Southern New England Jewish Ledger
A Letter From Our Executive Director
by Steven Schimmel
The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising stands out as an unprecedented moment in history and should be eternally remembered. Too often simplistic depictions of the Holocaust portray Jews as frightened, helpless, and weak. The ghetto uprising, in contrast to these false narratives, was a moment full of bravery which stands out not only in WWII history but in the entirety of history as a pinnacle of Jewish heroism. The uprising took place during one the darkest and deadliest periods of the Holocaust from April 19 to May 16, 1943. The ghetto, established by the Nazis in 1940, held over 400,000 Jewish men, women, and children in horrific conditions with regular and systematic murders.
The uprising began when the Nazis attempted to deport the ghetto residents to concentration and death camps during Passover. Young fighters, armed with nearly no supplies, fiercely resisted, engaging in a last-stand battle. Despite being heavily outnumbered and entirely outgunned, the fighters held out for almost a month, inflicting casualties on the Nazis and delaying their plans to liquidate the ghetto.
Mordechai Anielewicz, and other young Zionists played a pivotal role in the uprising as the leaders of the resistance, organizing the fighters and securing supplies. The duration of the uprising was a testament to the tenacity and determination of the Jewish fighters, lasting almost as long as the French army held out against the Nazis. Although the uprising ended in inevitable defeat with the ghetto set ablaze it remains a proud moment of Jewish bravery.
We are now living in a period of rising antisemitism, but remembering the bravery of the young ghetto fighters standing up to unimaginable circumstances should serve as an inspiration that we too must remain brave proud Jews.
On April 25th we commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising with the raising of a special flag at Worcester City Hall- the Jewish star flag that was held by the fighters once again flew proudly inspiring the unwavering spirit of resistance against death and oppression
Worcester City Councilor Moe Bergman speaks during a program raising the flag of the Warsaw Ghetto Partisans at Worcester City Hall, April 25 
Raising the flag of the Warsaw Ghetto Partisans at Worcester City Hall in memory of the 80th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
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Community Yom HaShoah program at Temple Emanuel Sinai
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We are pleased to announce the winners of the Pinkhus & Rhoda Gurevich Yom HaShoah Essay & Art Challenge sponsored by Bnai Brith Commonwealth Worcester Lodge #600. This year’s topic was Hannah Senesh.
Junior Division Essay
1st Alexandra Belliveau
2nd Ella Abramowitz
3rd Tobias Wilk
Junior Division Art
1st Avery Smith
2nd Ella Kruk
Senior Division Essay
1st Eliya Gladstone
TIE 2nd Jayden Seifer
TIE 2nd Samuel Hollander
3rd Anya Geist
Senior Division Art
1st Amanda Seifer
2nd Samantha Finkle
A sampling of a few of the winning submissions:
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Community Wide Celebration for Israel’s 75th Birthday at Mechanic’s Hall
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Fun with YAD!
Getting happy with YAD at April Happy Hour 
First Night Passover Seder with YAD 
YAD Passover Shabbat Lunch 
YAD’s inner child plays at Level 99
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PJ Library Fun!
PJ Library Havdalah and Farm Animals with Congregation B’nai Shalom 
PJ Library Havdalah and Farm Animals with Congregation B’nai Shalom 
PJ Library joins Congregation Agudat Achim for Passover Seder 
PJ Library Northern Worcester County Children’s Seder
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LIFE & LEGACY Gathering
On May 8 and 9 six members of the Central Mass community participated in the LIFE & LEGACY Gathering held by the Grinspoon Foundation in Springfield MA. Highlights of the 2-day conference included a performance by Shira Kline, known on stage and on PJ Library CDs as ShirLaLa and remarks by Harold Grinspoon and Winnie Sandler Grinspoon. Keynote speakers Shana Merlin, founder of Merlin Works, who uses tools and techniques from improv to teach team building, communication, and leadership; and Hugh O’Doherty, Adjunct Lecturer at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, who teaches about Adaptive Leadership, the concept that leadership is not a role, but an activity that anyone can choose, with or without authority.
We were also able to learn from workshop speakers like Arlene Schiff, Senior Advisor, Harold Grinspoon Foundation, Nanette Fridman, President, Fridman Strategies, John Lepp, Partner and Creative Director, Agents of Good, Alison Wolin, Digital Strategist, Echo Lake Entertainment, Robyn Schein, Senior Consultant, 21/64, and Dena Kaufman, Community Legacy Consultant, Harold Grinspoon Foundation.
The Central Mass attendees came back reinvigorated and ready to continue our LIFE & LEGACY Program. Central Massachusetts is in year 7 of LIFE & LEGACY. To date we have secured 457 legacy commitments from 329 donors with an estimated value of $14.8 million and look forward to working with you to secure your Jewish Legacy.
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