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The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia mobilizes financial
and volunteer resources to address the communities’ most critical
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Celebrating Life: Holocaust Survivor Day
from the Perspective of a 3G Survivor
Jason Holtzman
T his past Sunday, it was
wonderful to be in good
company with Holocaust
survivors and their descendants
to celebrate Holocaust Survivor
Day at the Weitzman National
Museum of American Jewish
History in Philadelphia.

This new annual holiday, which
was officially recognized through
proclamations issued by Gov.

Josh Shapiro and Mayor Jim
More than 80 Holocaust survivors attended Holocaust Survivor Day
on June 4, hosted in partnership by the Jewish Federation of Greater
Kenney, is an exciting one as it
Philadelphia, Seed the Dream Foundation, Jewish Family and Children’s
brings people together to joyously
Services of Greater Philadelphia, ADL Philadelphia, 3G Philly, Children
Jason Holtzman, director of the Jewish
commemorate survivors and the
of Jewish Holocaust Survivors Association, Gratz College, Philadelphia
Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s
Holocaust Remembrance Foundation and Sons & Daughters of Holocaust
many achievements they have
Jewish Community Relations Council
Survivors. made rather than just looking
at them as victims who endured
of Holocaust Survivor Day and why celebrating the safely and independently in their homes through
unthinkable atrocities.

holistic, comprehensive services. Another program
When thinking about a Holocaust survivor, it is miracle of survival feels more than appropriate.

is Seed the Dream Foundation’s Kavod SHEF
And while
we await
the next
Holocaust Survivor
likely that people’s minds may jump to images of
trauma, loss and suffering due to the traumatic Day to celebrate once again officially, it is essen- (Survivors of the Holocaust Emergency Fund), an
events of the war and the current struggles of dispro- tial to continue to recognize the contributions of initiative launched to meet the urgent needs of our
portionate poverty. While it is important to be aware survivors — always. There are several ways we survivors.

While it is critical to educate future generations
of this reality, it is also critical to not let it overshadow can do this:
Support local organizations: Connect with the about the Holocaust to try to prevent history from
the humanity of survivors and their roles in helping
Jewish Community Relations Council and the Jewish repeating itself, it is vitally important to recognize
shape our community and nation.

As a third-generation survivor (3G), I reflect on Federation of Greater Philadelphia to learn about the joy that survivors have brought into our lives, and
the lives of my grandmother, grandfather and great- our work and ways to help survivors. Last year, that will stay alive through their descendants.

By commemorating Holocaust Survivor Day
aunts who came from Poland — a country where 3.3 45,497 Holocaust survivors worldwide were served
million Jews resided before the Holocaust, but only through organizations and programs supported by annually, we can continue to learn from survivors’
experiences, create a future where such atrocities
300,000 remained after the genocide. Despite the the Jewish Federation.

Visit museums and memorials: Take the time to are never repeated and ensure that the legacies of
horrors my family experienced and the harrowing
things they saw, they exemplified resilience and visit places dedicated to preserving the memory survivors are felt for generations to come.

Today and every day, let us pay tribute to the survi-
lived each day with great happiness. They met and of the Holocaust, such as the Horwitz-Wasserman
married in a displaced persons camp in Germany, Holocaust Memorial Plaza. Bring groups to visit vors who have taught us the power of resilience, the
started a family there and eventually made their way these spaces to honor survivors and ensure their value of life, and the importance of cherishing each
day. to America, where they built a successful life and a stories will not be forgotten.

L’chaim! Support survivor assistance programs: Get
large extended family in Philadelphia.

Being a descendant of Holocaust survivors, I have involved with local initiatives that aid Holocaust
a strong appreciation for life. In Jewish tradition, we survivors, such as the Holocaust Survivor Support Jason Holtzman is the director of the Jewish
have the value of celebrating life with joy, known Program run by Jewish Family and Children’s Service Community Relations Council of the Jewish
as “L’chaim.” This value underlies the significance Philadelphia, which helps survivors age with dignity, Federation of Greater Philadelphia.

8 JUNE 8, 2023 | JEWISH EXPONENT