On May 21st, 2009 in celebration of “Yom Yerushalayim”, the Conservative Synagogue of Fifth Avenue hosted a benefit concert for ATZUM featuring internationally acclaimed musician Andy Statman. It was a successful and delightful evening filled with inspiration and magnificent music. Hazzan Bat-Ami Moses introduced the evening with Psalms and an overview of ATZUM’s powerful impact on Israeli society. Rabbi David Gaffney shared words of the significance of “Jerusalem Day.” For the next hour the sold out house was blessed with two sets of music featuring the genius of Andy Statman‘s clarinet and mandolin. He was accompanied by two superb musicians, Larry Eagle on percussion and Jim Whitney on bass. The evening closed with Rabbi Levi Lauer’s comments on how meaningful and important our support in the States is to the work of ATZUM and its projects assisting Israeli survivors of terror, banishing human trafficking from Israel and honoring those Righteous Among the Nations who live in Israel. We thank all of our supporters and contributors for making this event so special and successful!
Archives for May 2009
NY Fundraising Concert Raises $5250 for ATZUM
4 Days Left to Buy Tickets for NY Fundraising Concert
On May 21st, the Conservative Synagogue of Fifth Ave. will host a benefit concert for ATZUM. The concert features the virtuoso klezmer and jazz musician, Andy Statman.
There is one week left to purchase tickets. This is an opportunity to hear the renowned klezmer and eclectic musician, Andy Statman, in a very intimate setting and support ATZUM’s Roberta Project for Survivors of Terror which assists victims of terror in Israel. If you can’t attend personally, please consider buying a ticket to be left at the door for students or others who couldn’t afford to attend.
To purchase tickets send an email to: statmanconcert@gmail.com
Ticket prices are:
Program Sponsor $720 4 tickets and designation in program
Double Chai $360 2 tickets and designation in program
Chai $180 $180 1 ticket and designation in program
Donor $ 72
Synagogue Member $ 54
For more information, please see: ATZUM Benefit Concert.
Urgent Plea for help to save a life
When Righteous Among the Nations rescuer Viktor Polischuk discovered his grandson Anton had leukemia, he turned to ATZUM for help. Viktor, together with his family saved Jews during the Holocaust. Now his grandson is critically ill and needs a life saving bone marrow transplant.
ATZUM is reaching out to raise the funds needed to try to save Anton Polischuk’s life. We cannot imagine a more fitting tribute to a grandfather who risked all to save a Jewish family and allow future generations to come to life.
Read a translation of the article published in Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharanot about ATZUM’s efforts to save a life .
To make a tax deductible contribution see:
Please mark your contribution for “Anton”.
Israel Memorial Day Program with Dallas Yavneh Academy Students
On the eve of the most difficult day on the Israel calendar, Israel memorial day, ATZUM shared a meaningful morning with Dallas’ Yavneh Academy student delegation to the March of the Living. Rabbi Levi Lauer spoke about our commitment as Jews to fulfill the mitzva of memory in honoring those who sacrificed everything that we might live with sovereign dignity. An extended and thoughtful discussion ensued.
Two Israeli terror victims K, 17 and A 27, joined the session and shared their experiences of the terror attack they survived. They spoke with great candor to the students about their struggle for recovery and the group asked about their commitment to Israel, their frustrations and their hopes for the future.
In addition we were privileged to have high school and one year program students volunteering with ATZUM, speak to the group about their weekly work with families effected by terror. Before leaving, each of the Dallas students made beautiful occasion cards to be send to families on the yahrtzeit of a murdered family member or before holidays when loved ones are painfully missed.
We thank the participants from the Dallas Yavneh Academy for making this session a priority of their visit and for caring so deeply.
Righteous Among the Nations, Ivan Vrantetic, Meets the Pope in Jerusalem
photo courtesy of Yad Vashem
On May 11th, Righteous Among the Nations Ivan Vranetic met Pope Benedict XVI at the Yad Vashem Hall of Remembrance in Jerusalem.
A Catholic born in Yugoslavia, at the age of 17, Ivan saved the lives of over 20 Jews in his home town. In 1963 he moved to Israel and in 1970 was honored by the Yad Vashem Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance as a Righteous Among the Nations for his part in saving Jewish lives during the Holocaust. Ivan serves as the chairman of the Organization of the Righteous Among the Nations in Israel.
ATZUM is in touch with Ivan on a daily basis, visits him regularly and has catered to a variety of his needs. When speaking to groups about Righteous Among the Nations, ATZUM always shares Ivan’s story as a sample of true heroism and inspiration.
Upon meeting the Pope this week in Jerusalem, Ivan stated that he was deeply moved and honored by the opportunity to meet the pontiff. He added, “I want the Pope to bring peace to the world. I have always wanted peace all my life. That is why I did what I did.”
Ivan was only a teenager when he put his life on the line to save the lives of escaped Jews who had found their way to his town. Ivan was rarity in a town that largely supported the Nazi-allied militia. Ivan found hiding places for these Jewish escapees as well as securing for them food and other necessary items.
For many years Ivan remained in contact with the holocaust survivors that he rescued. Included in these contacts was a woman that he rescued. He eventually married her in Israel 20 years after the war.
Ivan says that it is hard to understand what it was like during the Holocaust years for someone who didn’t live through that time. He remains greatly disturbed that so much racisim still exists in the world.
When asked what made him risk his life to save others, he cited the upbringing his parents gave him. He was not just driven by a religious obligation to do the right thing, “it was something else”, Ivan explains.
