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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.
Approximately 110 people attended this educational program. We are thankful to the St. Louis County Library Foundation and Denise Chappell for their support of Holocaust education.
Link to Article: The Scourge of Antisemitism
by Menachem Rosensaft
Link to Letter on Holocaust Lessons
by Wolfgang Goehner
Link to Letter by Richard Friedman
Son of Sgt. Israel Friedman, who liberated Ben
Link to Article by Dr. David Oughton
St. Louis Univ. Prof. of Theology
Link to Article by Moritz Farbstein
Citizens Commission on Human Rights
Ben's childhood friend Hirsz Litmanowicz (center) at Auschwitz, January 27, 2020 -- 75 years after surviving Dr. Mengele's inhuman experimentation, with his grandaughter and Ron Lauder, President World Jewish Congress
We are thankful to the St. Louis County Library Foundation, Denise Chappell, and Lori Boschert for allowing Dr. Levy and Bulgarian Consul Lucy Taseva to share their respective stories of survival and to learn about the Bulgarian people who saved 50,000 Jews.
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Hidden child survivor Rachel Miller also attended. Her father and uncle were among Hitler's first human guinea pigs who were used to test the efficacy of drugs that would quickly kill people. Rachel's eyes filled wth tears as I struggled to shared her nine-year-old childhood memory of her father dying in her mom's arms in the Drancy camp hospital outside of Paris.
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Thank you for keeping Ben's legacy of Holocaust education alive and meaningful.
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Many thanks to Ted Ivanov, who grew up in Bulgaria and now makes Bulgarian yogurt locally, for his time and serving this distinctive Bulkan Treasure -- Yo Bul Yogurt.
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May 8 -- Madill Public Schools and First Baptist Church hosted a Holocaust educational program for six hundred students and offered a live steam to local residents. Where's Madill? A town of 3,000+ people in Oklahoma.
Shelly Hamilton heard our ancestors' souls echo and organized the event and rallied the town for support. She is a life-long Madill resident and parent; coincidentally, her son's name is Ben and her niece's name is Hannah.
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Hidden child survivor Rachel Miller provided testimony of hers and her family's inhumane experiences they suffered in Paris France. Video and other informaton on Ben Fainer's life in Bedzin Poland was shared by his daughter Sharon Hannah Berry.
You can view photos from this program by following this link.
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Read The Daily Ardmorette Article Here
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February 6 in Jefferson City, MO, Hidden child survivor Rachel Miller shared her story of suffering and survival at Helias Catholic High School.
Teacher Sarah Kemkper launched Holocaust education at Helias in 2013 when Ben Fainer first spoke. Since then, each year 200 students have filled the library to hear a survivor speak.
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You can view photos from this program by following this link.
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Read News Tribune Article Here
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Survivor Dr. Ram Levy tells students how righteous people of Bulgaria stopped Hitler's plans to deport and kill 50,000 Jewish people
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February 4, 2019 at Parkway North High School - Alma Mater of Dr. Levy's children and several of Ben Fainer's children and grandchild.
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Alumna Sharon Berry shares video and details of Ben's story.
Eight classes and approx. 200 students attended
Introducing Holocaust Education Program (Ben as a child with siblings who were killed on screen).
Eight classes and approx. 200 students attended
Despite single digit temperatures and sub-zero wind chill, approx. 125 people bundled up and came out to hear hidden child survivor Rachel Miller's story.
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Thanks again to the St. Louis County Library for making this program possible; and PS Kids First, Soldiers Memorial/MO Historical Society, and St. Louis Polonia for their support.
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You can view photos from the evening by following this link.
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NEVER AGAIN: Survivors shared their stories of inhuman cruelty, righteousness and survival.
September 17, 2018
Tri County Senior Center in Pacific, Missouri
Rachel Miller, hidden child survivor, shares her story with Parkway North High School Students, May 2, 2018 in St. Louis, MO
Click on any photo below to read more
Born Rachel Goldman in 1933 in Warsaw, Poland, she was the youngest of four children. Eruption of anti-antisemitism lead her father to move his family to Paris, where his brother lived.
Rachel with paintings of her mother Helen, father Nathan and sister Sabine. All were killed in Holocaust; she lost 90 other family members.
Mrs. Rachel Miller Parkway North High School social studies teacher.
Born Rachel Goldman in 1933 in Warsaw, Poland, she was the youngest of four children. Eruption of anti-antisemitism lead her father to move his family to Paris, where his brother lived.
Helias High School, Jefferson City, MO
Dr. Ram Levy sharing his story with 200 students
March 22, 2018
In his letter thanking the students for his visit, Dr. Levy remembered the people who saved him and his family from the Nazi death camps:
"Hopefully, their heroic actions will become your guiding light! Should fate put you to the test in your lives, be righteous like them!"
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- - Ram Levy, PhD.