vashem. The concert was sponsored and conducted by Prof. Wolfgang Engels, who initiated the event. Some 600 people attended including Israel’s Ambassador to Germany Shimon Stein, Chairperson of the Freundeskreis Yad Vashem in Germany Prof. Rita Süssmuth, President of KKL, Germany, Benny Bloch, Director of Yad Vashem’s International Relations Division Shaya Ben Yehuda, and other distinguished guests.

The Hamburg Municipality and Senate, together with Yad Vashem, hosted an event at the city hall attended by 460 guests and dignitaries. Former Israeli Chief Rabbi Israel Meir Lau (left) was the guest speaker. Mayor Ole von Beust (center), President of the Hamburg Senate Berndt Roeder and First Vice-Chair of the Freundeskreis Albrecht Fuerst zu Castell-Castell (right) also addressed the guests.

UKRAINE

In October, the first Yad Vashem Society in Ukraine was established in Dniepropotrovsk by President of the local Jewish community Gennady Bogolubov (pictured right, with Special Advisor to the Chairman of the Directorate Arie Zuckerman, laying a wreath in the Hall of Remembrance) and his family, and Dnepropetrovsk Chief Rabbi Shmuel Kaminsky. The society recently contributed toward the support of Yad Vashem activities and is planning a dinner for April 2005. The founding of the society signals Yad Vashem’s intention to bolster its activities and strengthen its ties with Jewish communities in Eastern Europe.

MEXICO

Members of Club Deportivo Israelita de Mexico, including Chairman Sammy Lifshitz and board member Bernardo Shapiro, previewed the new Holocaust History Museum.

On 18 November the “No Child’s Play” exhibit opened in Mexico sponsored by Israel Feldman and Jaime Berenstein. Leaders and members of the Mexico Jewish community attended the opening ceremony as well as President of the National Commission on Human Rights Dr. Jose Luis Soberanes Fernandez, who composed a declaration of identification with the Jewish people for the event. Israel’s Ambassador to Mexico David Dannon and Major Gen. (res.) Itzhak Eitan were also present. Director of the Ibero-American Desk Perla Hazan (right) presented a plaque to Bronia Sigal in appreciation for organizing the exhibit.

Copyright ©2004 Yad Vashem The Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority