Flags over the Warsaw Ghetto: The Untold Story of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
With reference to Dr. Carl Hoffman’s review of this book (ESRA MAGAZINE #162, Dec 2011-Jan 2012), it has been my understanding that the downplaying of the role of the right wing ZZW

(Jewish Military Union) had to do with the Soviet (Communist) takeover of Eastern Europe and accompanying Soviet propaganda that was then spread by the leftist Western media. Being that the Soviets heavily exploited their role as the "liberators of Auschwitz" and portrayed themselves as friendly to Jewish causes, probably until they obtained the US atomic bomb secrets handed over to them by the Rosenbergs - Jewish American members of the US Communist party- one may assume that their interpretation of the Ghetto Uprising was considered authoritative, and of course, would not mention any right wing heroics. Nor could it mention anything positive about the non-Communist Polish underground which assisted the ZZW. 

Stefan Komar

New York City, USA

Rishon Cinema Club

Edna Miller wrote a lovely descriptive letter in the last ESRA MAGAZINE about Rishon LeZion's Cinema Club - thank you, Edna. In addition I would like to thank Henrietta Wolffe-David for all her efforts in the establishment of the Cinema Club and for its present success. I can't write this without adding an extra "thank you", and that is to the ladies of the Catering Committee who bake and prepare a lovely spread at each event. “Yashar Koach”.

Janet Kiesari

Chairperson of ESRA Rishon LeZion & Coordinator of the Southern Region 

The Unsung Unseen Everyday-All Day Volunteers

This letter is in no way meant to criticize the activities or the wonderful work of your volunteers. But I wonder if, especially here in Israel, when such a large proportion of the public in so many sectors of life benefit from voluntary help, whether enough thought and space is given in the media to a sizable number of persons, probably many thousands, who work for nonprofit organizations Full Time, putting in many hours daily, yet receiving no salaries. I fear that because we see these workers each time we visit an office or hear them on the other end of the telephone when we make our enquiries, we see them just as employees .... If we know that Mr A or Mrs B help out in many differing spheres we heap praise on them for their multi-activities, but what about the individual who sticks at one job, day in and day out?

I can do no better than give my own greatly beloved husband, Leslie Mound, 'Alav hashalom', who died on December 27, aged 89, as a sterling example.

When he initially made aliyah in 1986, Leslie volunteered at helping a number of organizations, but latterly devoted most of his time, until just before his death when his strength began to seriously fail him, to the cause of helping the Marranos-Annusim, especially those who wished to regain their lost Jewish Heritage and come to live in Israel. (See www.casa-shalom.com) He gave many hours to this cause, far in excess of a normal working day six days a week.

There are, I repeat, of course many other similar good souls around, working a full day in care centers, kitchens, hospitals, etc. Is it not time for us to see such saviors for what they are and to pay at least some Special Marked Tribute to these All-Day, Everyday Workers? 

Gloria Mound

Executive Director/ Hon. Research Fellow, Dept., Hispanics University of Glasgow 1988-2012

Casa Shalom, Institute For Marrano-Anusim Studies,

Netanya

09 773 9655; www.casa-shalom.com

Senior Advisor, International Inst. For Study of Secret Jews

Netanya Academic College

Gloria & Leslie Mound Library 09 860 7837.

Note: Gloria Mound passed away in January 2017 at age 86

Generous donation helps me

I would like to express my thanks and appreciation for your generous donation which will help me with my studies and my many expenses. Thank God I will be getting married in the summer, and this money will be helpful. Keep up your good work and your contributions to the needy community, and God willing, you will be reap your just rewards.

Mor B.

English in Israel - A Linguistic Experience

The Language and Literacy Department at the Wingate Institute is conducting a survey on the language use, choices and experiences of English-speaking immigrants in Israel. We are looking for families with young children, where one or both parents are native English speakers, and/or one or both of the parents immigrated to Israel from an English-speaking country or are originally from an English-speaking country.
Participation in this study is voluntary and anonymous.
Your participation in this study will benefit both the research community at large and the Israeli community specifically by providing both with a better understanding of the family language experiences of English-speaking immigrants in Israel.
To participate in the study please copy and click on this link:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHpXUmx1MTR0VDRDNzRxbTJWRGwtakE6MA
If you have questions regarding this study, would like to be informed of the results when the study is completed, or are concerned about any aspect of the project, please contact the researchers via email: orlyka@wincol.ac.il; tijana-h@wincol.ac.il

Thank you for your assistance.
Dr. Orly Kayam & Tijana Hirsch, M.A.

Gift of a microphone system

ESRA recently received a portable microphone system from Michael Adler of Raanana.  This was originally bought by members of the Technology Travel Group and has been donated on their behalf. The microphone will enable speakers at Beit Fisher to present their programs in a much more professional manner.

We are most appreciative of the donation to ESRA and thank Michael and the Technology Travel Group. 

Audrey Goodman

ESRA Program Coordinator

Energy Saving Products

Due to the cooperation of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, the 1983 program of the New Jersey Department of Energy, "How to Finance the Purchase of Energy Saving Products and Services for no Money Down", will be revived and available soon after to ESRA members and all Israelis. For updated information about this program, email: danielberger1949@gmail.com

Daniel Berger

Lod

Invitation to Shulamith School of Brooklyn Dinner

While I was looking over some archived issues of ESRA MAGAZINE on its website, I came across an interesting article by Judy Shapiro on the 1958 Shulamith School reunion in Israel (Issue #151, Sept-Nov 2009). It just so happens that I had been working on a historical photo project for that very same school. Being the son, husband and father of alumni and students, I take a personal interest in this vital institution.

 I thought you might be interested in the latest news of our school. Shulamith School is still the leader of Jewish education in Brooklyn and remains the only all-girls modern Zionist school. After a brief period of growing pains - Shulamith School grew so much that it even opened a branch in Long Island which has since become independent, although still carries the ideals of Shulamith - our school has enjoyed a new period of vibrancy. Our new Principal, Rabbi Shmuel Klammer brings in tremendous enthusiasm and academics.

Mi'Dor L'Dor, from Generation to Generation, is the theme of this year's Shulamith Dinner. We are proud to honor three founders of our community who have pioneered from generation to generation - Pearl & Dick Jacobs, Shirley & Leo Shachter and Dorothy & Rabbi Arthur Schick who have all been there for us through the decades. They created for us an institution that has molded literally thousands of our Bnot Yisrael to live a life of Ahavat Yisrael, Torat Yisrael and a proud love of Eretz Yisrael. Many of your readers are our alumni - they truly took the ideals of our school to its ultimate fulfillment and are our pride and joy. Our Scholarship Dinner is being held to help those who otherwise would not be given the same opportunities that we have received from our Shulamith education.

We invite all those who are able to participate (if you happen to be here in the States) Sunday, May 6, Iyar 14, Sephardic Lebanese Congregation, 805 Avenue T at 5:00 PM. If you are unable to attend please see our website www.shulamithofbrooklyn.com and see for yourself how beautiful and vibrant our school is today. For questions or registration contact Shulamith School of Brooklyn, 1277 East 14th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11230, Phone: 718-338-4000 and Rabbi Klammer's email is sklammer12@yahoo.com
Eric Leibowitz, A Parent & Member of Dinner Committee

Flatbush, Brooklyn

My Eye on Israel

The e-Book version of my Photo-Bio “My Eye on Israel” is now available for downloading to your IPad. In addition to the full text of the original “Israel through my Lens” it includes videos about events I witnessed and additional images.

Please go to the following link to download the book: http://gbnpublishing.com/books/my-eye-on-israel-by-david-rubinger-ruth-corman.html 

The link downloads to your IPad quite fast. However it takes some time to open in your “IBook” application (which needs to be installed). The IPAD does not show this progress and you might think the device froze. IT DID NOT – after a few minutes “My Eye on Israel” opens in your IBook.

David Rubinger

Jerusalem

The power of a supportive, loving family

Below is an excerpt from a letter to the author of the article "They deserve a chance" (ESRA MAGAZINE #164, March-April, 2012). The article appealed for host families for children deprived of satisfactory parenting who have been sent by the Israeli courts to the Alumim institution. Jenny, a host family mother, was interviewed for the article and Ben is the young man whom her family hosts. She responded with this letter after the article was published. It is a heartwarming testimony to the power of the program.

"I just wanted to say thanks again for the lovely article and I know it has already started to arouse interest and help. I also want to share our good news with you; Ben finished his first duty with Magen David Adom yesterday. He passed the final exams on Monday evening and has already volunteered twice! You met him just as he started the course and I must say seeing him now, so happy and willing to help, just fills us all with so much pride and joy. As my friend from Australia wrote this morning: 'Ben is a glowing testament to the power of a supportive and loving family', but I also know how much credit he deserves for being the amazing boy he is”.
Jenny 

A Royal Package

I have always bought the ESRA raffle tickets and have never been the lucky winner of a prize. Actually, I have never won anything, ever.

This time I did win a wonderful prize - not directly but via my good friend, Mary, who lives in Ramat Gan. She won the "Royal Package" at the Ronit Raphael Beauty Institute in Raanana and did not fancy utilizing it. She very kindly mailed me the voucher so that I could use it.

What a delightful morning. I so enjoyed the the spoiling - starting with mint tea and lemon, followed by a wonderful hour's full body massage, and then a manicure and pedicure. The next step was a hair wash and blow dry. Wow; what a treat. I was even served a plate of delicious cut-up fruit.

As if all this was not enough, I was presented with a voucher for lunch in the coffee shop downstairs. Although I did not have my lunch that day - I will use it another time when Willy joins me after buying books at the ESRA bookshop!

The ladies at the salon were so friendly, charming and polite.

I would like to recommend that those of you who wish to spoil yourselves should go there and just have a great time. It is not cheap, but it is so worthwhile. Of course mine was all gratis!

Thank you to Ronit Raphael for donating such a wonderful package (I believe they donated quite a few vouchers) and a special thanks to my dear friend, Mary, for giving me this wonderful gift. 

Rika Meyerowitz

Netanya

To ESRA, Ramat Hasharon

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your donation to our Moadonit. We wanted to tell you how much we enjoyed the games and the apparatus you bought for us. The games enrich the children’s experience. Thank you for always being there for us, supporting and helping. We hope this cooperation will continue for many years. We love you and hope to keep meeting you on happy occasions.

Edna Cohen, kindergarten teacher

Children Without Shadows film review

AMAZING! I am deeply interested, and have invested time and passion in learning about my family history. My father is Norbert V. Hilsberg, who left Vienna in 1938 upon Hitler's notorious entrance into the city. His parents, Leon and Henriette Hilsberg, safely entered New York Harbor a few years later after their son, Norbert, did. The brave stories of all the Holocaust survivors touch my heart over and over again. Children Without Shadows has again quietly and passionately touched my emotions. I am in awe of all that I have learned since my father’s death in May of 2011 at the age of 96. He, like other Hilsbergs, led an extraordinary life in spite of the surrounding circumstances that tested their spirits, beliefs and tenacity to continue their lives. Joyce Hilsberg Katz

USA

Editor’s Note: The film was reviewed in ESRA MAGAZINE #160.

Thank you ESRA for helping immigrant students

I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to your organization, staff, volunteers, donors for your boundless dedication to the cause of giving help to immigrant students who are supported by the Administration for Olim, in the Haifa area.

In my capacity as a social worker for one and a half years, I have witnessed many heartbreaking stories of students who fail to concentrate and succeed in their studies due to enormous economic difficulties. Some students came here on their own; others have families in severe financial circumstances who barely manage. Needless to say, they are not able to support their children with their education. In all these cases the students find it impossible to pay their way and ultimately drop out of the program.

In my function as a social worker, I try as best as I can to assist in the social, family, personal and financial aspects, telling them it is their turn now to explore their chance for education, to advance and to excel -  everyone according to his/her ability.

Due to cuts in funding, there is almost nowhere to turn for assistance for the students; only in cases of very serious illness or death of a relative can the student expect to receive help.

During my term of duty you were the only organization to which we could address our pleas for assistance.  I have sent you dozens of applications, and each and every one has been treated with an amazing response to the requests and needs.  The students have told me how significant it was for them to be so humanely rewarded.

The financial aid, while I was in charge, amounted to tens of thousands of shekels, and every student's scholarship received played a crucial part in their ability to continue their studies.

I hope you realize the importance of your giving and the marvelous job you do.  Your personal touch in dealing with every application (such as phoning for missing details so as not to delay the needed aid) and providing the financial assistance to those students who require it is much appreciated.

Orli Ben-Shlush, Social Worker, Administration for Olim students, Haifa 

Hannah’s Nursery revived

Hannah's ESRA Nursery has been revived, because of improved health reasons.
The plants are looking beautiful, new ones have been worked on to be ready
for the beginning of autumn, and anyone wishing to come, without buying,
but to view the Australian display garden being constructed by Les, is
welcome, after ringing me on my NEW number 054 848 4601.

The Moss Haggadah

We purchased the Moss Haggadah in the 1980s. Our Temple book store had some in stock; this was a gift for a friend and it was before Pesach. He always displayed different Haggadahs at the Seder. We did not know this, so it was serendipity. He had offered us the use of his apartment in Herzliya and we didn't know how to thank him and his wife. It was on an impulse that we bought the Haggadah and he was most grateful. The article in ESRA MAGAZINE #164 brings back fond memories. Thanks.

Helene Cohen

New York, USA