City of Sunny Isles Beach Honors Holocaust Survivors
Lynda Peeler

From the wellspring of Mayor Edelcup's mind came a brainstorm of having the City of Sunny Isles Beach celebrate the nearly 300 survivors of the Holocaust who live within the City. The idea was a springboard for many volunteers to rally to make this a day of warmth, remembrance, celebration and promise. The effort was orchestrated by Richard C. Schulman and the "Survivor" Committee, whose organization and creativity made kindness and consideration the tone of the event. This effort included the hard work of Joseph Birnbaum, Roslyn Brezin, Irving Diamond, Sam Gasson, Mireille Mechoullam, Lewis Thaler, and Charles Wachsberg, the staff of Temple B'Nai Zion, and many others.

Guests who came to lead the celebration included Sunny Isles Beach Mayor Norman Edelcup and Commissioners Roslyn Brezin, Lewis Thaler, Danny Iglesias, and Gerry Goodman, Senator Gwen Margolis, and Representative Dan Gelber, State Attorney Kathy Fernandez Rundle. Martin Goldman and Naomi Katz, of the National Holocaust Memorial Museum, Rossita Kenigsberg of the Holocaust Documentation and Education Center, as well as Stephanie and Jules Trump.

Opening ceremonies included a color guard of Sunny Isles Beach Police under direction of Chief Maas. Rabbi Mayer Abramowitz and Cantor Cesar Beleniski gave invocation and led Hatikvah respectively, followed by remarks from Temple B'Nai Zion President, Isaac Franco. Mayor Edelcup welcomed survivors and introduced dignitaries.

Letters from respected individuals of high office were read and proclamations presented naming "Sunday, March 28, 2004 Survivor of the Holocaust Day"; on the bema a proclamation from the City of Sunny Isles Beach listing the names of the survivors participating in this day of remembrance.

The dynamic words of Rositta Kenigsberg garnered applause as she, in Yiddish and English wished the honorees "they should survive to 120". As she spoke of the City of Sunny Isles Beach paying tribute to each and every holocaust survivor residing in this community she pointed out how rare and momentous the occasion, "I would even dare say that this moment is unprecedented", said Kenigsberg, "Over the years survivors worldwide . . . have been recognized by a multitude of local, national and international organizations, institutions, synagogues and churches, but very, very rarely if ever by the city in which they live. I commend and laud the city of SIB for this wonderful and special gesture in recognition of this group who despite of their tragic and painful past have not become embittered or filled with hate." She went on to say that these survivors rose from the ashes to create new life and although most survivors came to this country with very little and knew little of the language they did not despair, they worked hard day and night to take advantage of the opportunity this county provided. They gradually built homes and families and contributed in any way they could to the communities in which they settled. And all the while they have dedicated themselves to the cause of remembrance. For the sake of present and future generations survivors continue to share their stories and painful and bitter memories of how over 59 years ago they were taken from their homes and families; their lives suddenly turned upside down. How apathy and evil lurked, death and despair thrived as indifference and complacency multiplied. Her empathy continued as she spoke, "Although they were stripped of human pride and dignity they will tell you they resisted, they fought back and they are here today". Kenigsberg quoted one survivor who said, "To die is easy." Another asked, "How can we make you understand what it meant to live literally in the shadow of the chimneys of the crematorium?" Their wondrous tale of survival is a mystery yet exemplifies their tremendous courage, resilience and heroic defiance. She went on to quote Eli Weisel who said, "For a Jew who went through this war to have a child was a very great act of faith, for we had all the reasons in the world to give up on man, on humankind, on civilization, to give up on everything." She went on to say, the survivors did not give up, they raised families because they knew to do otherwise would mean an unbridled victory for the Nazis and a condemnation of the future of Jewish life and Jewish existence. Survivors more than any generation before truly understand the meaning of Jewish continuity. She spoke of the immediate aftermath of reparation, and how in spite of the shattered past and unknown future, of being displaced and dispossessed, it was with remarkable perseverance and conviction that they took charge of their own destiny. Once again they dared to think, dared to dance, dared to laugh, dared to dream and dared to shed tears of joy. And whether survival was by luck or by chance they all survived for a reason, be it their promise to the martyrs, being witness to the tragedies, and ultimately to internalize memories into civilized virtuous lessons of morality, human decency, and dignity. Kenigsberg spoke of the challenge survivors place before us to not let their past become our future. To teach the past, not to repeat it.

They chose life not death, remembrance not vengeance; hope not despair, goodness not evil. And love, not hate. May we all live in the light of these virtues and always REMEMBER.

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