ICEJ AID
REMEMBERING THE HOLOCAUST WITH SURVIVORS AT THE HAIFA HOME BY YUDIT SETZ
O
n 27 January, the world marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day – held each year on the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp in 1945. One of the best ways to honour the six million victims of the Nazi genocide against the Jewish people is to care for those who survived, which is what the ICEJ does at our Home of Holocaust survivors in Haifa. The ICEJ has a team of dedicated Christian volunteers serving the elderly residents living in our Haifa Home for Holocaust survivors. This time of the coronavirus pandemic has been especially difficult for our aging residents. As Israel has experienced three long lockdown periods, the isolation and lack of freedom to meet with family, friends and each other has been the most difficult aspect over the past year. This has impacted many both mentally and physically. But renewed hope rolled in as 2021 began! NEW HOPE Israelis are slowly coming out of another lockdown, and there are glimmers of hope for protecting those in high-risk groups like the elderly, thanks to a fast-paced vaccination drive now underway. For residents in the Haifa Home, the idea of life returning to normal is certainly a comforting thought. Most of our residents have received both of their vaccination shots. And during February, we are hoping to open the community dining hall again, so the survivors can eat together, socialize, and feel alive again! CELEBRATING THE MANY YEARS Meanwhile, birthdays do not go unobserved! Yaakov, originally from Poland, has been living at the Home since 2012 and just celebrated his 97th birthday! Although his birthday party was in the ‘corona lockdown’ style, there was good reason to celebrate. In the past three years, Yaakov has had a live-in caregiver, who takes great care of him. He still walks every day and is grateful for the life he has at our assisted-living facility. He once said: “It was a
good idea to make Aliyah and come to Israel in 1948, but it was the best decision to move to the Haifa Home. It’s like a family here!” SNIPPET OF A CONVERSATION That feeling of being among ‘family’ is shared by many other residents. One ICEJ volunteer, Kerstin, cleans their apartments, accompanies residents on their visits to the doctor and dentist, and helps wherever she is needed. She recently recalled a conversation with Judith on their recent trip to the doctor. Judith is a 92-year-old survivor from Auschwitz and here is a snippet of their conversation:
Photo by Joe Luciano
Kerstin: “Judith, you are looking so beautiful again today. I especially like your scarf.” Judith: “Really, do you know how old that scarf already is? For sure 20 or 30 years!” Kerstin: “Wow, Judith, then is that scarf even older than I am?” Judith: “It was given as a present from my friend. We were the same age, but she passed away already. All my friends have died. I am the only one remaining, but I am not alone. I have you and you are always there whenever I need you.”
MANIA’S POEM So many of these tender interactions are experienced daily at the Haifa Home. Mania is an 87 year-old survivor from Bessarabia who became an artist and writer. Although this time of corona has been extremely difficult for her, she tries to keep herself busy by being creative. “We need to create and keep our minds occupied and not sit passively behind a TV, which only depresses us”, she tells the others. An avid painter, she has now taught herself to paint on the computer. Every day, she draws a new picture and writes a poem with it. She was excited to share her latest poem: 1 2 | MARCH/APRIL 2021
A ALGI ome NO ST e my h it s o p p o hool outside The sc ren play d il h c g Watchin dow. are my win worries dy ly n o e and stu k Whos r o w e do hom To play, old age ay s… At my those d r o f in a g I long a (Translated from Hebrew)
