A day of light and shadow

Dedicating the new home for Holocaust survivors in Haifa

By LELA GILBERT
haifa (photo credit: Matthias Guggisberg (ICE))
haifa
(photo credit: Matthias Guggisberg (ICE))
On a late summer day in Haifa, excitement was evident at the newly renovated Home for Holocaust Survivors, operated by one of the city’s busiest relief organizations, Yad Ezer L’Haver (Helping Hands to Friends). It was a happy occasion when residents, donors, caregivers and Israeli dignitaries came together to commemorate the opening of the comfortable and attractive new home. Although the day was meant to spotlight the story of one community affirming the life of another, a small group of anti-Christian activists attempted to eclipse the celebration.
In December 2009, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem became aware of an opportunity to help expand a small hostel in Haifa so it could assist several dozen more destitute Holocaust survivors. The ICEJ responded with a donation of $25,000 so Yad Ezer could begin developing the ground floor of a building next to the already-functioning assisted living facility.
Then Yad Ezer’s director Shimon Sabag informed the ICEJ that the entire building was available.
The ICEJ responded energetically, and within just a few days last January its German branch raised another $300,000. This made it possible to donate the entire apartment building to Yad Ezer and begin refurbishing it. The renovations began early in 2010, when several teams of German construction workers volunteered to spend two-week cycles there.
Today, the residence is equipped to provide comfortable assisted living for up to 80 elderly, poor survivors of Hitler’s death camps, making it the largest such facility in Israel.
Nearly a third of Israel’s 210,000 Holocaust survivors struggle with pain and physical illness, remain emotionally overwhelmed, or live in poverty. As they enter their sunset years, Christian organizations have been working to ease their suffering, whether through ‘adoption’ programs, special assistance, gift baskets, or investing in initiatives like Yad Ezer’s outreach.
For numerous reasons, including high medical expenses, political snafus and bureaucratic complications, more than a third of the Holocaust survivors in Israel currently live beneath the poverty line. There were more than 2,000 applicants for a spot in the Haifa home.
Yad Ezer – which also sponsors outreaches such as soup kitchens and homeless shelters – was started in Haifa in 2001 by two brothers, Baruch and Shimon Sabag. After surviving a nearly fatal automobile accident, Shimon turned his full attention toward caring for the less fortunate. Of the Holocaust survivors, he says: “It is my heart’s desire to give those people, who have suffered so much, some dignity and joy as they live out their last years.”
So it was that Yad Ezer and Shimon Sabag hosted a small reception for elderly men and women, along with ICEJ leaders, workers, friends and volunteers who had helped create their attractive new home.
One of the attendees, 84-year-old Yosef Kunstlich, represents the situation for many of the residents.
Kunstlich bears a tattooed number on his arm, recalling the death camps from which he miraculously emerged. For decades after he arrived in Israel, he vowed that he would never speak to another German person. His mind was changed, however, by the generosity of the German Christians who funded and rebuilt the home where he now lives.
“Who would believe they would come here and work to build this place?” Kunstlich said in wonder, while enjoying a relaxed conversation in the dining room.
Following the reception, transportation arrived to take all the participants to the official dedication ceremony at the Haifa Congress Center. They were joined by a number of Israeli dignitaries who had arrived to honor the Holocaust survivors, including Israel’s Chief Rabbi (Ashkenazi) Yona Metzger, Knesset members Tzipi Livni, Daniel Hershkovitz, Eitan Cabel, Ayoub Kara, and Gila Gamliel, Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav, and other national luminaries.
Over 1,000 Holocaust survivors were also in attendance as special guests.
At the dedication ceremony, the ICEJ presented Yad Ezer with another $300,000 to purchase a second threestory building on the same street, which will be able to house 50 more survivors.
ICEJ International Director Juergen Buehler, who also heads the Embassy’s branch in Germany, has been deeply moved by the sacrifices of the German Christians who, in his words, “take up the task of funding and supporting this unique warm home for Holocaust survivors. This gift will never make up for what they suffered, but it does give hope for the present and future. It has been especially encouraging to witness so many Germans willing to assume responsibility for their own tragic national history.”
The evening festivities were meant to celebrate a job well done, and to inspire and encourage the survivors who live in the Haifa home, along with the 1,000- plus other Shoah victims in attendance.
It was also intended to thank the ICEJ for its generous efforts. However, while the many guests of honor were enjoying the presentations and entertainment, some unpleasant circumstances cast shadows over the event.
Nathan Jeffay of the Jewish Chronicle reported that leading Israeli rabbis were furious that the new residential facility for Holocaust survivors is being funded by evangelical Christians… Open Eye, a newly-formed alliance of rabbis which seeks to draw attention to what it calls the “missionary enemy in Israel,” decried Christian involvement in helping Holocaust survivors. Its raison d’être is to demand that Israeli organizations stop accepting money from Christian bodies.
Regarding concerns about missionary activity, ICEJ Media Director David Parsons said his organization is a “ministry of comfort but not a missionary organization.”
It donates to Israeli causes as a “humanitarian effort in light of the history of Christian anti-Semitism.”
But the rabbis in the alliance believe that whatever agendas Christian groups claim, the underlying motive is always missionary in nature.
Because of Open Eye’s expressed hostility to the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, a handful of dignitaries and performers chose not to appear at the Haifa celebration. And, to the consternation of a number of Jewish friends of the ICEJ who are fluent in both Hebrew and English, there were also inaccuracies in the translation of ICEJ Executive Director Malcolm Hedding’s remarks to the audience – including the claim that Hedding was reading from the New Testament when in fact he was reading from Isaiah.
The directors of Yad Ezer were apologetic about these unexpected unpleasantries, and expressed their regrets in a lengthy letter to Hedding.
Following the dedication in Haifa, Hedding spoke of his concern for the evening’s guests of honor: “The horrors that the Holocaust inflicted on its survivors are unimaginable. These dear people are not victims but, indeed, survivors and the builders of Zion. It is fitting that the ‘sons of those who afflicted them’ have renounced this evil and have risen with love in their hearts to assist them.
“This is not only remarkable, but challenging to all of us. If we do not act, who will? By acting, we can ensure that our world will never again embrace such wickedness.
“Home is a special place, and is more than bricks and mortar,” added Hedding. “The Home for Holocaust Survivors is such a place, and the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem is proud, yes very proud, to have helped provide such a place for such special people.
“With much love we wish them well.”