The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

children

“I Had a Little Suspicion”

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Pre war, my uncle Wolf, with my grandmother and grandfather, before the Nazis separated he and my dad first from their parents. In time, Mengele separated him from my father too.

By Grace Bennett

As  I read of children and babies held hostage in cages–as little more than bargaining chips–my dad’s singularly monstrous experiences of separation and loss during the Holocaust have come back to haunt me.

 Whether you agree that the Holocaust comparisons to the current day madness are fair or not (I admit that I find the comparisons troublesome sometimes), I think when you read this, you might at least agree there are powerful lessons to be learned and that our despair over the abuse and indignities being inflicted on migrant families and especially to the children at our border is entirely warranted.
 
When any category of people are treated so callously, and our President lies so brazenly about ‘who created the situation,’  as the situation persists, yes, you damn well better question authority to the max, and do not stop.
 
To protect helpless children, I do beg you: please lose any moral qualms about assuming the worst.
 
We know full well that the worst is possible. It is all our jobs now to guard against the worst. The worst, the Holocaust taught us, also comes incrementally.
 
But I digress because my dad’s story as a victim of rock bottom evil speaks for itself…
 
After being separated from the rest of his family (all of whom–except for my dad and grandfather–were killed at Auschwitz), my father and Wolf (who was two years younger) had managed to stay alive during the Holocaust after being dragged away for ‘work details,’ i.e.,  slave labor. Together, they suffered and together they survived a series of smaller ‘labor’, i.e., concentration, camps. 
 
Through it all, what meant absolutely the most, what time and again would trigger their survival instinct and help the other through, was that they had each other. They looked out for each other, my dad told me. Being together meant everything.
 
But then they were sent to Auschwitz, too.
 
An excerpt (lightly edited) from my Poppy’s memoir.
 
“The Germans decided to send us to the concentration camp Auschwitz. Arriving there we were greeted by the S.S with the infamous Dr. Mengele. They lined us up and the Dr. was telling us that all injured or too young to do hard work will go to a special location for the injured and children, and will be taken care of.
 
I had a little suspicion.
 
He (Mengele) got in front of me, and for some reason, he asked my age.  I said 16, and added that we are very good workers.
 
My brother (Wolf) said nothing; he was younger than me but taller and a fiery red head.
 
He (Mengele) told my brother to step forward and told him that he will be better off being with children.
 
Our (Jewish) camp leader was a 6’ tall guy. He showed the S.S. officer his damaged finger, so he told him to also go with the children and take care of them.
 
In the meantime my brother came running back asking for half of the bread we still had.
 
I begged him to stay with me, but he argued I should go with him.
 
One of the soldiers noticed the commotion and asked what was going on.
 
I said that I have the whole bread, so he said to break the bread in half and give that to him.
 
They went one way, and we vent to shower, change our civilian clothing into striped uniform and we all got tattoos injected into our forearms.
 
My # was 141940 with an upside triangle underneath.
 
After arriving in the quarters assigned to us, we went outside of our building, meeting people from other buildings, telling them where we came from,
 
I mentioned that I came here with my brother who was transferred to a camp for children.
 
He told me to look at the smoke in the background, and said, “That’s were your brother and all the others are, being incinerated…”
 
 In Wolf’s memory, may the gross mistreatment, abuse, and human rights violations of children at America’s border–AMERICA’S border–STOP. We are better than this.
 
Grace Bennett is Publisher and Editor of the Inside Press.  She has been on the board and advisory board of the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center since 2007 and is a member of Women’s March for All. Her father (‘Poppy’) Jacob Breitstein is a 96-year old Holocaust survivor.
 
 

Wide Wings

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Editor’s Note: May the memories of lost loved ones be both blessing and call to action. My poem is dedicated to all the courageous survivors in the March For Our Lives movement.  — Grace

 

We give our kids roots

So that they can grow wings.

After teaching them first

of important things.

Guess we didn’t know

How far kids can fly

After growing up watching

Small children and peers die.

Their wings spread wide

And views heard across the land

We watch in awe

And also, extend a hand.

We prefer their teen years

Be ones of learning and calm

Preparing for college

Nurturing friendships

Enjoying the Prom.

Hey corrupt politicians

Entrenched in D.C.

Taking NRA dollars

With winks and more glee

You’ve heard our kids’ cries

They were loud and clear

Will you work toward change

Or mock & disregard all fear?

If it stays the latter

It doesn’t matter.

We’ve got these kids’ backs.

You will be remembered

In the dust heap of history

As evil political hacks.

But I’ll end this poem

In gratitude to the children

Who bravely shared visions

of a world

So many hope to live in.

 

Haiku addendum:
 
No words to describe
The pride and hope kids revive
These will have to do.

 

 

 

Friends of Foster Care Greeley Group Helps Children in Need

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On a frigid December day, 28 Greeley students and three chaperones loaded onto a bright yellow school bus en route to HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services (HSVS) in Brooklyn. The high-spirited group was going to help spread holiday cheer to foster children. These students were part of a club called Friends of Foster Care (FFC) that launched this past fall at Greeley. It is a club that undertakes various forms of volunteer work for the Foster Children of New York, partnered with HSVS, a foster care organization in Brooklyn, New York.

I decided to create this club, after going on a service trip to Peru this past summer, visiting a number of orphanages over several weeks. The orphanages specialized in caring for the mentally and physically disabled ranging in age from infants to teens. After working with orphans there, I thought, “why does this only have to be a short-term project only done internationally and open to a small audience?” I reached out to many foster care organizations in the area. HSVS was the most suitable organization for FFC.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ELLA SMITH

After speaking with HSVS’ senior director of education Lauren Lee Pettiette Schwel, and Greeley’s Vice Principal Kyle Hosier, Friends of Foster Care was in motion. Greeley Sophomore Anna Kovalskaya says, “They are exceptionally caring for the kids, and are always striving to fulfill the needs of the foster children.” FFC quickly developed into the club it is today due to overwhelming support from Greeley’s student body, faculty, and HSVS’ staff. Each and every club member is an integral part in helping these children in need and the future of FFC looks bright.

FFC recently volunteered with HSVS for a holiday event being held for the foster children. The event provided gifts for the children and lots of fun activities. However, the main purpose of the event was to give the foster children time with their birth parents, who unfortunately cannot care for them. The members of FFC wrapped gifts, ran activity booths for the children such as face-painting and arts and crafts and took photos with the children at the photo booth. FFC’s advisor Samantha FortierVieni, a teacher at Greeley commented that “I couldn’t have asked for a better group of students. Watching them all take on different roles at HeartShare reinforced the importance of community service in me.” Kovalskaya adds that “being able to make the kids smile, especially since many may have been going through tough times is what made this experience so rewarding.”

HeartShare’s cause has not always been apparent to New Castle’s community, but FFC is hoping to change that. “I have seen firsthand how the foster care system can help a child succeed and prosper when given the right environment so when I had the opportunity to advise this group, I was truly excited to continue raising awareness about this issue,” said FortierVieni.  Even those who have not been able to see the foster care system first hand are getting involved. One of FFC’s executives, junior Alan Gu adds, “I saw a group of people addressing issues that were not necessarily thoroughly addressed. These students were truly trying to make a difference.”

However FFC’s mission did not stop at the holiday event. During club time, FFC embarks in ways to help those at HSVS directly from the Greeley classrooms. FFC members will soon begin to tutor foster children over Skype and create care packages for the students that HSVS is putting through college (through their “American Dream” Program). Much club time is spent planning volunteer trips and events as well. FFC’s next project will be this spring, running a carnival in the Bronx, to celebrate HeartShare’s opening of a shelter for homeless women and their children, created to prevent these children from having to fall under the foster care system. As Gu remarks, “to go to HeartShare and see the smiles on their faces, that is an unparalleled feeling of joy.”

All About the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival on October 14!

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Notes from the Festival’s Founder!

For one glorious day each fall, authors, readers and their families flock to downtown Chappaqua for the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival (CCBF). Founded by a group of volunteers in 2013, the festival is now considered the preeminent children’s book festival in the tri-state area.

More than 90 children’s book authors and illustrators from as far away as Maryland fill the daylong festival with laughter, excitement and fun for children of all ages. Authors take the time for conversation and inspiration, to demonstrate the art of illustration and to read aloud favorite books in the adjacent St. Mary the Virgin’s garden. Attendees can expect festival favorites such as Rosemary Wells and Jane Yolen to return plus new authors such as Betsy and Ted Lewin and Roxie Munro.

Illustration by Sujean Rim

Families can find additional activities from book making to balloon animals to a Gaga pit in the family fun area. Food trucks and the Great Chappaqua Bake Sale provide many lunch options and scrumptious dessert and treats.

Since it’s inception The Great Chappaqua Bake Sale has raised more than $130,000 for Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign and has connected children with more than 1.3 million meals. “It’s hard to believe this will be our eighth year working to raise monies to fund school and summer meals programs for kids in New York State. The Great Chappaqua Bake Sale community of supporters and volunteers make this event successful each year and we are particularly inspired by the many children who devote their time and passion to helping children in need,” noted Alison Spiegel, one of the Bake Sale founders.

A portion of the proceeds from the CCBF go to JCY-WCP literacy programs in schools throughout Westchester. The fifth annual CCBF is on Saturday, October 14th, from 10-4 pm. Admission is free. Cash and credit cards are accepted for book and food purchases. Free parking all day available at the nearby Chappaqua Metro-North train station.

For information on sponsorship and volunteering, visit www.ccbfestival.org or visit us on Facebook at Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival.

This Just In…New Not to Be Missed Authors


Betsy and Ted Lewin – Author and/or Illustrator of almost 200 children’s books plus recipients of numerous awards including the Caldecott Honor Book Medal and the NY Times Best Illustrated Award


Julie Fogliano – Author of beloved books including When Green Becomes Tomatoes: Poems for All Seasons and Old Dog Baby Baby


Roxie Munro – Author/Illustrator of more than 40 nonfiction and concept books for children using “gamification” to encourage reading, learning and engagement; NY Times Best Illustrated Award recipient


Stephen Savage – Author and Illustrator of 9 books for children, including the NY Times bestselling picture book Polar Bear Night, written by Lauren Thompson and creator of the Where’s Walrus? books, Supertruck and Little Tug

Friends of Karen School Supply Drive Helps Families With Children Battling Cancer

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Friends of Karen volunteers packing school supplies for the back to school PHOTO BY Barbara Wilkov
While back to school shopping is in full swing for most families this time of year, it is a difficult time of year for families with children battling cancer, or another life-threatening illness. Friends of Karen, a Westchester-based non-profit helps support these families with their annual Back to School Program which collects new backpacks, notebooks, markers, pencils and gift cards and distributes them to more than 850 Friends of Karen children in the tri-state area so they can begin the new year happily and successfully.

Friends of Karen parents say how shattering it is to go into a store and see healthy children, so excited about the new year, choosing their school supplies while their own child is in the hospital, uncertain about what the next day will bring. Parents often agonize between buying new school supplies for their “well” child or paying their ill child’s mounting medical expenses.
New backpacks (for all ages) and $25 gift cards (to Target, Forever 21, Macy’s, The Gap, Old Navy, Visa/MasterCard) are in high demand for Friends of Karen families. Other school supply items such as three- ring binders, filler paper, composition books and Crayola washable markers are also needed. Donations are being accepted until September 15 and can be mailed to office headquarters at 118 Titicus Road in North Salem or dropped off there.

Friends of Karen helps families throughout N.Y., N.J .and CT. The organization is unique in that it customizes the assistance they provide. Realizing that a life-threatening illness of a child impacts the entire family, Friends of Karen social workers work with each family member offering an individualized program of emotional, financial and day-to-day practical support. For more information, visit www.friendsofkaren.org.