Holocaust survivors group holds its 78th reunion dinner
Zdenka Husserl, Rachel Levy, Jackie Young, Victor Greenberg, Mala Tribich and Harry Olmer lit six memorial candles at event for 45 Aid Society
Jenni Frazer is a freelance journalist
Six Holocaust survivors — the eldest 98, the youngest 80 — surrounded by children and grandchildren — made a poignant start to this year’s reunion of the 45 Aid Society.
Zdenka Husserl, Rachel Levy, Jackie Young, Victor Greenberg, Mala Tribich and Harry Olmer, each lit one of six memorial candles, paying tribute to those who had died in the Holocaust and passing a metaphorical, and literal, light on to the second and third generation.
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis and Lady Mirvis, long-time friend of the ’45 Aid Society, Lord Eric Pickles, with ’45 Aid Society chairman, Angela Cohen),
Photo John Rifkin
Angela Cohen, the 45 Aid chairman, said that the theme of this year’s event was families — and it remained as true this year as ever, that “The Boys” — the young people, boys and girls, who had arrived in Britain after the war, had made each other their family.
Michelle Richman, one of the late Zigi Shipper’s daughters, recalling her father with great affection, said that the friendships he had made at the Primrose Club in Belsize Park “had filled the gap for him” of all the family he had lost in the Holocaust. Zigi died on his 93rd birthday in January this year.
This year’s event received new support from TRIC, the Television and Radio Industries Club, as its president is now Rob Rinder, the barrister and broadcaster. He has chosen the 45 Aid Society as one of his main charities during his presidency.
The keynote event was a turning of the tables in which a politician interviewed a journalist — Lord Pickles talking to the Guardian’s Jonathan Freedland about his book, The Escape Artist, the story of the escape from Auschwitz of the teenage Rudolf Vrba.
Short biographical films made by the grandchildren of “The Boys” interspersed the often raucous reunion, during which whole “clans” took to the dance floor with vigour. The group “Jewish Encore” entertained with selections from Fiddler on the Roof. Philip Burton chaired the proceedings.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
