Generations After Holds Oct. 20

Holocaust Survivor Visitation

By Susie Davidson

Advocate Correspondent

BROOKLINE - Varying widely in ethnic and economic background, the myriad beneficiaries of the Lenny Fund reflect the man himself in attention to diversity and scope. This past Sunday, Generations After, whose Bikur L’Chagim visitation program began with a check from the Fund, coordinated visits with area homebound and care facility residential survivors as part of their Bikur L'Chagim effort. Festive holiday baskets were distributed as the group met across the street from Ruben’s Kosher Deli and proceeded to bring some brightness to many area survivors’ day.

Zakim personally presented program coordinator Dena Salzberg with a check from the fund in 1998 to start the Bikur L’Chagim program of Generations After, which is comprised of second and third generation descendants of Holocaust survivors and was formed with the encouragement and support of the American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors of Greater Boston. The mission of the group, which is headed by President Julie Ross, daughter of New England Holocaust Memorial founder Steve Ross, and Vice President Mark Zamir, is to carry on the legacy of AAJHS and ensure assistance and advocacy for survivors through the ends of their lives. The first Bikur L'Chagim was organized by Salzberg, Boston City Councilor and Steve Ross’ son Michael Ross, and member Debby Greenberg.

Utilizing survivor identification resources of the Jewish Family and Children’s Service’s Hakalah program, the program, which coordinates visits around Rosh Hashana, Sukkot, Chanukah, Purim, Shavuot and even Passover, has to date succeeded in recruiting 20 regular volunteers who range in age from teenagers to adults with their children. The number of people visited has grown steadily from 10 to 50 survivors in the greater Boston area.

“Holidays, which can stir up so much pain for those who've suffered trauma and loss,” said volunteer and JCRC’s Director of Social Justice Programs Nahma Nadich, “are particularly critical times to connect with community survivors.” Over the past year, Nadich has visited a woman in a nursing home. “Though she is not able to communicate,” she said, “I visit with her husband, whose devotion to her is truly inspiring. He spends every day by her side and has become quite isolated as a result. I have come to value my conversations with this eloquent and wise man, and am grateful to Generations After for making it possible for me to engage in this mitzvah.”

“The most important part of the Bikur L'Chagim visits,” said Salzberg, “are of course, the human element, the one-on-one relationships between the generations. In our experience, the gift packages are instrumental in enabling us to open up the door and allow us to enter into the survivor’s life. They look forward to our visits and cherish our packages and visits. Some of our volunteers have maintained friendships afterwards.”

"The visits have been a wonderful experience for both the volunteers and the survivors,” said Generations After President Julie Ross. “Many volunteers have made connections with survivors and continue to visit them on a regular basis. It is such a rewarding and positive experience."

The importance of such efforts cannot be underestimated. As survivors grow older and more frail, consideration and respect should be even greater than ever. Loss also has to be viewed as a given.

“The most difficult thing for me,” said Salzberg, “is when I find out that some of our survivors have passed away. Within the past six months, we have lost six of our elderly survivor friends. It makes us realize that the time left for many of them is not very long, but, we find it very rewarding that the small package we leave behind after the visit gives symbolic expression to the sentiment that the survivors in the community are indeed remembered.”

To learn more about the program, or to participate in their Chanukah visitation on Dec. 8, please contact Mark Zamir at markie52@aol.com or 617-879-6236, or call Generations After at 617-254-6330.