Holocaust survivors mark Israel’s anniversary

With tables decorated with blue tablecloths and blue paper plates, and centerpieces facsimiles of the Israel flag (blue and white with the Star David), about 100 Holocaust survivors celebrated the 68th anniversary of Israel at the Marion and Aaron Gural JCC’s Independence Day luncheon on May 12.

Established in 1948, nearly three years after the end of World War II, Israel has become a beacon of life for Jews following the Holocaust, when 6 million European Jews were exterminated by Nazi Germany’s cultural genocide that included 7 million other people deemed enemies by Adolf Hitler and his minions.
Congregation Sons of Israel Rabbi Bruce Ginsburg spoke about Israel, the history and what is happening in contemporary times. He noted that in 1974, when he first visited Israel very few people actually had a telephone, but now cell phone saturation is 96 percent.

“It’s getting better all the time,” Ginsburg said, quoting the Beatles’ lyrics, but not exactly sounding like Lennon or McCartney.

He said that within the last year 30,000 people from al over the world have immigrated to the Jewish state, half from France and the Ukraine — 8,000 and 7,000, respectively. Years ago, 400 students were allowed to leave the military to study, now there are 120,000 full-time yeshiva students in Israel, Ginsburg said.

Though there continues to be violence in the region, the rabbi said that 65 percent of Arab-Israelis are “quite proud or very proud to be Israel and 77 percent are proud to be living in Israel. Ginsburg also said that the divide between Ashkenazi (European Jews) and Sephardic ( Mediterranean Jews) has closed. “The Israelis are united more than they ever were,” he said.
County Legislator Denise Ford (R-Long Beach) said she is inspired by the survivors. “You know how precious human life is,” she said. “You came to America with your stories, lived your lives and raised families.”

After the Star Spangled Banner and Hativkah, the national anthem of Israel, lunch was served and shortly after many of women and some men danced up a storm. Students from the Shulamith School for Girls in Cedarhurst danced with the survivors. One generation learning from another.