The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Happenings

The Chabad Center Invites You to a Community Passover Seder that Feels Like Family

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Come Experience the Festival of Freedom

The Chabad Center serving Armonk, Chappaqua and Pleasantville, invites you to join the annual Community Passover Seder.

Two Chabad led Seders are being held on Monday and Tuesday evening, April 22nd and April 23, where Chabad’s Rabbi Butman says you can expect to experience the liberation and freedom of Passover and a delicious Seder in a beautiful setting and atmosphere. The Seders will take place at The American Legion Hall at 35 Bedford Road in Armonk, NY.

The Seder will be easy to follow and many parts will be said in English, Rabbit Butman said, and will not go for too long. “Together we will explore and discover the eternal meaning of the Haggadah, and enjoy a Seder in a family-like atmosphere, complete with hand-baked Shmurah Matzah, Fine Wine, and a wonderful dinner with unique traditional customs.”

What is Pesach?

The eight-day festival of Passover is celebrated in the early spring, from the 15th through the 22nd of the Hebrew month of Nissan. Passover (Pesach) commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. Pesach is observed by avoiding leaven, and highlighted by the Seder meals that include four cups of wine, eating matzah and bitter herbs, and retelling the story of the Exodus. 

If you have any questions or to reserve your seats, write to: chabadacp@gmail.com

 

Westchester Area Authors to Appear Live to Discuss New Book on the Holocaust

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 April 10, 2024 — A group of Westchester County area second-generation Holocaust survivors will appear live today on Zoom starting at 7 p.m. to discuss a book they have written and published documenting their families’ experiences during the Holocaust. Testaments of Courage in the Holocaust is a compilation of true stories told by the authors that describes the courage and resilience of their family members who escaped the Nazis’ final solution.

“Putting this book together was a labor of love for me – a gift to the dear friends I met when I joined a Storykeeping Workshop sponsored by the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center.” said Melanie Roher, one of the authors of the book. “When I listened to everyone’s stories during the class, I wanted to remember them, and not lose them over time. It has been a joy to work with each of my classmates, whose parents’ stories now live on these pages. “

Top row, from L to R: Debby Ziering, Gloria Lazar, Melanie Roher, Dennis Schoen, Michelle Griffenberg, Ziporah Janowski, Pat Gaston, Joan Poulin. Bottom row from L to R: Helen Rubel, Vivian Pronin, Tina Goldman,* Julie Lowy,* Mónica Mandell. *These two participants continue to research and develop their stories. Their narratives do not appear in the book.

Roher lives in White Plains, NY, and she is a member of the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center (HHREC) GenerationsForward Speakers Bureau, a second and third generation group that includes children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors who appear at area schools, synagogues, churches and other community events. HHREC Memory Keepers are trained speakers who tell their family’s story from their next generation perspective, adding new meaning to the survivors’ powerful stories of witness. Other local authors whose stories appear in the book include Pat Gaston (Irvington), Tina Goldman (Ossining), Michelle Griffenberg (Tarrytown), Ziporah Janowski (Croton on the Hudson), Gloria Lazar (Tarrytown), Joan Poulin (Somers), Vivian Pronin (Hastings-on-Hudson) Helen Rubel (Irvington), Dennis Schoen (Fairlawn, NJ), and Debby Ziering (Greenwich, CT.)

In the book Forward written by Lazar, she describes her experience working with fellow authors. “The personal histories in this book reflect months and years of research and reflection by a group of second and third generation descendants of Holocaust survivors, and in one case, a child Holocaust survivor. During the winter and spring of 2019, we met in a workshop each week and engaged in the arduous process of dissecting and writing our family histories. We searched through letters, diaries, photographs, audio and video tapes – every form of record – to uncover the struggle, displacement and survival of our family members who emigrated to the United States from almost every country in Europe where Jews were hunted by the Nazis. They are remembered by daughters, sons and grandchildren determined to document the courage of these brave individuals who escaped the Nazis’ final solution. The difficult journeys taken by our families reflect the ultimate triumph of the human spirit against the inhumane efforts by the Nazis to eliminate the Jews of Europe. We honor these brave men and women whose DNA we possess and whose spirit we hope to illuminate in our stories.“

The book is available for sale on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Testaments-Courage-Holocaust-Children-Survivors/dp/B0C87SSX3L and is available for teachers to utilize in their classrooms from the HHREC Anna & Nicholas Elefant Library in White Plains.

To register for this event visit HHRECNY.org. 

Holocaust Survivors Join HHREC Speakers Bureau

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The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center (HHREC) of White Plains, NY has announced three Holocaust Survivors have joined their Speakers Bureau.

Dr. Victor Borden (lower right above) is the son of Holocaust survivors Rywen (Roman) and Mina Bornsztajin (Bronstein), who were born and raised in Lodz, Poland from prosperous families. Victor tells the chilling story of his parents’ journey that started in Poland, as they survived imprisonment in the Soviet Union and eventually immigrated to America, where their son enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served as a physician.

Ernest “Ernie” Brod (upper left) is a Holocaust Survivor who was born in Vienna, Austria in 1938. As a young boy he had to confront the grim realities of his father being among the first Jews killed in the early days of the Holocaust and seeing his brother sent off on a Kindertransport to England. A series of near miracles saved him and his mother from serving time in a concentration camp, and they made their way to Lisbon, Portugal before they finally immigrated to America in 1941. Ernie tells the story of how he and his family struggled to survive and eventually resettle in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn where he met his brother for the first time. A lawyer by training, he has spent the past 40 years as a corporate investigator and has been widely recognized as a leading expert in the field.

Charles Srebnik (upper right) is a Holocaust Survivor who was born in Brussels, Belgium in 1934 to Maria and Leon Srebnik. On May 10, 1940 German forces invaded Belgium, and by October the occupying military government began instituting anti-Jewish measures. His family went into hiding to escape the German onslaught by living at a cottage overlooking a lake near Genval.

Charles shares his story of being saved by a Catholic priest by hiding in orphanages to survive and eventually immigrating with his mother to America.

“We are very pleased to have such distinguished Holocaust Survivors who are witnesses to history join our Speakers Bureau and share their experiences with area high school and college students, and people who gather in our local communities.” said Millie Jasper, Executive Director, HHREC. “here stories will endure as they are of historical significance, and we need to hear them today more than ever.“

For more information about the HHREC Speakers Bureau, and to schedule an appearance at area schools, synagogues, churches and civic centers visit HHRECNY.org  

About The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center

The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center (HHREC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in White Plains New York that serves schools, synagogues, colleges, churches and civic centers in Westchester and the greater Hudson Valley area. The HHREC Mission is to enhance the teaching and learning of the lessons of the Holocaust and the right of all people to be treated with dignity and respect. HHREC works with teachers and students to help schools fulfill the New York State mandate that the Holocaust and other human rights abuses be included in their curriculum. Since 1994, the HHREC has brought the lessons of the Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations to more than 3,000 teachers, and through them to thousands of students. For more information visit www.hhrecny.org call 914.696.0738 email info@hhrecny.org

 

Strong Show of Support to Westchester Jewish Council Honorees & to the Larger Community

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Michele Gregson with William Schrag, WJC President, Arlene Kleinberg (to left of Michele), Executive Board member, and Karen Everett, Gala Chair
PHOTOS BY DARREN PEISTER

On Saturday, January 27, the Westchester Jewish Council held their 48th Gala at Congregation Kol Ami in White Plains. The theme was ‘Standing Strong, Standing Together.’ The honorees for the evening were Board members Michele Gregson, Sarene Shanus and Harold Treiber, and Jeremy A. Abramson of the Premier Collection. The Council connects, convenes and safeguards Westchester’s Jewish communities and strengthens relationships among Jews, the over 130+ member organizations, Westchester to Israel, our elected officials and other ethnic and faith-based individuals and organizations, and the community at large.

The evening, attended by over 500 people, included a wide-range of politicians, including Chris Burdick, Vedat Gashi, Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Mike Lawler and George Latimer. Several spoke including Latimer who made a point of reminding attendees: “You are not alone.” Entertainment was provided by Ben Nemzer, magician and mentalist, who astounded everyone with his performance.

WJC Honorees Michele Gregson, Sarene Shanus and Harold Treiber, and Jeremy A. Abramson (right) of the Premier Collection.
PHOTOS BY DARREN PEISTER

Among the honorees, Chappaqua’s Michele Gregson was recognized for her activities informing, gathering, leading and speaking out about issues of importance to both the Jewish community and her hometown. Gregson has served as Chair of UJA’s Westchester Women’s campaign, created and still chairs UJA’s Women’s Symposium. She is also the founder of Jewish Women of Westchester on Facebook, and the Chair of Friends of Chappaqua Performing Arts Center (ChappPAC).

“The Gala felt different this year because of recent events in Israel since October 7th and the rise in antisemitism in both our county and our country,” said Gregson. “But, the coming together as a community by both those who attended and the speeches given by our politicians, made everyone feel supported and united.”

Local Authors Publish Book about the Holocaust

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THE AUTHORS: Top row (L-R): Debby Ziering, Gloria Lazar, Melanie Roher, Dennis Schoen, Michelle Griffenberg, Ziporah Janowski, Pat Gaston, Joan Poulin. Bottom row (L-R): Helen Rubel, Vivian Pronin, Tina Goldman,* Julie Lowy,* Mónica Mandell.    **These two participants continue to research and develop their stories. Their narratives do not appear in the book.

A group of local second-generation Holocaust survivors have written and published a book documenting their families’ experiences during World War II. Testaments of Courage in the Holocaust is a compilation of true stories told by the authors that describes the courage and resilience of their family members who escaped the Nazis’ final solution.

“Putting this book together was a labor of love for me – a gift to the dear friends I met when I joined a Storykeeping Workshop sponsored by the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center.” said Melanie Roher, one of the authors of the book. “When I listened to everyone’s stories during the class, I wanted to remember them, and not lose them over time. It has been a joy to work with each of my classmates, whose parents’ stories now live on these pages.”

L-R: Hella, Oma, Opa, Lore and Ilse Neuhaus

Roher lives in White Plains, NY, and she is a member of the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center (HHREC) GenerationsForward Speakers Bureau, a second and third generation group that includes children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors who appear at area schools, synagogues, churches, and other community events. HHREC Memory Keepers are trained speakers who tell their family’s story from their next generation perspective, adding new meaning to the survivors’ powerful stories of witness.

Other local authors whose stories appear in the book include Pat Gaston (Irvington), Tina Goldman (Ossining), Michelle Griffenberg (Tarrytown), Ziporah Janowski (Croton on the Hudson), Gloria Lazar (Tarrytown), Joan Poulin (Somers), Vivian Pronin (Hastings-on-Hudson) Helen Rubel (Irvington), Dennis Schoen (Fairlawn, NJ), and Debby Ziering (Greenwich, CT.)

Werner Satz’s German passport issued in 1938.

In the book Forward written by Lazar, she describes her experience working with fellow authors. “The personal histories in this book reflect months and years of research and reflection by a group of second and third generation descendants of Holocaust survivors, and in one case, a child Holocaust survivor. During the winter and spring of 2019 we met in a workshop each week and engaged in the arduous process of dissecting and writing our family histories. We searched through letters, diaries, photographs, audio, and video tapes – every form of record – to uncover the struggle, displacement and survival of our family members who emigrated to the United States from almost every country in Europe where Jews were hunted by the Nazis. They are remembered by daughters, sons and grandchildren determined to document the courage of these brave individuals who escaped the Nazis’ final solution. The difficult journeys taken by our families reflect the ultimate triumph of the human spirit against the inhumane efforts by the Nazis to eliminate the Jews of Europe. We honor these brave men and women whose DNA we possess and whose spirit we hope to illuminate in our stories.“

The book is available for sale on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Testaments-Courage-Holocaust-Children-Survivors/dp/B0C87SSX3L and is available for teachers to utilize in their classrooms from the HHREC Anna & Nicholas Elefant Library in White Plains.

Five contributors to the book are scheduled to appear on the HHREC Memory Keeper Story Hour Wednesday, April 10 at 7 p.m. on Zoom. For more information about HHREC GenerationsForward Memory Keepers speakers and other education programs, events and resources offered by HHREC, visit HHRECNY.org. 

Meier Janowski’s mother Chana and her brother (white beard) sitting at the head of the table, with their extended family before the war.

 

News & Photos Courtesy of the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center