2020 commemorative program
2020 commemorative program table of contents Greetings page 3
History & Impact page 4,5
Digital Engagement page 6
Virtual Tour page 7
More Than a Ball page 8, 9
Recipes page 10,11
Honoring Those Who Served page 12, 13
Survivor & Veteran Spotlights page 14
Snapshots of Impact page 15
Our Generous Supporters page 16
Liberation Ball Hosts & Hostesses page 17
dear friends While we are sad that we are unable to gather together as originally planned, we raise a toast to you for your continued support of Holocaust education! Your support continues to have an impact! While the museum is closed, our important mission continues. Over the last several weeks, our team has been hard at work developing digital content and experiences for students, educators, survivor families and community members. We are excited that people are engaging with us and we are even expanding our reach with people utilizing our resources and programs from across the country. We are also taking the opportunity to better coordinate with centers and museums around the country. Most of all, we are looking ahead and thinking creatively about how our initiatives may evolve as a result of this experience. And we know we’re having an impact because we are getting feedback from students, teachers and community members. Recently, a teacher who had planned to bring her students to the museum but instead received digital resources, sent us this note. “I cannot tell you how EXCITED I am that I still get to use this resource, even if they are just in digital form, to begin my unit covering the Holocaust. THANK YOU so much for your hard work in presenting this opportunity for my students!!!! I appreciate EVERYTHING you are doing to keep learning authentic and genuine in this strange time.� While the implications of our current situation continue to evolve, we will continue adapting and developing new ways of carrying out our mission. We know that there will still be challenges ahead and we have to be as efficient as possible, but we promise we will be celebrating many more decades of our important work with you. As we mark 75 years since the end of World War II, we reflect on the resilience of the survivors and veterans. While the uncertainty and challenges facing each of us today is very different, we have all been impacted in some way. Let us draw on the strength and perseverance of the survivors as we look towards brighter days. Thank you for your support! Warmly,
Sarah L. Weiss, CEO John Cohen, Chair 3
History & Impact Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center was formed by a passionate group of Holocaust survivors and their families, opening its doors in 2000. The organization’s opening was the realization of a dream nurtured for more than 35 years by several predecessor organizations. The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center (HHC) exists to ensure the lessons of the Holocaust inspire action today. HHC educates about the Holocaust, remembers its victims and acts on its lessons. Through innovative programs and partnerships, HHC challenges injustice, inhumanity and prejudice, and fosters understanding, inclusion and engaged citizenship. On January 27th, 2019, HHC opened its new museum at prominent Cincinnati landmark, Union Terminal. In its first year at Union Terminal, HHC impacted more than 200,000 individuals from more than 48 states nationwide. Today, HHC is an awardwinning museum and resource center that offers students, educators, and the general community engaging exhibits, school materials, outreach programs, workshops, professional development for educators, and youth and family programming.
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804 educators and
35,048
students in Ohio and Israel participated in the International Shared Reading Project.
individuals viewed one of HHC’s eight traveling exhibits.
HHC reaches over 200,000 people each year
39,000
HHC’s museum had visitors from January 27, 2019 through March 31, 2020.
10,861
78
HHC trained educators who reached
individuals heard from members of the Speakers Bureau.
10,285 students.
3,090
Through innovative programming, HHC reached individuals with Holocaust Awareness Programs.
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different schools participated in the Bystander to Upstander Youth Leadership Day.
HHC reaches over
81,900 people
through digital outreach
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Digital Engagement during COVID-19
“Thank you for your efforts in continuing programming. There are many silver linings for me personally during our pandemic and one of them is that it is easier to participate without the challenges of travel.”
Four students from Princeton City Schools wrote and Despite the museum’s closure due to the COVID-19 performed pandemic, HHC has found innovative, digital ways to connect with its constituents. HHC has created a virtual poems inspired by the stories of Holocaust tour of the museum, a monthly book club exploring survivors featured in the Holocaust-related topics, livestreams and talks, a HHC museum. student essay contest, digital exhibits and resources In this video, Jasmine for schools as well as weekly artifacts and videos. performs her poem. HHC has also continued its weekly Holocaust Speaker In this video, Series, sponsored by Michael and Margaret Valentine, we hear through Zoom video conferencing. The series has insightful engaged thousands of people digitally during this time, reflections with our numbers growing each week.” from students Our staff continues to find news way of engaging Grant, Sarah, and people. Stay up to date here: Jackson, winners of holocaustandhumanity.org/digital-engagement/ HHC’s Holocaust Week of Remembrance Essay Data through March 14 – April 24: • Facebook Users Reached: 37,537 (an increase of 62% Contest. compared to pre-quarantine months) • New Facebook Page Likes: 339 • Video Views on Facebook: 8,903 • Tweet Impressions: 980,100 • New Twitter Followers: 108 • Zoom Engagement: More than 1,000 people directly engaged through our weekly Holocaust Speaker Series Webinars, Yom HaShoah events, and Virtual Book Club Meetings March-April. 6
“That was an awesome webinar with Zahava Rendler. Thank you for the opportunity to view it. She is an inspiration! My 10 year old watched with me and it was a great introduction to begin talking to him about the Holocaust.”
Virtual Tour Holocaust & Humanity Museum Experience the award-winning museum virtually and see what your support makes possible! This virtual tour allows you to explore the stories and artifacts of local Holocaust Survivors as well as HHC’s one-of-a-kind Humanity Gallery. Currently this online resource is being utilized by educators, students, and those who are unable to physically visit the museum.
Click here
to begin your virtual tour.
“The museum encapsulates the history of the Holocaust, doing so with bravery, sensitivity, and respect.” — Cincinnati Refined
“A must-see museum.” — TripAdvisor “Having the center at Union Terminal provides a genuine example of history related to the Holocaust that is hard to find in America.” — Forbes 7
More than a Ball How the Liberation Ball led to the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center would be worked out by the programming committee and reported back to the board at the next meeting. The April 22 meeting was filled with much discussion of the event. Mrs. Fischer gave the report on the preparations including:
How did the Liberation Ball come to be and what does it have to do with our organization in 2020? Based on meeting minutes from 1964-1966 archived in the Jacob Rader Center of the American Jewish Archives, we were able to determine that the Balls were events held in 1964-1966 and possibly in 1963. On January 28, 1964, the meeting to announce the upcoming year’s programs took place at Mr. Abe Kuhnberg’s apartment. The Liberation Party was to be held on May 23, 1964. At first it was thought it should be held at Golf Manor Synagogue, but later is was decided it should be at Ohav Shalom Synagogue. Later, Mrs. Eta Fischer confirmed
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the Liberation Party would take place at the Ohav Shalom Synagogue and that the use of the hall would cost $70.00. On March 10, the contract was signed by Mr. Gelibter. It was decided that Mr. Bomstein would supply the music. All details relating to the party
• Music: $100.00 • The Hall: $50 (some negotiation must have taken place on the original price of $70.00) • Cleaning: $20 • Invitations: $12 •Soft Drinks: $10, consisting of three large bottles of Ginger Ale on each table • Help: $20 (those who would be waiting on tables) • Dinner: either chicken for $1.35 or roast beef for $1.50/plate • Cocktail hour: $35 • Entertainment: $50, provided
by the very popular Musettes, who were Mrs. Edward Fidler and Mrs. Edward Klatch accompanied by Mrs. Maurice Kaplan. The group was billed as singing Yiddish songs interspersed with English humor. The Musettes were in high demand on the Jewish communal circuit.
sent to three new Romanian families. At the July 1964 meeting, it was reported by Mrs. Felicia Stammer that the Liberation Ball grossed $603.00 with a net of $71.32. The Ball cost $531.38. (In 2020 numbers, the Ball would have cost $4,158 with a net of $590.)
The price per person would be $4.50 based on 100 guests. Since the party was on a Saturday night and they wanted to have a gala event, it was important that there would be a “cocktail hour” because dinner would be served quite late in the evening. They settled on the following menu: rolls, relishes, salads, a fruit cup or half a grapefruit, roast beef with farfel (a side dish made with egg noodles shaped into tiny pellets), peas and kishke (a sausage-like dish with either meat, chicken or vegetables packed into a beef intestine), and a dessert of coffee and cake. Each table would be set for ten people. The discussion then returned to entertainment when Mrs. Hepner suggested that instead of hiring the Musettes, she would gladly recite something with the help of seven others. She also mentioned Mrs. Penina Tecuceanu had a beautiful voice and could sing with her own accompaniment. Mrs. Hepner’s suggestion was accepted, and Mrs. Fischer also agreed to write a skit. The cost was then lowered to $4.00 a ticket and free tickets were
In discussion of the Ball in 1965, the board decided to go in a different direction settling on cold plates of brisket, tongue and turkey, with potato salad and warm knishes, herring, liver salad, and raw vegetables on each table. Mr. Leo Wilich was tasked with going to the market to purchase fresh fruit. Dessert would consist of coffee and cake. This Ball was a little different because it would include a raffle with prizes of a transistor radio donated by Mr. Kantor, a record of Fiddler on the Roof from Mr. Weisser, and a bathroom scale provided by Mrs. Stammer. The Musettes were also asked to entertain. By 1966, the Ball was running at a loss of $3.74, leading to a lively discussion about people not RSVPing and it was impossible to plan accordingly and most importantly, order enough food! Nothing more
was mentioned about this. Then the meeting took a serious turn; members asked if they should even still exist! Dr. Zalensky replied, “We are not even going to consider that thought!” Instead, he proposed creating a board of ten who would elect officers and focus on caring for survivors, promoting education, and promoting Jewish cultural programming. In this moment the Jewish New American Society transformed from an event-based organization to one focused on education and awareness, thus leading to who we are as an organization today. Today, HHC has fulfilled this hope, maintaining a museum as a home to tell their stories, and as a memorial to those they loved and lost. We honor them by continuing the Yizkor service (our community’s annual Yom HaShoah Commemoration) which began in 1953, and by educating and raising awareness about the Holocaust. We celebrate their spirit, love of life, and communal gathering with annual events like the Liberation Ball, and in these unprecedented times, though we’ve had to cancel the event this year, we should reflect back on the spirit of Dr. Zalensky’s zest and perseverance as we strive to find new ways to continue our work into the future.
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Recipes Local Holocaust Survivor recipes from the HHC archives SS officer that they were Belgians trapped in Poland desperate to get home. He was convinced and arranged for safe transport back to Belgium.
Stephanie Marks was born in Konin, Poland, but at the age of five, she and her family moved to Belgium. In 1939, while visiting family in Poland, she and her family were trapped by the Nazi invasion. After trying to flee Poland for three months, Stephanie and her mother, Pola, visited Gestapo headquarters in Lodz. Pola convinced a Nazi
Stephanie’s family were forced to flee again when the Nazis invaded Belgium. Eventually, the family escaped to Portugal, and in June 1941, arrived through Union Terminal. Their harrowing journey had covered 7,000 miles, five countries, and two continents. Stephanie graduated from Hughes High School in 1943 and always championed the importance of education. She spoke to thousands of students every year as a member of HHC’s Coppel Speakers Bureau. Before her death in 2019,
Stephanie attended HHC’s museum opening at Union Terminal. One of the most moving moments that evening was witnessing Stephanie and Rabbi Kogan hanging a mezuzah that graces the entrance to HHC’s museum. This mezuzah hung on Stephanie’s childhood home in Konin but was saved by Pola and carried along with her through their entire journey to America.
Stephanie Marks’ Pecan Puffs 1 cup Crisco ½ “ confectioners sugar 1 ½ “ flour 2 tsp vanilla 2 cups chopped nuts Cream Crisco. Add sugar and vanilla and beat well. Add pecans and flour by hand. Shape into 1” balls. If dough sticks to hands, add more flour. Place on cookie sheet. Bake 20 minutes at 300F. Allow to cool. Roll in powdered sugar.
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Trudy Coppel, born Traute ?? Silbermann, worked as a nurse during the war. ??? Trudy was considered by Nazi race laws as mischlinge because her mother Elizabeth converted to Judaism when she married Trudy’s father Jacob. Trudy’s father died during forced labor in 1943. Trudy remained in relative safety with her mother, who was considered Aryan. Trudy however, wore a yellow star marking her as Jewish.
who had escaped a death march out of Auschwitz. In direly ill condition, Trudy nursed him back to health and the two fell in love. Eventually they went to Berlin where they were the first Jewish wedding after the war on March 5, 1946. One and a half years later, they had their first son, Ron, and immigrated to America in 1949. Their second son Steve was born in 1951.
Steve fondly reminisces about his mother’s baking saying, “My mother loved to bake and she graded and classified everything that came out of her oven. “A” was designated for special people coming to the house, “B” was for visiting relatives, “C” was considered good enough for Dad, my brother or me. “D” rated, well that was for the available taste tester in the house. Definitely not good to look at, but always tasted In 1945 Trudy met Werner great!” Coppel, a Jewish man
liberation drinks Chai Ball
Humanity Spritzer 3 oz. aromatic white wine (Try Revel Urban Winery in OTR or Skeleton Root)
2 ounces whiskey (Try Robert James Distillery out of Norwood.) 1 oz. club soda dash of orange or lemon 6 ounces ginger ale, or bitters, and 1 orange or soda lemon twist
Trudy Coppel’s Plum Cake Sweet Cookie Dough: 1½ cups flour 1 tsp. baking powder ¼ lb. butter, room temperature ¼ cup sugar 1 egg, room temperature Italian Plums, approx. 20-25, sliced in half and pitted (Try to use ones that are all about the same size — makes nicer presentation.) Grease large pyrex pie plate. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place all of Sweet Cookie Dough ingredients in mixer. Beat until dough pulls away from sides. (If dough is sticking to hands, add more flour.) Put dough into pie plate and pat out by hand. Place halved plums into pan next to each other, not completely flat. Bake for approximately 30 minutes until pastry begins to brown. After removing from oven, take paper towel to soak up extra juice so dough does not become mushy! Before serving, sprinkle with powdered sugar. Very good if served the same day.
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Honoring Those Who Served We honor and remember those who served at home or abroad during WWII. These individuals served valiantly and we salute them for their service.
HAROLD ANSHER Ensign, Navy Honored by: The Jackson-Murray Family
ABE BRENNER Army Honored by: Susan Brenner & Steven Mombach
HENRY FRIEDMAN Corporal, Army Honored by: Nancy & Steve Frank
IRVIN GLAZER Seargent, Army Honored by: Julie Glazer Weisser
HERBERT E. LANG Private First Class, 65th Infantry Division, Army Honored by: Marcy & Mark Kanter
MILTON I. LENOBEL Captain, 8th Air Force/Army Air Force Honored by: Dr. Robert & Cissy Lenobel
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HARRIS LOFTSPRING Master Sergeant Honored by: Dr. Edward & Ina and Randy & Bonnie Loftspring Families
IRWIN W. MEYER Seargent, Army Honored by: Glen & Margie Meyer
GILBERT MOMBACH Navy Honored by: Susan Brenner & Steven Mombach
DAVID MURRAY Machinist Mate, 2nd Class, Navy Honored by: The Jackson-Murray Family
JOSEPH J. SILVER Corporal, Army Honored by: Barbara Anscher, Mitchell Anscher, Susan Silver Price, Robert Silver & Richard Trohman
MARVIN VIGRAN Honored by: Alan R. Weinstein, DDS
HENRY M. SCHULMAN Captain, 15th Air Force/ Army Air Force Honored by: Dr. Robert & Cissy Lenobel
NOT PICTURED: LOUIS WEISSER Resistance Honored by: Mark & Sandy Weisser
DANIEL C. BAKER, M.D. Lt. Commander, Navy Honored by: The Baker Family
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Survivor & Liberator Spotlights from the Archives Memories from 75 Years Ago “Hope is eternal — I knew the end was near. Over the loudspeakers they would yell, ‘All Jews come to the front gate.’ I would not go — I stayed. Then on April 11, we were in the barrack. I take a look, and the SS are getting down from the towers. The towers were empty — we hugged each other; we were free!” — Ray Kantor, Buchenwald, Local Survivor
“We had been hiding in a cellar, I could hear music and shooting. I went out, at first, I could not see anything. I opened the door, it was snowing. I saw a Russian soldier carrying food. I ran, jumped on him, kissed him, and took him by the hand. He thought I was crazy.” — Henry Carter, Auschwitz, Local Survivor
“We could tell from their eyes that they were happy to be saved from this hell. Happy that now they weren’t threatened by death in a crematorium. Happy to be freed. And we had the feeling of doing a good deed — liberating these people from this hell.” — Ivan Martynushkin, Soviet Army, Auschwitz 14
“Patton had requested that representatives from his army share in the experience of being in Buchenwald on the day of liberation. I was part of the delegation from my unit. We saw a straggling few people in striped uniforms. Everybody was tearful that day because these people had been treated so inhumanly. The liberated and the liberators were in tears.” — Herb Allen, U.S. Army, Local Veteran
Ensuring the Lessons of the Holocaust Inspire Action Today “I left feeling inspired and hopeful by the charge to make the world better.” — Museum Visitor
“Your story inspired me to be hopeful, even in the darkest of times.” — Student
“Thank you is too small - I’m just very grateful for who you are and the work you do. The world is better for you.” — Educator
“Not only was I moved significantly by your story, but I was inspired as well. Your courage is so strong. I have never met anyone in my life as fearless, courageous, and honorable as you. I am so honored to have met and heard your story.” — Student
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for HHC’s Digital Events 15
We thank our generous supporters Although we are unable to gather together, we toast you for ensuring our critical mission continues, even in times of uncertainty. Speaker Series Sponsor Supporter
Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion
Margaret & Michael Valentine
Alison & Bret Caller
Tour Sponsor
Cincinnati Museum Center
In honor of all New Hope Congregation members
Duke Energy
Jack Rouse Associates (JRA)
Henry & Diana Fenichel
Harold & Paula Jarnicki
Linda & Gary Greenberg
George & Amy Joseph
Cindy & Oscar Jarnicki
Dr. & Mrs. Leonard Kanterman
Carol & Steve Boymel
Marcy & Mark Kanter
Dr. Richard & Mona Kerstine
Dr. John & Julie Cohen
Lilly & Mark Kurtz
Sally & Gerry Korkin
Champion
Miami University
Dr. Robert & Cissy Lenobel
Penny & Myles Pensak
Barry & Patty Levy
Craig & Fran Coleman
Susan Price
Mitchel & Carol Livingston
Elissa & Mitchell Habib
Rachel & Steven Schild
Mailender, Inc.
Susan Brenner & Steven Mombach
Sarah Weiss & Todd Schild
Glen & Margie Meyer Sonia Milrod
First Financial Bank
Sandra S. & Mark Weisser Marilyn & Tom Zemboch
Carole & Edwin Rigaud
Union & Guardian Savings Banks
Patron
OneSource
Guardian Central Bank Toby & Peter Ganz Phyllis Jackson & Martin Murray Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati
Friend
Nancy & John Silverman
Richard & Sara Behrman
John & Jennifer Stein
Dorothy A. Blatt
Gary & Ellen Weiss
Kathleen & George Brinkman
Julie Glazer Weisser
Peg & Joe Conway
Xavier University
John D. Dovich Dr. Stewart & Ellen Dunsker
The Roehr Agency
Claire & Alan Eichner
Corky & Rick Steiner Family Foundation
Nancy & Steve Frank
Ginger Warner
John & Carrie Hayden
David & Sarah Wise
Fred & Patti Heldman Charitable Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation
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Abby & David Schwartz
Nathan & Marcie Bachrach
Sandy Kaltman & John Isidor
Unifund
Joshua & Kathleen Sands
Gail & Dick Friedman
Hostess & Host Brad Altman Stephanie Rockwern Amlung* Marcie & Nathan Bachrach Bree & Michael Bergman Chrissie & Josh Blatt Suzi & Robert Brant Susan Brenner* & Steven Mombach Carol & Steve Boymel* Kathy* & George Brinkman
Cindy & Anton Loon
Vinni Brown & Mark Witte
Margaret & Michael Meyer
Alison* & Bret Caller
Bryna* & Greg* Miller
Kristi Clement Williams*
Leslie & Larry Newman
Julie & John Cohen*
Sara & John Neyer
Fran & Craig Coleman
Diane Oestreicher
Peg & Joseph Conway
Eve Pearl & Donald Sniderman
Ruth & Steve Coppel
Penny & Myles Pensak
John D. Dovich
Sue Price
Claire & Alan Eichner
Carole* & Ed Rigaud
Nancy* & Steven Frank
Judith Roth
Gail & Dick Friedman*
Josh Rothstein
Sherri* & Tedd Friedman
Rachel* & Steven Schild
Toby* & Peter Ganz
LA Stopa*
Charlotte* & Robert Goering
Sandra S.* & Mark Weisser
Marlene & Dan Guttman
Emily & Aaron Werbel
Alek Lucke & Chris Hikel
Sarah* & David* Wise
Phyllis Jackson* & Martin Murray
Natalie & Scott Wolf
Sandy Kaltman & John Isidor Patricia & Scott Joseph
*Liberation Ball Committee Member
Annie Kanter Marcy* & Mark Kanter Sara & Fred Kaufman Sally & Gerry Korkin* Lilly* & Mark Kurtz Leah Levine
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LEARN ABOUT THE MUSEUM, EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AND HOLOCAUST AWARENESS PROGRAMS: holocaustandhumanity.org