International Holocaust Remembrance Day

As I was given the honor of facilitating Shabbat Services this past Friday, I was joined by Efraim Donitz for the Yizkor Service on Holocaust Remembrance Day.

The next morning, Efraim, an Eyewitness of the Holocaust, presented his story to a FULL theater … almost all the ship passengers showed up. It was so beautiful to see see such a large turnout to hear his story and to listen to him speak of all Holocausts in history as well as his families’ escape from Transnistria (southeast Ukraine) and how his father’s status, wealth and lots of luck contributed to his successful escape. He told of their struggles to get out of Romania (telling the story of why the leadership there made a deal with Hitler), Austria, and his hiding on a train (in the coal) detoured on his way to Switzerland then to Peru and ultimately, they got to Israel and eventually the U.S. and LA. Sadly, not without the loss of many family members and friends.

Although born in 1938 and very young throughout the Holocaust Efraim's memory is very detailed and vivid and his faith remains as Talmud to him is more of a lifelong education of history and more importantly the rules on how to live life rather than a religion.Baca selengkapnya