xt7t7659h688 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7t7659h688/data/mets.xml Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass Kentucky Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass 2014-05 Newspaper of the Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass, previously named the Central Kentucky Jewish Association and Central Kentucky Jewish Federation. Published ten times annually. The Federation seeks to bring Jewish community members together through holiday parties, lectures, Yiddish courses, meals, and other celebrations of Jewish heritage and culture. They also host fundraisers and provide financial assistance for Jews in need, both locally and around the world. This collection is part of the Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass records, 2016ms010. newsletters 2016ms010 English Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass Inc.  Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass records Jews -- Kentucky -- Lexington Jews -- History Shalom, May 2014 text image Shalom, May 2014 2014 2014-05 2025 true xt7t7659h688 section xt7t7659h688 Newspaper of

OF THE BLUEGRASS

 

IN THIS ISSUE- SHALOM is published 10 times per year.

Around the Community p. 26 MAY 2014, VOLUME XII, ISSUE 4

ASK A Rabbi: Rabbi Moshe Smolkin p. 4 SHALOM EDITORIAL BOARD

Bikkur Cholir'n-p. 9 _ ‘ David A. Wonman, Editor—in-Chief
B'tayavon: ViVIan's ZUCChlnl Soup p. 17 Hanna Smith Chairperson
Campaign News: Champagne Brunch p. 7 Jane Chaput ’

Director's Report p- 6 Susan Cobin

Editorial p. 16 Betty Nigoff
Havurah News p. 20 '

lSFael21C p. 13 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
JFS: At Your Service p. 7 Vivian Bitensky

Letter to the Editor p. 16 Ruthie Blum

Lori Bernard to Leave Community p. 9 Yaron Sideman

Nominations for JFB Officers and Board p. 2 Rabbi Moshe Smolkin
Ohavay Zion Synagogue News p. 20

Sim Shalom News p. 25

Statement by Consul General Sideman p. 3
Szekely Contest Winning Essays p. 10 SHALOM is produced by the staffof the

Talia Smolkin Appointed to JFB Staff p. 9 Jewish Federation ofthe Bluegrass. For website
Temple Adath Israel News p. 22 or email questions, please contact Tamara
Walter Solomon Appointed BBYO Chair P- 3 Ohayon at tamara@jewishlexington.org or
(859) 268-0672.

Marty Solomon
Jesse Weil

 

 

 

 

Shalom Deadline
Deadline for articlm for the June/July Shalom is May 16. Email articles to shalom u iewishlexingtonorg.

The editorial staff has the right to edit all articles submitted for publication in Shalom. Articles should not
exceed 500 words. The appearance of any advertising in this publication does not represent either a kashruth or
any other endorsement on the part ot‘the Federation of any other agency or organizations.

Opinions expressed in Shalom are not necessarily those ot‘the Shalom editorial staffor the JFB or its
constituent organizations.

Shalom is partially supported by the advertisements appearing in this publication.

Copyright C 2014, Jewish Federation ot‘the Bluegrass. All rights reserved.
For reprint permission contact David Wortman, Editor-in—Chief, Shalom, at shalom@jewishlexington.org.

 

 Nominations for the Officers and Board Members
of the Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass

 

President ............................................................................... Michael Grossman
Vice President .............................................................................. Evalyn Block
Secretary ..................................................................................... Hanna Smith
Treasurer ....................................................................................... Gary Yarus
At Large Executive Committee Members ...................... Amy Faust Mayer, Seth Salomon
Nominated for a second three year term ............................ Jenn Garlin, Elissa Weinstein
Nominated for a first three year term ............... Gayle Boume, Linda Ravvin, Ken Slepyan
Appointed for a first three—year term by TAl ......................................... Dianne Bazell
Appointed for a second three—year term by B’nai B’rith .......................... Marty Solomon
Appointed for a second three year term by Hadassah ........................ Minna Katz-Brown

One appointment from 028 is pending.

Thank you to retiring Board members Bob Grossman, Larry Kant, Jenny Rice, and Kae Schennberg. The
Nominating Committee included Jane Chaput, Bob Grossman, and Susan Cobin. Elections will take place at the
Annual Meeting on May 28 at 7:00 pm. at the Federation, 1050 Chinoe Road, Suite l 12. Additional nominees
will be accepted at the meeting from any member of the Federation as long as the nominee is eligible to serve,
has agreed to serve if elected, and the nomination is submitted in writing and seconded by at least four members
of the Federation present at the meeting.

 

 Walter Solomon appointed BBYO chairperson

Walter Solomon was elected Chair of BBYO's International Board of Directors
for a two-year term beginning July 1. He has served on the Board since 2008
and held previous roles of Vice Chair and Treasurer. As a teen, Solomon served
on BBYO's lntemational teen Board as Aleph Godol ofDistrict 5 AZA (1977-
78) and attended lLTC in 1977, which he considers to be a formative leadership
experience. He also served as an advisor to Cincinnati BBYO's chapter in the
1980's.

 

Walter is also the Ashland vice president and chief growth officer since August
2005. Solomon is responsible for the company's enterprise strategy. His team has mapped Ashland's
transformation from a US. regional oil refiner into a global specialty chemical company and leader in
sustainable chemistry. Solomonjoined Ashland in 2002 as senior vice president and general manager of
Ashland Consumer Markets' (Valvoline) Do—lt-Yourself business unit. While in that role, his team grew
profitability and premium lubricant volume each year. Prior to joining Ashland, Solomon spent 20 years
growing both large and small companies. His first 10 years were in a series of brand management roles with
Procter & Gamble, ultimately directing marketing in P&G's hair care andjuice drink businesses. During that
time, Pantene* grew from a small, boutique brand into a $100+ million business en route to becoming one of
P&G's billion—dollar global brands. He spent the next 10 years leading privately funded startup companies in the
healthcare and software industries, including an Inc. 500* company and an intemet technology incubator. A
native ofCharleston, S.C., Solomon has served as president, chairman or vice chairman ofthe board oftrustees
of four not-for—profit organizations and as a board member for six others. He received his bachelor's degree in
commerce from the University ofVirginia.

Solomon released a book in March that is largely autobiographical entitled Cubicle Tales.

Statement released by the Consul General
Yaron Sideman

The Hamas deal poisons peace talks.
Longstanding conflicts can be resolved only when deeds lead to trust.

May 1, 201412:00 AM

A prominent Israeli philosopher once taught me that one should be able to discuss any issue, no matter how
complex, in simple, though not simplistic language.

Allow me to try to explain, in simple terms, the roots of the Israeli—Palestinian conflict and what makes it so
difficult to resolve.

At the heart of the dispute are two diametrically opposed national movements and narratives, both claiming
ownership to the same piece of land. Questions of who came first or who has stronger religious, emotional and
historical ties to that land further deepen the divide and complicate the task of reconciling the two narratives.
In order for reconciliation to occur and a path toward peace to be forged, both sides need to make painful
compromises that include giving up parts of their narratives.

k4)

 

  
 

  

This is an excruciatingly difficult and long process. In order for it to succeed, it needs to be constantly fueled
with confidence—building measures that instill in the peoples on both sides a clear sense that the other party’s
intentions are genuine, and that difficult measures which they are required to take today will pay off in the
future.

Long before maps are unfurled and borders discussed, it is critically important that a basic pillar be firmly
established on both sides: recognizing the fundamental right of the other side to exist, whatever the final
borders.

That recognition must start from the top, but it has to trickle down and become embedded in the collective
mindset of the people. It is the basis that will support any future agreement. Without it, no agreement can hold.
This is why when one party chooses to align itself with a terrorist organization that does not recognize the right
of the other to exist, and which openly calls for its destruction, it deals a death blow to attempts at reconciliation
and to any prospect of peace.

That is exactly whatPalestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, with whom Israel has been negotiating, did last
week when he entered into an agreement to form a unity government with Hamas, a terrorist organization that
calls for Israel’s destruction and that has, regrettably, an impressive track record of raining down thousands of
rockets and missiles on Israeli civilians in towns and cities, proving it means what it says.

How can Israeli citizens be seriously expected to feel comfortable with Palestinian leadership and have
confidence that it really wants peace, when it teams up with an organization that repeatedly calls for their death?
For the past week I have been grappling with this question and searching for an answer that can be conveyed
straightforwardly. Here’s what I have come up with:

Confidence is measured in deeds and not words. Let President Abbas disassociate himself from Hamas, stop
celebrating murderers as heroes and begin to teach his people the need for co-existence and mutual respect. He,
and the world, will then see Israeli citizens ready and willing to meet him halfway.

Yaron Sideman is Consul General of Israel to the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States. which comprises
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Delaware, West Virginia, Kentucky and Southern New Jersey. He is based in Philadelphia.

 

Ask a Rabbi
By Rabbi Moshe Smolkin

Q: We recently celebrated Passover, and my child was questioning why God needed to kill all the first-born in
Egypt. How should I respond?

A: According to the Torah, “In the middle of the night the Lord struck down all the first-bom in the land of
Egypt, from the first-bom of Pharaoh who sat on the throne to the first-bom of the captive who was in the
dungeon, and all the first-bom of the cattle.” (Exodus 12:29, J PS Translation)

This is a challenging topic. Why indeed did all the first-bom need to die? What could the little babies who
were first born possibly have done to deserve death? What had the first-bom captive, perhaps not even an

Egyptian, done to deserve death? And what had the cattle done?

There have been many traditional Jewish attempts to answer this question:

 Some have said that the society as a whole was involved, and that when Pharaoh made his wicked decrees, not
only did the population not rise up in protest, but they even participated in the oppression and murder. As such,
the whole population is guilty and is deserving ofpunishment. But what had the babies, the captives, and the
cattle done to deserve this punishment?

Some have said that when the non—Israelite captives saw the oppression ofthe Israelites, they rejoiced, and so
they too were deserving ofpunishment. But is death an ethical punishment for ridicule?

Some have said that since the cattle were worshiped by the Egyptians, the first-bom of the cattle needed to be
killed so that people would realize that they were not in fact gods and could be punished. But did all the first—
born cattle need to die just because misguided people were worshiping them? Was that their fault?

There have also been modern, non-traditional responses to this question:

Some say thatjust as the United States took drastic measures in World War II, dropping atomic bombs on
Hiroshima and Nagasaki, so too did God take drastic measures. In both cases innocent people were killed, but
sometimes a utilitarian ethic demands that moral Choice. But could an all—powerful God not have been a little
more discerning in the retribution in order to spare the lives of the innocent babies, captives and cattle?

Some say that due to the lack ofhistorical evidence corroborating the death ofthe first-bom, the narrative may
not be historically accurate, and so we do not need to worry about the possible injustice since God did not in
fact kill all the first-born. This solves the issue ofGod’sjustice. God is no longer responsible since God did
not in fact kill all ofthe first born. But why then did our ancestors write the narrative, and why do we continue
to share it?

Some say that the narrative is a form of protest against injustice. They hurt us, and we will at least imagine
them being severely punished as a result. But what does sharing the narrative mean in this context?

Through the many Jewish responses, we can see that our people have been asking this question for a long, long
time, and we as a people have wrestled with the issues involved. Through this grappling, through this
questioning, we fulfill our role as Israel: “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven
with beings divine and human, and have prevailed.” (Genesis 32:29, JPS Translation)

Both sharing this story and questioning this story are indispensable parts of Passover and of being Jewish.

Sharing the story is fundamental. It connects us with Jews across the world, and it connects us with our Jewish
ancestors and with our Jewish descendents. Without knowledge of our central narrative, how can we have a
voice at the table?

Questioning, though, is perhaps the most essential part of the Seder. Our ancestors thought it was so important
that our children question that they structured the Seder to prompt questioning, and they even gave us a few
questions asked by a few different personalities to help us get going with our very own questions.

Questioning our world is a core part ofJudaism.

Isidor Rabi, a Nobel laureate in physics, once said: “My mother made me a scientist without ever intending it.
Every other Jewish mother in Brooklyn would ask her child after school: ‘So? Did you learn anything today?”
But not my mother. She always asked me a different question. ‘Izzy,’ she would say, ‘did you ask a good
question today?” That difference - asking good questions - made me become a scientist!” (From The New York
Times)

 

  
 

  

Our questions are so very important, perhaps more important than the answers that we may give. So, please
continue to encourage your child’s questioning. Share with them that Jews throughout the ages, from
generation to generation, have been wrestling with the very same question that your child is asking. Share with
them that this questioning is essential to Judaism. Share with them our hope as Jewish parents, that through
their questioning, they will become the thoughtful mensches that we dream for them to be.

Have a question? Ask a rabbl

The rabbis write columns in response to questions submitted by the readers. We encourage you-—whether you are a member of the
Jewish community or not--to submit your queries on theology, morality, ethics, religious Observances. etc. for response by one ofour
rabbis. If you have an issue you would like to see addressed, please email it to shalom@jewishlexington and put "Ask a Rabbi" in the
subject line of your email. (It may take quite a while until your question is answered or it may never be answered, if no rabbi selects

it.) You will not be identified as the writer of the question to either rabbis or readers, nor will you be asked to specify which rabbi
should answer.

Director’s Report
By Judy Wortman, J FB Executive Director

Volunteers to be honored at Federation’s Annual Meeting on May 28

We have all heard the gloomy pronouncements that volunteerism is dead or at least waning. At the Federation,
this is certainly not the case. We are fortunate to have a cadre of active volunteers — and contrary to popular
belief, they are not all over 60. We will be honoring three remarkable volunteers who are our 2014 Award
Winners and also saying goodbye to 3 outstanding Board members who are rotating off our Board after serving
two 3-year terms.

The President’s Award will be going to Bob Grossman, Federation’s immediate past president. Bob also served
for many years as our able Board treasurer and an active member of the campaign and budget committees. He is
an appointee to the Board from Ohavay Zion Synagogue. It is almost impossible to imagine a Board meeting
without Bob’s active participation. 1 am sure that Bob will continue to provide outstanding leadership to our
Jewish community.

The Cookie Wenneker Volunteer of the Year Award will be going to Marcia Blacker. Marcia has been an active
volunteer with the Federation for decades. She served as editor, writer, and member of the Shalom Editorial
Committee for many years. She has been very active in the Women’s Philanthropy Division and was the
primary writer and director of two mini-comedies that entertained our women donors at annual events in 201 l
and 2014.

The Young Leadership Award will be going to Seth Salomon, who serves on the Federation’s Executive
Committee and Board. Seth, the son of Simone and Arthur Salomon, has learned the lessons of communal
leadership from his parents and immediately immersed himself in volunteerism in the Jewish and general
communities as soon as he returned to Lexington. Seth is a knowledgeable leader who has helped the
Federation Board to understand financial and endowment issues. Always ready to help, Seth has endeared
himself to all. Seth’s wife Erin is also a Federation volunteer; she serves on the Jewish Family Services
Advisory Committee.

Leaving the Board this May are Bob Grossman, Larry Kant and Kae Schennberg. Larry has distinguished
himself as the Chair ofthe Community Relations Committee for the past four years. Kae is a past Vice
President and has served on several different committees during her tenure on the Board. All three will be
greatly missed.

6 l

 J FS: At Your Service
By Mimi Kaufman, JFS Director

Springtime is a reminder of renewal and growth.

We are coming out ofhibemation, shedding those extra layers, and experiencing both warmth and sunshine
from the longer daylight hours. For some, spring is a season to engage in the ritual of spring-cleaning or the
planting of gardens. We are never too young or too old to renew ourselves. It is important to do so because it is
through renewal that we explore new paths, see life from different perspectives, open ourselves to fresh ideas,
and thereby change ourselves and our world.

Now that the memories ofa bone—chilling winter have melted away, people are once again getting out and
about. Some go for long walks and visit neighbors; others hit the road with their bike or car. The best part
about spring is the heightened sense of vitality.

Rather than write about a topic or give unsolicited advice this month, 1 would like to ask for help. In Judaism,
the concept ofmitzvot reminds us of the importance of taking care of each other. All around us, there are
plenty of opportunities to make a difference. Closer to home, Jewish Family Services could use your help if
you are interested and willing to share your talents and time.

Specifically, I am looking for volunteers for two upcoming projects. The first is for people to share their talents
in leading small groups with any and all kinds of artistic projects. This could be anything from leading art
projects with small groups of people, to leading a group in the reading ofa play, to teaching a group how to do a
simple watercolor painting. The only caveat is that this would be occurring in the daytime. I realize that this
may be a limiting factor for some great volunteers in our community. The plan is to start a program “Arts and
Adventures" here at the office once a month.

The other request is for volunteers to become friendly visitors (see the Bikkur Cholim article that is in this
month’s publication)

Our creative energy- whether it be in music, art, language, cooking, entertaining, or business is a gift worth
sharing. When we reach out to others through acts of kindness without expecting anything in return, we
definitely renew ourselves and our world.

Campaign News
Champagne Brunch for Major Donors

A champagne brunch for major donors will be held on Sunday, June 8 at 1 1:30 am at the home of Linda and Dr.

Leon Ravvin in Lexington. The guest speaker will be Dr. Eli Capilouto, President ofthe University of

Kentucky. Guests will have the opportunity to make a minimum gift of $500 per person or $1000 per couple to

the 2014 Annual Campaign. The couvert for the brunch is $18. For information or reservations, please contact
Judy Wortman at 268-0672 or 111M! 1m ishlmimtonorg.

Dr. Eli Capilouto became the 12th President ofthe University of Kentucky on July 1, 201 1.
As President, Dr. Capilouto has intently engaged with university and community
stakeholders to renew our founding mission and vision as a public, Flagship, Land-Grant and
Research University. This covenant with the Commonwealth calls upon the University of

 

 

   

Kentucky to be a guidepost for the state through a multi—faceted mission of teaching, research, service and
health care.

To embolden the institution’s enduring legacy, Dr. C apilouto has led a process to enrich UK’s academic
experience by increasing institutional investments in merit-based financial aid and expanding the University
Honors Program. Because of his priorities, the University has enrolled 175 National Merit Scholars in the last
two years — tripling the number of incoming Scholars.

Since Dr. Capilouto’s arrival, UK has initiated more than $620 million in ongoing and approved capital
construction to rapidly enhance and expand a quality living/leaming experience on the University campus.

Under his leadership, the University engaged in an innovative public/private partnership to revitalize the core of
campus and create modern living/leaming communities. By 2016, twelve residential facilities across campus
will add more than 5,700 beds and 200 active learning spaces. Thus far, the estimated $348 million investment
— more than two—thirds of the projected $500 million partnership — will transform the way we house, educate
and mentor our students.

In addition to the investment in the residential core, the University is self-financing three capital projects
essential to its academic and financial future: A $65 million renovated and expanded Gatton College of
Business and Economics supported by donors and private philanthropy; a new $100 Academic Science Building
financed, in-part, through a $65 million partnership with UK Athletics; and a $1 10 million revitalized
Commonwealth Stadium funded with Athletics revenue.

Research at the University of Kentucky is a dynamic enterprise encompassing both traditional scholarship and
emerging technologies. UK’s research faculty, staff and students are establishing UK as one of the nation’s
most prolific public research universities in the nation. In 2013, UK’s Markey Cancer Center was designated as
a National Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute; placing UK among an elite group of 22 research
universities with the triple crown of federal research awards: NC 1-designation, the Clinical and Translational
Sciences Award and a federally supported Alzheimer’s Disease Center.

Dr. C apilouto is committed to enhancing UK’s research enterprise and graduate education programs through
high-quality partnerships, both domestic and international, and by recruiting and rewarding top scholars across
the world.

Essential to the service mission of the University of Kentucky is the advanced patient care and outreach
provided by UK HealthCare. As the flagship academic-medical center in the region, UK serves patients through
a network of health care professionals around the Commonwealth while providing acute, sub—specialty medical
care at UK Chandler Hospital.

A native of Montgomery, Alabama, Dr. Capilouto previously served as Provost of the University ofAlabama-
Birmingham (UAB) and Dean of the UAB School of Public Health -- a period of remarkable growth and
transformation at one of the leading academic and health sciences institutions in the South.

While in Birmingham, Dr. Capilouto was actively engaged in civic roles including service on the Birmingham
Jewish Federation, the Red Cross, Mt. Brook Schools and the YMCA. He also served as President of the
Downtown Kiwanis Club, the largest in the world, and Temple Emanu-El.

Dr. Capilouto holds several undergraduate and graduate degrees from schools within the University of Alabama
system, and a Doctorate in Health Policy and Management from Harvard University. He and his wife, Dr. Mary
Lynne Capilouto (D.M.D.) a former Dean ofthe UAB School of Dentistry, have one daughter.

 

 Lori Bernard, Coordinator of Informal Jewish Education

to leave the community
By Judy B. Wortman

Lori Bernard will be leaving Lexington with her husband, Rabbi Marc Kline, later this month. It has been my
sincere pleasure to have had Lori on our staff team for the past year and a half and on our Board and C RC
Committee prior to that. Lori’s impact on our community has been profound — particularly since her tenure
here was relatively short. She has brought a level of professionalism and creativity that is unparalleled. Under
her supervision, our PJ Library program has grown to 130 enrollees, far beyond our expectations, and she has
developed many PJ Library programs for young families. She has created brand new programs, such as A Taste
ofHoney and One Book. One Community. She has ably coordinated Yom HaShoah, Yom Ha Atzmaut, Global
Day ofJewish Learning, and Tzeason of Tzedakan for the last two years. On a personal level, she is
irreplaceable as a dear friend and colleague. While good-byes are terribly difficult, I wish Lori and Rabbi Kline
all the best. They will be deeply missed.

Talia Smolkin Appointed as Coordinator of Informal Jewish Education

Judy Wortman announces that Talia Smolkin has been re-appointed as Coordinator of Informal Jewish
Education for the Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass beginning June 1, 2014. Talia had previously held that
position and the position ofJewish Family Services Director before her maternity leave in 2012. Talia and her
husband, Rabbi Moshe Smolkin, are the proud parents of an adorable toddler.

The Smolkins moved to Lexington from Los Angeles five years ago. Since that time, Talia received her
Master’s in Social Work degree (MSW) from the Wurzweiler School ofSocial Work at Yeshiva University.
After growing up in Jewish camps and day schools, she attended the University of California Santa Cruz where
she received a BA in Psychology. After graduation, Talia worked in development at Hillel in Santa Cruz and
later at the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles.

While in social work school, Talia had two different field placements in Lexington. The first was with Jewish
Family Services where she worked closely with former director, Paula Clancy. The second year she interned at
Hospice ofthe Bluegrass.

Talia’s responsibilities will include directing PJ Library and the coordination and development ofJewish
educational programs such as Yom HaAtzmaut, Yom HaShoah, Tzeason of Tzedakah, and Global Day of
Jewish Learning. Judy Wortman stated that she is thrilled that that Talia will continue to provide the excellent
programs that she and Lori Bernard have developed for our Jewish community.

Bikkur Cholim

By Mimi Kaufman, JFS Director

 

  
 

There are a number of people in our Jewish Community who have become increasingly isolated as they age.
Some are choosing not to drive; some have become a little less mobile. So what can we do as a community to
help? In Judaism, “Bikkur Cholim” or “visiting the sick” is considered a mitzvah that can help people heal both
physically and psychologically.

Many communities around the country have friendly visitor services. Friendly visitors are volunteers that have
been trained by local professionals on the different aspects of the aging process and on how to visit with people
in their homes. These volunteers go into the homes of individuals to provide companionship. They are an
extension of Jewish Family Services. Volunteers act as the eyes and ears of the professional, making them
aware of situations that may need more assistance than the volunteer is trained to handle.

Friendly visitor programs benefit everyone. They help Jewish Family Services by reaching more people who
may benefit from services; they help the person who is isolated. An unexpected benefit is that the volunteer
can enjoy the wisdom of an older new friend. We all can learn from each other. lt is a win-win for everyone
involved.

If you are interested in becoming part of a new group of Bikkur Cholim volunteers, please come to the first
training and informational session. It will be held on Sunday, June 22nd at the Federation office. We will start
at 10 am. and aim to finish by noon. Coming to the training session does not commit you to becoming a
volunteer. Come and learn about the program.

For more information on either being a volunteer or receiving this service please call me at 269-8244 or email at
jfs@jewishlexingt0n.0rg.

The 12th Annual Emilie Szekely Holocaust Awareness Writing Project

Contemporary Lessons of the Holocaust

In memory of Emilie Szekely, the Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass, in conjunction with the Szekely family, is
proud to sponsor a special annual writing contest on the Contemporary Lessons of the Holocaust. Emilie
Szekely was a Holocaust survivor who for many years dedicated herself to speaking to students in Kentucky
about her experiences in Auschwitz and Bergen-Belzen. The writing project is an effort to continue Emilie’s
life work of keeping the lessons 0fthe Holocaust a living memory.

The Emilie Szekely Holocaust Awareness Writing Project welcomes the contribution of students from the
Central Kentucky area.

The following are the winners, as submitted, for this year:

Nicole Griffin

8th Grade

Christ the King School

Teacher: Mr. Dombrowski

First Place Winner, Middle School

My sorrow is continually before me

 

 My teacher, Mr. Dombrowski showed us pictures from his experience in Europe. He visited many different
places where traces of the Holocaust were left, and are now seen today by thousands of tourists searching for
answers about what life was really like from 1933-1945.

We looked at pictures from Poland. When Mr. Dombrowski was in Poland, he visited concentration and
extermination camps. The first concentration camp we looked at was Plaszow. The Germans destroyed this
concentration camp, leaving behind no remains; but now a memorial stands in its place. The memorial is a
statue of five people, and a stone rests on the people’s heads, giving the idea that the stone is crushing them.
The people also have a gash through their hearts. To me, the heavy stone crushing the people is like the severity
the Germans put on the Jews; the severity that crushed people’s hopes when things kept getting worse. To me,
the slashes through the people‘s hearts is like the Germans, taking the Jews identity away from them just like
they took everything else, leaving the Jews with no hope or anything to hold onto.

Mr. Dombrowski also visited the concentration camp, Auschwitz. The first picture we saw was ofthe entrance
to Auschwitz. This gate said, “Arbeit Macht Frei” which means “Work will set you free.” The thing that stood
out to me about this gate is that the Germans put this gate up; knowing that the idea it gave to people wasn’t
true. It was a sense of false hope. No matter how hard or how much the people worked they would never be
freed. The Germans, day after day, gave the people hard work that had to be done. If the people did the work,
their only reward was living another day. The Germans expected them to finish their work. Working was not a
choice. It was something that was mandatory for the people. The Nazi’s lied and left people hopeless.

Another picture I really liked was a picture ofa grave. This grave said, “My sorrow is continually before me.”
The longer l thought about this quote, the truer it became. The people were left with no hope. They knew they
weren‘t getting out of there. If they decided to live, each day ahead of them would be filled with pain, sadness,
and cruelty