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Co-founder Sharon Hannah Berry is one of Hannah’s seven grandchildren. Along with her sisters, Sandra and Cynthia, this foundation was created to fulfill Ben Fainer’s wishes of continuing his legacy of Holocaust education. Ben is their father who survived Hitler's Hell.
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"While most U.S. adults know when the Holocaust happened and are familiar with Auschwitz, [...] fewer are cognizant about the number of Jews murdered and how Hitler came to power in Germany, according to a [...] American Jewish Committee (AJC) public opinion survey." /1
"I have never seen a picture of my grandmother Hannah, though I continue to search records and photos that have become available. This seemingly small matter is a profound metaphor that illustrates the reality of a life once lived full and normal — extinguished from humanity. Those of us, who carry on the legacy for the victims of this atrocity, have a responsibility to keep their stories alive in ways that honor, respect, and inspire. It is my intent to promote the affirming lessons learned through Holocaust education, hearing personal histories and conscientious reflection."
It seems the concept of Never Again has been replaced with disinformation intended to denigrate people who observe Judaism. This powerful wave of hate in the streets, the media, and college campuses propels us to challenge the rise in global anti-Semitism fueled by lack of knowledge about the Holocaust, Holocaust denial, prejudices against Jews, and the denial of Israel’s right to exist.
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Sharon is retired and now works part time in a research capacity. She devotes the lion's share of her time to the administration and management of the Hannah Ida Urman Foundation. She lives on a several acres in the suburbs of Philadelphia, and has turned her love of gardening into a farmette growing blackberries, sunflowers, and tomatoes. In her spare time, she is writing a book to be titled After the Silence; her personal story following her father's memoir Silent for Sixty Years, co authored by Mark Leach.
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/1 The survey of U.S. adults was conducted for AJC, a nonpartisan organization, by the independent research firm SSRS. A nationally representative sample of 1,004 general population adults, ages 18 or older, was interviewed from October 10 – October 18, 2022. The margin of error is +/-3.8 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.
We Were
Tattooed
Like
Animals
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My New Name Was 178873
About Hannah
Hannah Ida Urman was born May 14, 1912. She grew up in Bedzin Poland, married Rubin Fajner and had four children – Bendyt (Ben), Majer, Rozia, and Chaim. Hannah was a loving mother, who followed her ancestors religious practice; her family had lived in Bedzin dating back to the 1700's. Hannah was 30 years of age, when her life was stolen from her. It is unknown exactly when or how, but she and three of her children it is believe were deported to Auschwitz in August 1942 and were murdered in a gas chamber. Her first born son, Ben, somehow survived.
Liquidation of the Bedzin Ghetto. Hannah could be unknowingly walking to
her death in this photo, along with her friends and neighbors.
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After defying Hitler and surviving for 86 years, when his doctors told him he was dying, Ben said, "I am not going anywhere yet."
He was not afraid to die; he was afraid that he and particularly his mother, Hannah’s story would be forgotten.
At nine years old, Ben lost his mother, siblings, extended family, and all life as he knew it.
Ben
Rozia
Majer
OUR MISSION
Through Holocaust educational programs, students and others reflect, learn and remember the innocent victims tortured and murdered by Hitler’s Third Reich. Toward that goal, we share the personal story of Hannah, her children and family, the Jewish communities she knew, and the stories of so many other people devastated by this inhuman, totalitarian regime.