Pag« 6-THE NEWS-Juim/July, 1983
Resolution Passed At Gathering
of Holocaust Survivors
Impressions Front Tlie Holocaust Gatliering
Roman Kent, Cbainnan of the National Executive Com
mittee of American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Sur-
vivors, (1.) and Benjamin Meed, President of the American
Gathering, (rj at Steering Committee meeting during which
Mr. Kent introduced a resolution to continue the Gathering
as an organization. Photo/Gayle Rothschild, Washington,
D.C.'
As the 1983 American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Sur
vivors in Washington, D.C., comes to an end, we realize that
the overwhelming success of our efforts sends a clear signal
that our work must continue. Just as the achievements of the
1981 World Gathering in Israel led to the events of the week
just past, so we must move forward to consider our future.
We are mindful that our time is precious, our responsibili
ty is great and that we have a unique role to play.
When our people here in the United States, in Canada, in
Israel, or anywhere in the world are threatened — our voice
must be heard.
When the world shows that the facts and lessons of the
Holocaust are not understood — our voice must be heard.
When the Jewish community of which we are a part needs
the survivors as comrades for united activity — our voice
must be heard.
When the forms of remembrance of the Holocaust are con
sidered — our voice must be heard.
The American Gathering has caught the attention of the
Nation and many now listen to our story — our voices have
at last been heard.
We now resolve that the American Gathering must con
tinue to be a positive and effective force. We must gather
again to bring survivors and our children together. We must
maintain and strengthen our national registry to try again
and again for reunion. The interest of the public at large in us
and our experience must be nourished by the truth of what
we say and our right and duty to speak. Our allegiance to the
people of Israel is unshakeable, and we must evidence that
support. Our pride in our new home and citizenship is
strengthened by our continuing traditions and values of the
world that is gone.
We have no other choice but to use our days well and to
ever strengthen the legacy we will pass on.
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By
Dr. Susan E. Cernyak-Spatz
Harry Cargas, the well-
known author and lecturer
from Webster College, St.
Louis, retells the story he
has heard, no guarantee. At
the gathering two women at
tended with their husbands.
They recognized each other
as camp comrades. While
they hugged and kissed, one
looked up at the husband of
the other one, and recognized
in him the husband she had
thought dead these 40 years.
I can not vouch for the story,
and probably neither can
Harry, but such is the stuff
that the dreams at the
Gathering were made of.
Men and women clutching
the microphone attached to
the loudspeaker battery in
the middle of the main hall of
the Convention Center in
Washington. Calling, voices
raised, reverberating
through the hall “Ich bin
Sureh Leah fuen Grodno
Gubernye. Hot in gezejn
mine husband /taten/-
momme/”... and so it goes
for hours. Pushing, shoving
in their eagerness to get to
the microphone. They carry
name tags with outlandish
designs on their back, on
their front, on raised poles.
One even went so far as to
have a blue and white striped
jacket made in the shape of
the camp-capo jacket... with
a prisoner’s rimless cap to
match. Ljuba Gurdus, the
well-known artist, a friend of
mine, who exhibited there,
and I, roared with laughter.
“You know,” Ljuba said,
“he could not have been a
Capo, the tailoring is not
good enough, but he sure
must have had access to the
laundry. They never looked
so clean.” One can laugh
now.
The exhibits of survivor
artists, like Ljuba Gurdus,
are impressive; Ljubas in a
style reminiscent of Kaethe
Kolwitz, some in a primitive
style a la Grandma Moses
with a less endearing topic.
Some abstracts show torn
structures... some excellent
sculpture... small bronze
groups.
The exhibit prepared by
the Yad Vashem, unfor
tunately, did not have
enough English subtitles to
be comprehensive. But the
pictures, if one knew what
one was looking at, spoke for
themselves.
Unfortunately, the huck
sters had gotten hold of this
Gathering too. I realized it
defrayed the costs, but one
felt put upon by ‘Holocaust
t-shirts’ and souvenirs of the
Holocaust Gathering.
Due to a mixup in the
tickets I never received my
packet and, therefore, was
deprived of attending the
opening meeting on Monday
night. I understand it was
very moving. The president
spoke movingly of how
"WE” shall overcome and
remember. Unfortunately, at
the same time “WE” were
deprived by the self-same
president of the planes to
assure “OUR” survival in
Israel.
One fact struck me as
remarkable. There were
more women survivors than
men. This seems significant.
The second generation was
represented in large numbers
and they were the ones who
attended the seminars and
lectures. It seemed the ma
jority of survivors preferred
to keep looking for the pro
verbial ‘needle in the hay
stack.’ I gave up looking as
soon as I found out that the
much vaunted computer did
not contain print-out lists ar
ranged by either countries or
cities of origin or camp work
ing commandos.
I stared intently at the
faces around me, but I did
not recognize anyone.
It seemed that the central
Europeans, such as Ger
mans, Austrians, Belgians,
French, Czechs, etc. were in
the absolute minority. The
Polish survivors dominated
the Gathering. One can only
surmise that their precarious
life even in pre-war Poland
prepared them better for the
ordeal than the central Euro
peans.
On Wednesday morning
we attended the ceremony at
the West steps of the Capitol
to witness the handing over
of the deeds for the buildings
that are to house the Holo
caust Museum, located near
the Jefferson Memorial.
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Three second generation
Congress members, Lauten-
berg, Gejdenson and
Boschwitz, spoke. Tip
O’Neill spoke, V.P. Bush
spoke. The congressmen
were so thankful for the aid
and refuge given to them by
the U.S., i.e. their parents,
and that included, of course,
us, the survivors, after the
war.
Elie Wiesel, in his address,
said, “Yes, we are grateful
for the help after the war, for
the G.I.s who opened the
gates of the camp, gave us
food, but where were you
during the war?” The crowd
roared their approval to that
rhetorical question' and I
believe that is a question
that the world will have to
answer in the future.
Since Congress members
are notorious for long-
windedness, the crowd thin
ned out considerably. It was
hot and standing was not
very comfortable.
I left that afternoon. I had
made a few interesting ac
quaintances, had gotten
some more material for my
work. I do not think I need to
go to another Gathering.
There is no one waiting for
me.
From Page 1
with his wife and children
two years ago from Miami.
He is a sales representative
for two ladies apparel firms,
traveling a three state area.
He has previously served in
Augusta as chairman of their
Federation Campaign back
in the 1970-71 Drive, and
worked actively on behalf of
The Jewish Community
Center, serving a's
Treasurer. He also served on
the Young Leadership
Cabinet of the UJA during
the early 1970’s. He has
made two trips to Israel, one
in 1970, and again in 1983 (the
February Mission).
Concerning Project
Renewal, Simon says that we
Jews in Charlotte, who have
so much to be thankful for,
have a wonderful opportuni
ty to share with a sister city
in Northern Israel. We are
putting dollars into a Project
here, which will make a bet
ter place for us and future
generations, a project that
will be a place for the entire
community to use for social,
educational, religious,
cultural, social services and
so much more. Our Sister Ci
ty, Nazarit Ellit, has the
same needs. We have the op
portunity to reach out and
provide for our Brothers and
Sisters in the same way that
we as a community in
Charlotte are reaching out
and providing. What a
wonderful opportunity, and
a blessing. In the months
and years ahead it is hoped
that each of you will want to
hear more about Nazarit
Ellit, and will certainly in
clude a stop there on any
future trips to Israel. Project
Renewal is a new and in
novative program of shared
planning and implementa
tion and a new partnership
for the 80’s. Learn more
about Project Renewal. Let’s
get excited!