A Meaningful Conference
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker greeted hundreds of members of a unique family with a warm and enthusiastic welcome. The World Federation of Jewish Holocaust Survivors & Descendants (WFJHS&D) held its 36th annual conference in Philly at the end of October. The international and intergenerational gathering brought together Shoah survivors with children (2G), grandchildren (3G) and great-grandchildren (4G) of survivors. This very special reunion afforded participants the opportunity to share their histories and learn with and from each other.
The WFJHS&D was started by the youngest survivors; those who were under the age of 16 at the end of World War II. It was assumed that because of their youth they were not cognizant of the dangers and were not impacted by their experiences. This was not true and the founders of the World Federation, the child survivors, turned to each other for comfort. Many of these kids were the only members of their families to survive so they created new “siblings”. Together they shared their stories, pain, and hopes for the future.
In the words of Max Arpels-Lezer, the President of the World Federation, “Thirty years ago, our conferences were about healing and recovering from the horrors we endured during the Shoah, whether we were in hiding or on the run or incarcerated. These years were for all of us Child Survivors the worst part of our lives.
Over the last couple of years…our conferences have changed their focus from healing to learning and educating and, most importantly, passing on the memory of the Shoah to the next generations.”
In the decades since the conference began, it has grown to include children of survivors of all ages as well as their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In addition to opportunities to share family histories and explore their feelings, participants now have the chance to listen to historians and authors who engage with the survivor community.
Over the conference weekend, the plenary topics included The Impact of October 7 on the Survivor Generations; Trauma, Resilience & Growth; and A 3G Perspective: How Has Holocaust Education and Remembrance Changed in Recent History? Other plenaries were Contributions of the Second Generation and Why Do We Continue to Care: Intergenerational Perspectives on the Future.
The over 400 participants had dozens of breakout sessions to pick from, including hearing life histories of survivors, researching family genealogy, roots tours, memoir writing, reclaiming European citizenship, and more. The program in its entirety is online on the WFJHS&D website.
What is extraordinary about this conference is the environment in which survivors and descendants can feel “at home” with others who have had similar life experiences. The survivors reunite with their post-war “family”. For the second generation, those born out of the ashes of the Holocaust and for whom the most significant event in their lives happened before they were born, the gathering is a chance to speak with others who understand what that means. For the grandchildren who were cherished by their survivors, it was a chance to honor and perpetuate their family legacy.
After full days of learning and sharing, Saturday and Sunday evenings ended with music and dancing. The Holocaust survivors, like the October 7 survivors, prove that we will dance again. This is a testament to the resilience of the Jewish people.
In the words of one 3G, “The conference was an excellent experience….” The 2027 conference is slated to be in Dallas, TX. To learn more visit https://www.holocaustchild.org.
