For the past 38 years, the Teaneck Holocaust Commemoration Committee, made up of local residents, many of whom are children of Holocaust survivors, has organized an annual program in memory of and in tribute to Holocaust victims. The programs have included a presentation by a survivor as well as a candle-lighting ceremony, a musical tribute by a children’s choir, an address by a community rabbi and the recitation of the Memorial Prayer. The 2020 program was ready to go, not without its challenges in finding a new venue and the shrinking pool of survivors, when the coronavirus pandemic erupted, seemingly forcing its cancellation. Undaunted, Elfman and Grossman were determined to find an alternative. They were thrilled to accept Katz’s offer and with the assistance of committee members Jeanette Malca, Phyllis Eisenman and Eillene Leistner, and the participation of Arline Duker and Jonathan Rimberg, a 35-minute program was prepared to be accessed by 1000 callers.
Elfman began the program with words of gratitude to Deputy Mayor Katz and introduced current Teaneck Mayor Muhammed Hammeddudin. In sharing that this would be his last opportunity to speak at such an occasion, he expressed his appreciation of such events in the community as they promote unity. He urged us to emerge from our present situation “better” rather than “bitter” and reassured us that we are “not alone.”
Elfman called upon Duker to introduce the two Holocaust survivors participating in the event. Survivor Reni Langer Schusterman’s father was arrested on Kristallnacht and only freed to unite with her and her mother in Shanghai after dangerous journeys. In Shanghai they were saved from starvation by funds gathered by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee from the local Iraqi Jewish community. In 1947, Schustermann and her family arrived in the U.S. and moved to Boston and subsequently to New York. Currently blessed with three adult children and seven grandchildren, Schustermann dedicated her candle to her youngest cousin Helenka Fischel.
When asked to share her message in light of her survival and the current pandemic, Schusterman shared, “The Holocaust was caused by humans who felt superior to other humans. COVID-19 is a virus which does not discriminate. We have gone through many plagues. We must have the confidence to ‘slay the dragon’ by adhering to the rules so that we may see the end.”
Survivor Avraham Abba Atlas (Robert), was born in Rzeszow, Poland, in 1936. At the age of 5, he and his family were moved into the ghetto. Smuggled out to live with a Catholic farming family, he was liberated in 1944 by the Russian army. He was reunited with his parents, and the family left Poland in 1946 after the notorious post-Holocaust Kielce pogrom. Atlas lost 68 members of his family during the Shoah. He dedicated his candle to the memory of the 1.5 million children who were brutally murdered.
When asked by Duker to comment on his survival and the current world crisis, Atlas passionately responded, “Goodness transcends evil. I compare the farmers who hid me to the doctors and healthcare workers who are putting their lives on the line for us. We will emerge stronger. Let us not blame others but rather look ahead to future generations who hopefully will build a better world.”
As in past programs, musician Jonathan Rimberg performed the ballad of spiritual resistance sung by Holocaust victims on their way to their deaths, “Ani Maamin,” “I Believe.” The program continued with comments by two fourth-generation great-grandchildren of Holocaust survivors. Arielle Pfeiffer is a seventh grader at Yavneh Academy. Her paternal grandmother’s parents are among the survivors of Auschwitz. David Berg, also a seventh grader at Yavneh Academy, is named for his paternal great grandfather, who survived the war by hiding in the Carpathian Mountains. David will celebrate his becoming a bar mitzvah next Shabbat. His consolation for the restrictions on his celebration is the honor of leining from the sefer Torah that belonged to his great grandfather.
When the children were asked to comment on what they learned from their great grandparents who survived the Holocaust, Arielle shared, “The two lessons we should take away are first that many people are undergoing hardships and that we must look out for others. Second, we must strengthen our faith in God as my great-grandparents did.”
David offered, “There is no comparison between what my great grandparents went through and what we are experiencing today. We have all the amenities we need. But the knowledge that they were able to build a whole new life reminds me that everything will be fine.”
After a moment of silence, Rabbi Yosef Adler concluded the program with the chanting of the Kel Maleh Rachamim in memory of the martyrs. Elfman suggested that the community light candles in their homes in commemoration of Yom HaShoah.
The Teaneck Holocaust Commemoration Committee is always looking to expand its membership, especially to those in the areas of social media, marketing and finance. Contact Amy Elfman at [email protected] and Felicia Grossman at [email protected].
By Pearl Markovitz
