As time marches forward, it is our task to remember and learn about the Shoah; the stories of those that were lost as well as the those who survived.
In 1938, immediately after the November 9, 1938 Kristallnacht (“Night of Broken Glass”) pogrom in the German Reich, the Jews of Britain initiated a unique rescue operation, now known as ‘Kindertransport’. Within days they obtained the permission of the government and in the nine months leading up to World War II, with aid from Quaker and other non-Jewish refugee organizations, the Kindertransport brought approximately ten thousand unaccompanied children from Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Poland to safety in Britain. Most of the children, but not all, were Jews. Most of the children settled in Britain; others re-emigrated to Israel, the Americas, and elsewhere, scattering over the world. Most of the parents who sent their children to safety ultimately perished in the Holocaust.
“The vast majority of Jewish children saved by the Kindertransports were welcomed in Great Britain, however there were also small numbers of Jewish children who were accepted in France, Sweden, Holland, Switzerland and Belgium“, said Kindertransport Speaker Bureau Chair Alan Peizer. “Did you know that the delightful sex talk therapist Dr. Ruth happens to have been a Kindertransport survivor who went to Switzerland? Although the exact figure is unknown, it has been estimated that approximately 10,000 Jewish children were saved from the Holocaust thanks to the Kindertransports.“
Kindertransport children are child Holocaust survivors and an important part of Holocaust History. They were saved from the horrors of the death camps however they were uprooted from their families and friends, separated from their parents and transported to different countries and cultures where they faced a mixture of kindness, indifference, occasional exploitation and the selflessness of ordinary people faced with needy children.
The Kindertransport Association was founded by Shoah survivor Eddy (Edward) Behrendt to (1) help connect those individuals who were directly involved in the Kindertransports, their families and descendants, (2) educate and inform the “Next Generation” and the public in general about the Kindertransports as an important part of Holocaust History and (3) support and advocate for child refugees and children in need today.
The Kindertransport Association maintains an active SPEAKERS BUREAU comprised of Kindertransport survivors, their adult children (KT2s) and grandchildren (KT3s) who are able to speak in person or remotely via Zoom. Their talks are suitable for various audiences, including adults and students as young as age 10; topics include Growing Up Under the Nazi Threat, Family Histories, The Kindertransport Experience, My Life as a Child Refugee in England, Growing up in a Kindertransport Family. For more information about the Kindertransport Association or to request a speaker for your Men’s Club, Brotherhood or Synagogue, please contact Kindertransport Speaker Bureau Chair Alan Peizer at speaker@kindertransport.org or visit https://kindertransport.org/education/request-a-speaker/.
Each year, the #FJMC Shoah Yellow Candle™ Program distributes tens of thousands Yellow Candles™ to Men’s Clubs, Brotherhoods and houses of worship to help remember the Holocaust. Florida Region FJMC Yellow Candle™ Chair Jon Zimmer (jonzimmer3@gmail.com) explains: “Men’s Clubs and other organizations around the world order Yellow Candles™ from the FJMC and distribute them to their membership with a short explanation of the program. On the night of Yom HaShoah, the candles are lit in homes across the globe to shine a light of memory, a light of education, and a light that we will never forget. By participating in this program, you are helping to keep the memory of the Shoah alive and to remember what could happen if we don’t stand up for ourselves. Learn more at https://yellowcandle.fjmc.org/.
Light a Candle for Kristallnacht on November 9, 2024 / 8 Heshvan 5785
Light a Candle, Preserve a Memory
This message is brought to you in solidarity by the Florida Region of the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs (FJMC). We serve the needs of affiliated Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods throughout the State of Florida. Learn more about the FJMC Florida Region and our growing network of Jewish Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods at: www.floridaregionfjmc.org and please visit & LIKE our Facebook Group at: www.facebook.com/FloridaRegionFJMC.
The FJMC is a confederation of over 200 Jewish Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods representing over 20,000 members across the United States, Canada, Latin America, and beyond. Learn how YOUR Jewish Men’s Club or Brotherhood can affiliate with the FJMC at: https://fjmc.org/for-clubs/affiliating-with-the-fjmc/.
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