3G Passover Connects Holocaust Survivors, Descendants
A contingent of grandchildren of Holocaust survivors created Passover bags at B’nai Torah to be distributed to survivors at the monthly Café Europa program.
Passionate grandchildren of Holocaust survivors gathered at Congregation B’nai Torah on Sunday, April 7, to make Passover bags to be given out to survivors at the monthly Café Europa program hosted by Jewish Family & Career Services or delivered to their homes by their case manager to help make Passover a special holiday.
The event was sponsored by Cherie Aviv, Chair of the Holocaust Survivor Support Fund (HSSF) convened by Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. “Passover feels extra important this year with all that is happening in the world. We wanted to put these bags together to provide fun food for the holiday as well as to connect grandchildren of survivors to this important generation.”
Aviv worked with Emily Yehezkel, a granddaughter of a survivor, to create this special event. Congregation B’nai Torah graciously offered space to store the items and assemble the bags.
The tables were filled with Passover goodies like matzah, chocolate hearts, chips, chocolate pretzels, honey pretzels, macaroons, almond puffs, pomegranate tea, and much more. The volunteers quickly got to work, putting everything on the tables, creating an assembly line, filling the bags, and tying on a Happy Passover card.
“It was so heartwarming to see the grandkids of survivors create these Passover bags, linking to the past that is part of who we are,” noted Aviv.
Yehezkel recruited the grandchildren of survivors to be part of this program. She shared, “Bringing together the third generation to make Passover bags for survivors allowed us to learn about each other’s stories and connect with each other on a deeper level, while also helping a community we care so deeply about.”
Kevin Metzger is the oldest grandchild in his family. His grandmother recovered the family’s kiddish cup after the war, which now resides in his home. Metzger said that “The kiddush cup is not just a vessel for wine. It is a connection to family lost during the war.” His grandmother’s family buried the cup prior to being rounded up and recovered the cup after the war.
Carrie Leavitt’s grandparents were from Germany. After enduring the inhumanity there, they were finally able to leave the country in 1938-1939, and were only permitted to bring furniture. Leavitt’s grandparents disassembled a piano that had been in the family since the early 1900s. The piano now proudly sits in Carrie’s home. The music that emanates from the piano at family gatherings honors those who remained in Europe and lost their lives.
Lilli Jennison shared a beautiful portrait of her family members from pre-World War II. The family portrait connects Jennison to her heritage. Jennison and her family still do not know the fate of many family members who were in Europe. Jennison continues to search with the hope that some family members or their descendants are around.
Yehezkel shared, “The fact that we are able to convene grandchildren of survivors, proud descendants of survivors, and live Jewish lives is something to celebrate!”
Aviv added, “Creating this special moment for survivors for the Jewish holidays, caring for Holocaust survivors in need today, and carrying stories forward is what HSSF is all about.”
To learn more about the Holocaust Survivor Support Fund (HSSF) at Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, to help Holocaust survivors in need or to make a donation (click Holocaust survivor funds to designate to HSSF), contact Cherie Aviv at cherie.aviv@gmail.com or visit jewishatlanta.org/give/philanthropic-opportunities/hssf/.
To learn more about connecting with other descendants of survivors contact Emily Yehezkel at emilybyehezkel@gmail.com.
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