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NEW NATIONAL CHAIR OF THE CANADIAN SOCIETY FOR YAD VASHEM: FRAN SONSHINE
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P r o m i n e n t
Canadian Jewish-
community leader
and Yad Vashem
Benefactor Fran
S o n s h i n e w a s
elected National
C h a i r o f t h e
Canadian Society
for Yad Vashem in
February 2009, following many years of
involvement with the Society. Both Fran and
her husband, Ed, are children of Holocaust
survivors. In Fran’s words, “The Shoah permeates
the way we look at life.”
Fran is dedicated to implementing the
vision of Yad Vashem across Canada by raising
funds for its worldwide activities, advancing
the Canadian Society’s numerous educational
and commemorative initiatives, and developing
important new national projects.
Fran serves on the boards of numerous
organizations including: UJA/Federation’s Jewish
Foundation; the Canadian Council for Israel and
Jewish Advocacy; the Baycrest Foundation;
and the National Women’s Philanthropy Board
of the United Jewish Communities. She is also
past co-chair of the UJA Federation of Greater
Toronto’s 2009 Annual Campaign, past chair
of UJA Federation Women’s Campaign and
Advocacy, and past chair of the Lion of Judah
Endowment. Additionally, she has been involved
with Canadian Hadassah-WIZO, the State of
Israel Bonds and Aish Hatorah. The Sonshines
established one of the first legacy funds for the
Toronto Jewish Foundation.
Bringing vast experience and passion to her
new position at the Canadian Society, Fran feels
“honored by the opportunity to partner with
Yad Vashem, the world’s leader in Holocaust
education and commemoration. I look forward
to building its important presence in Canada,
and working with my fellow citizens in securing
the Holocaust’s legacy and promoting universal
tolerance.”
Friends Worldwide
NEW NAME, NEW LEADERSHIP: BRITISH FRIENDS OF YAD VASHEM
BENEFACTOR AND FRIEND:
JAIME MEIR STRASBERG
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Jaime Meir Strasberg was born in Nova
Suliza, Bessarabia in Romania. During WWII,
he was imprisoned together with his family
in a refugee camp near Bershad. Under such
harsh circumstances, they suffered from severe
starvation and cold. Jaime Meir’s father perished
in the camp. His mother and brother survived.
Recently he unveiled a plaque at Yad Vashem
memorializing the family members he lost
during the Shoah.
Following the war Jaime Meir moved to
Israel, and eventually emigrated to Venezuela.
There he met and married Nira Hendel and
became a successful businessman. He is an
ardent soccer fan, and is very close with Brazilian
soccer player, Pele.
Nira and Jaime Meir are the proud parents
of three daughters and nine grandchildren. Their
deep commitment to Holocaust remembrance
is reflected in their recent munificent donation
to Yad Vashem, through which they continue
to take an active role in ensuring that the
memory of the Holocaust will serve to build a
better future for their family, the Jewish people
and all mankind.
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The year 2009 has already witnessed big
changes for the Yad Vashem representation
in the UK, with an official name change of
the charity to the British Friends of Yad
Vashem, as well as a brand new Board of
Trustees. Jeffrey Pinnick, who gallantly led
the Yad Vashem UK Foundation for over five
years, recently retired, and Brian Markeson now
serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees,
which includes Michael Charles, Anton Dell,
Ian Fenton, Tony Hyams, Jonathan Lauffer,
Hannah Loftus, Jonathan Metliss, Esther Tager
and Jacques Weisser.
The year began with a Ladies’ Luncheon, held
in a private home, with the Deputy Ambassador
of Israel, Talya Lador-Fresher, as keynote speaker.
In February, a business breakfast was held at
the magnificent art gallery of the Foundling
Museum. Journalist Daniel Finkelstein addressed
the audience, surrounded by a number of
works by Hogarth, Gainsborough and other
distinguished artists.
The British Friends of Yad Vashem is
committed to continuing the “Guardian of the
Memory” campaign, which not only brings in
much needed donations, but also widens their
circle of friends.
The new Trustees are also devoted to
helping raise crucially needed funds for Yad
Vashem, as well as to raising awareness in the
UK, emphasizing Yad Vashem’s position as
one of the most important institutions in Israel
and beyond, and leading the responsibility
of safeguarding the memory of the past and
imparting its meaning for the future. A number
of exciting fundraising events are planned for
the rest of 2009.
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Left to right: Jonathan Lauffer, Tony Hyams,
Chief Executive Linda Paterson, Brian Markeson
and Anton Dell.
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Jaime Meir and Nira Strasberg (right) were presented
with the Yad Vashem Key by Chairman Avner Shalev.
They were accompanied by Perla Hazan, Director of the
Iberoamerican, Spanish and Portuguese Desk (left).
Friends Worldwide
20
friends
worldwide
USA
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Yad Vashem Builders
Linda and Murray
Laulicht came for a visit to Yad Vashem together
with their daughter and son in-law
Laurie
and
Bernard Hasten and their grandchildren.
Yad Vashem supporter
Mark Hasten toured
the Museum of Holocaust Art, and presented
his book Mark My Words! to Yad Vashem's
Library.
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Dedicated advocates and supporters of Yad
Vashem
Colin and Gail Halpern came for a two-
day visit in May, which included attending a
special presentation in Yad Vashem’s Archives
and participating in the visit of Pope Benedict
XVI.
Left to right: Director of Yad Vashem's
English Desk
David Metzler, Chairman of the
Yad Vashem Council
Rabbi Israel Meir Lau,
retired Supreme Court Justice and Assistant
General Prosecutor at the Eichmann trial
Gavriel
Bach, Colin and Gail Halpern
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Yad Vashem Trustee
Selma Gruder Horowitz
visited Yad Vashem with her sister and brother-
in-law
Pearl and Carl Field for a specially
designed tour, including a behind-the-scenes
look at the artifacts room.
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Sam Boymel came to Yad Vashem on 22
April, and viewed the plaque that includes the
name of
Petr Tokarsky, of blessed memory, the
Righteous Among the Nations who saved him
during the Shoah.
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Yad Vashem Benefactors
Cecile and Ed
Mosberg dedicated to Yad Vashem a Torah
salvaged from Poland during an emotional
ceremony held in the presence of their daughter,
Louise Levine, and grandson, Alexander Levine,
who was in Israel as part of a “March of the
Living” group.
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Ester Celebicic from Yad Vashem presented
eight special artifacts given by Yad Vashem to
the new Holocaust Museum in Skokie, Illinois,
including a brooch made from a Lodz ghetto
bread ration card, an armband from the Kovno
ghetto and a yellow badge from Belgium.
Left to right: Ester Celebicic;
Director of
Development, American Society for Yad Vashem
Shraga I. Mekel; the Skokie Holocaust Museum’s
Executive Director
Richard Hirschhaut; curator
Bethany Fleming; Vice-President of the Museum
Aaron Elster
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Yad Vashem Benefactors
Phyllis and William
Mack toured the Holocaust History Museum
together with their friends
Nancy and Jeffrey
Lane, and Christina and Robert Baker. They
were greeted by Chairman of the Yad Vashem
Directorate
Avner Shalev (second from right) and
Managing Director of the International Relations
Division,
Shaya Ben Yehuda (right).
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Over 200 people attended the
American
Society for Yad Vashem Annual Spring
Luncheon entitled “Women, Resistance and
Renewal" on 21 May in New York City. Yad
Vashem Benefacator,
Stella Skura, and Anna
Erlich, both Holocaust survivors, philanthropists
and members of the Society since its inception,
were presented with Achievement Awards
for their lifetime dedication to Holocaust
Remembrance.
Prof. Nechama Tech, author of
the renowned book Defiance, now a successful
motion picture, was the guest speaker. Event
Co-Chairs
Abbi Halpern and Iris Lindenbaum
represented the Third Generation within the
American Society’s Young Leadership.
Pictured, top: American Society Chairman
Eli Zborowski, Iris Lindenbaum, Stella Skura,
Ilana Lifshitz, Cheryl Lifshitz. Bottom: Eli
Zborowski,
Scott Erlich, Anna Erlich, Dr. Sheila
Erlich Pruzansky, Susan Erlich