As time marches on, our communities continue to see a steady decline in the number of Holocaust survivors who can bear witness to one of the darkest periods in recent human history and the incredible resilience of those who survived.

The Center for Holocaust, Human Rights & Genocide Education (Chhange) at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, New Jersey is quite mindful of this fact and regularly mobilizes survivors to speak with middle school, high school and college students and educators.

On March 26 Chhange held a testimonial dinner to honor 15 Holocaust survivors who frequently serve as speakers for the group. The dinner also honored Chhange high school intern Julia Funck, who attended the center’s educational events and went on to volunteer, and Chhange corporate supporter Prestige Capital. Over 200 family members, friends and enthusiastic supporters attended the dinner, held at the Jumping Brook Country Club in Neptune.

For this writer, it was a rare privilege to be in the room with such a large group of survivors, to meet a few of them, and to hear their statements in brief video presentations aired at the dinner. In one video, Eva Wiener stated that she tells all of her students, “Any one person can make a real difference,” and Claire Boren marveled at the bravery of those who hid her family: “They stood to lose so much, yet they still took us in.” Milan Schwartz said, “I tell people that you can’t ignore bigotry, because it can have very serious consequences,” and Ruth Rosenfeld shared, “My message is one of hope and kindness, that we must treat others with an open heart.”

Speaking with The Jewish Link during the cocktail hour before the dinner, survivor Jeannie Wechsler (formerly of Lakewood, now living in Dix Hills, Long Island) shared the story of how she and her six siblings all miraculously survived, while witnessing great horrors. Her story has been chronicled in a book, “One Step Ahead,” and in a play, “By Wheels and By Wings.” Wechsler is the last surviving sibling and confided that she still feels a sense of guilt for having survived while so many others didn’t.

Speaking to The Jewish Link after the dinner, Chhange Executive Director Asya Darbinyan, Ph.D., described the major initiatives of the center, which is based in the Library Building at Brookdale Community College yet functions as an independent nonprofit organization. The building houses a permanent exhibit, “Journeys Beyond Genocide: The Human Experience,” which features information through the eyes of local survivors and their families—on the Armenian Genocide (which began in April 1915), the Holocaust (1933-1945), and the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Chhange welcomes thousands of visitors every year and school groups every week to explore the exhibit. Group tours are led by trained volunteer docents and usually include testimony from one of the survivors.

Susan Yellin, special projects co-director at Chhange and co-creator of the exhibit with Chhange’s first Executive Director Dale Daniels, said that the exhibit opened in 2018 and focuses on the human history and the survivors’ perspective (not the perpetrators’ history). The message of how small acts of kindness can make a big difference permeates the exhibit.

Chhange houses a large archive of artifacts, clothing, photographs and keepsakes, donated by survivors and their families, which are used in group visits and available for research projects. Chhange also hold an annual colloquium in May that attracts hundreds of students and educators, several professional development workshops for educators throughout the year, and commemoration events for International Holocaust Remembrance Day in January, Yom HaShoah in April, the Rwandan Genocide (Kwibuka) in April, Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day in April, and the November Pogrom (Kristallnacht) in November.

It was clear from the comments of different attendees at the dinner that the Chhange organization is very highly regarded and people were glad to gather at the dinner to show their support.

“Chhange is an incredibly important organization that is ensuring that future generations understand the importance of tolerance and standing up against hatred,” said Dr. Ginni Rosenfeld, the daughter of survivor Ruth Rosenfeld. “I’m very proud of my mother and all the other survivor speakers for sharing their stories and creating profound connections with the students.”

Steve Besserman of Monroe Township, a retired news industry professional and second-generation survivor, shared that he had prepared a one-hour video about his parents’ experiences in the Holocaust. He is very grateful that Chhange helped arrange the first public screening of the film in 2011 at Brookdale Community College and was happy to attend the dinner.

Shari Tepper and Chaya Friedmann were part of a nine-person contingent representing their synagogue in Manalapan. Tepper commented: “Gathering with members of Congregation B’nai Israel at the Chhange dinner was a powerful testament to our shared commitment to honoring Holocaust survivors, as we stand together in solidarity and remembrance. This dinner was a profound reminder of resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity; their stories inspire us to cherish and protect the values of compassion and humanity.” Friedmann stated: “This moving testimonial dinner reflected Chhange’s dedication to ‘educate about the Holocaust, genocide and human rights,’ by honoring the survivor speakers, who shared their commitment for communicating their experiences and their inspiring world views.”

Howard Dorman, a retired partner in a New Jersey CPA firm and president of Chhange, said that he found it very moving to hear the statements of the survivors in the videos shown at the dinner. Closer to home, he was proud to sit with his two sons and their wives and his granddaughter and grandson at the dinner, which demonstrated an intergenerational appreciation of this important work.

For more information on Chhange, please visit their website at: www.Chhange.org

Harry Glazer is the Middlesex County editor of The Jewish Link. He welcomes reader feedback and can be reached at harryglazer615@gmail.com. Harry is also keenly interested in stories about the vibrancy of Jewish life in Monmouth County.