Jewish Clevelanders aged

21-45 will be gathering

across the city on the night

of May 5th to meet Holo-

caust survivors, listen to

their stories, and engage in

intimate and moving con-

versations about the im-

portance of keeping the

memory of the Holocaust

alive. This new program

promises to be a significant,

meaningful, and exciting addi-

tion to the traditional Holocaust

remembrance programs that

take place throughout the year.

Future 3G plans include volun-

teering at the community-wide

Yom Ha’atzma’ut celebration

on May 11, training in Holo-

caust education presentation

opportunities, and for our fund-

raising Gala Brunch, which will

be held at Landerhaven on

August 21. Contact our pro-

gram assistant, Hallie Duchon

at info@kifcle.org, if you’d like

to get involved or have sug-

gestions for future events.

(See p.4 3G photos)

Our new Third Generation

group (3G), comprised of

young adults in their late 20’s

to early 40’s, kicked off with a

series of meetings and events

geared towards educating the

next generation and carrying

on the legacy of our founders.

While the core of the group is

grandchildren of local Holo-

caust Survivors and their

friends, many of its members are

simply young Clevelanders who

have encountered the tragedy of

the Holocaust and who want to

work with others to make sure it

never happens again.

Our first event was a mixer and

tour of the Violins of Hope exhi-

bition at the Maltz Museum of

Jewish Heritage on November 4.

Forty 3G’s from Cleveland

Heights, Solon, Downtown

Cleveland, Ohio City, and be-

yond, gathered to nosh on falafel

and Israeli salad, sip wine and

soda, and listen to a violin & vio-

la duo from the Cleveland Insti-

tute of Music. Members then en-

joyed private guided tours of Vio-

lins of Hope, viewing meticulous-

ly restored instruments that

had been buried underground,

hidden in attics, and played in

concentration camps during

World War II. The reborn voic-

es of these instruments sing

out again today, reminding us

of both the horrible losses suf-

fered and the hope we have

for a future free of hatred.

3G members are currently col-

laborating with the Young

Leadership Division of the

Jewish Federation of Cleve-

land to promote Zikaron BaSa-

lon (Remembrance in the

Living Room), a meaningful

Israeli tradition commemorat-

ing Yom HaShoah V'Hagvurah

(Holocaust Memorial Day).

3G Group Takes Kol Israel’s Legacy

to a New Generation

SPRING, 2016

KOL ISRAEL

FOUNDATION

NEWSLETTER

P a g e 2

30 KIF members, including Survivors, 2G’s and 3G’s had the rare opportunity to take a

private tour of the Maltz Museum’s current exhibition Operation Finale: The Capture &

Trial of Adolf Eichmann with curator and former Mossad agent Avner Avraham. Av-

raham held the group spellbound as he described the daring operation led by the Israeli

intelligence agency to identify and capture the chief architect of the Final Solution.

Participants viewed a number

of original artifacts from the op-

eration including the personal

effects that Eichmann was car-

rying at the time of his kidnap-

ping, a false passport designed

to make him look like an Israeli

official, and tools used by

agents to forge documents that

allowed them to sneak him out

of Argentina. The highlight of

the tour was an immersive dis-

play that recreated the court-

room in Jerusalem where Eichmann was tried and convicted in 1961, including record-

ings of testimony that were broadcast on Israeli radio and footage of Survivors confront-

ing Eichmann face to face. The actual bullet-proof glass booth that he testified from,

never before seen outside the land of Israel, stood in the center, a silent reminder of the

depthless evil that consumed our people.

Of particular interest to KIF members was a culminating display that featured portraits

and quotes from area Survivors, including our very own Board Chairman Leo Silber-

man. And it was quite powerful to see Leo, surrounded by his grandchildren, thanking

Mr. Avraham for his role in bringing this formerly secret story to life.

KIF Members Enjoy Private Tour with Eichmann curator and former

Mossad agent Avner Abraham

Holocaust Education Outreach

P a g e 3

In addition to the many Kol Israel programs offered in the past, last year we added two unique Holocaust educa-

tion initiatives under the direction of then-Executive Director Ellie Shoag. Detailed in a newly-created brochure,

which, under the direction of Executive Director Mark Davidson and Program Assistant Hallie Duchon, the pro-

grams have since reached the attention of hundreds of educators throughout the Northeast Ohio region, and

demand for our Holocaust education programs has increased.

These programs are designed to enhance the curricula of not only Jewish day- and after-school programs, but to

reach out to the Greater Cleveland community and those who may not have the resources to engage in off-site

Holocaust education programming for their students.

The first request for a video presentation this year was made by Temple Emanu El of Orange. On April 4, eight-

een students from Leah Evans’ 7th-grade class witnessed the presentation, “A Holocaust Survivor’s Story of

Courage, Compassion, and Resilience” – Ben Nebel’s original 1984 testimony, edited to classroom-length peri-

od and enhanced with historic and personal photos.

The Temple Emanu El students were informed, polite, respectful, and engaged. Raptly attentive, they were visu-

ally moved by the presentation. Afterwards, they asked many questions of the presenter – Ellen Jacob, daughter

of the Survivor depicted in the video — which resulted in an interesting and exciting discussion.

The mission statement of Kol Israel Foundation includes ”to remember, educate, and raise awareness” of the

Holocaust. One look at a detailed drawing (shown below) made by 7th-grader Olive Messina as she watched

the presentation, confirms the value and impact that programming of this nature makes.

Questions and discussions brought lessons of the Holocaust into current world politics, including discussions on

bullying, racism, ISIS, genocide, and the choices and responsibilities we all share – to be bystanders or up-

standers.

Eight more presentations were made at Bedford High School this April, facilitated by Ellen Jacob, Stan Dub, and

Melanie Lurie, each presenting their parents’ or grandparents’ video testimonies.

If you or an organization in which you participate wish to request a free presentation, please contact

info@kifcle.org.

Above: Jake Duchon

asks Ellen a question;

Right: Drawing by 7th-

grader Olive Messina.

Ellen Jacob, sourrounded by Leah Evans’ Temple Emanu El 7th grade students.

P.O. Box 22274

Beachwood, OH 44122

Mark Davidson,

Executive Director

216.831.3754

info@kifcle.org

Kol Israel Foundation is a non-profit organization of

Jewish Holocaust Survivors, their families, and sup-

porters.

Since 1959, Kol Israel has carried on its mission of

advocacy and support for Survivors. It provides mean-

ingful Holocaust education and memorial programs

throughout Northeast Ohio and preserves and shares

the eye-witness narratives of Survivors.

KOL ISRAEL FOUNDATION

3G VIOLINS OF HOPE PHOTO GALLERY

Memorial Recognition Well on its Way Special Thanks to Kol Israel Board Secretary and Memorial Committee Co-Chair Mark Frank for starting the process of getting National Landmark status for our Monument, be-lieved to be among the first Holocaust monuments erected in the U.S., and all the hard work he has done to preserve the Monument and promote our annual fall memorial.

Mark and Leo met with Bedford Heights mayor Fletcher Berger to begin the process of getting documentation start-ed. Shown here is a photo taken of Mayor Fletcher Berger and Kol Israel Foundation Board Chair Leo Silberman at Bedford Heights City Hall. Mayor Fletcher had never met a Holocaust Survivor before. He was touched by Leo's story and impressed with our history. We look forward to working with him and the city as we seek National Historic Status for the Kol Israel Monument at Zion Memorial Park.