KLEIN

 

Survivor returns to share hope with women

By DEBORAH MOON

article created on: 2009-02-01T00:00:00

A mother-daughter team brought Holocaust survivor Gerda Weissmann Klein to share her inspiring story of hope with Portland women nine years ago. Perhaps it reflects Klein’s intergenerational appeal that another mother-daughter duo is bringing her back.

Klein returns to Portland Feb. 25 for Impact: An Event for Women, chaired by Beverly Eastern and Michelle Eastern Gradow.

Klein was extremely well received in 2000, when she spoke at the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland women’s event, then called Connections, chaired by Sue Wapnick and Janice Shainsky.

“Once you hear Gerda, you will never forget what she said. She makes a huge impact,” said Eastern, who heard Klein speak here in 2000.

“These kids are not going to know about it (the Holocaust) in the same way,” added Eastern, noting organizers are encouraging girls age 13 and older to come with an adult.

Gradow agreed that it is very important for younger women and teenagers to hear such a hopeful story of survival from someone who lived through such a dark time in history, especially as America faces its own dark times.

“It is becoming urgent that we have a chance to hear her story again and to share it with the next generation,” she said. “It is an opportunity to connect with our history and to have our children hear it too. …She’s going to tell a hopeful story—a hopeful message about how we can survive as a people.”

Gradow and Eastern, who each have chaired numerous community events over the years including Connections and many benefits for the Robison Jewish Health Center, said they are especially enjoying co-chairing an event together for the first time.

“It’s been fun,” said Eastern of working with her daughter. “And I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to meet the younger women on the Impact committee. To see these young women really enthusiastic and active and willing to help is terrific.”

“I get to work with my mom who has been so active in the community,” Gradow said, adding, “I’ve learned a lot working with women I knew growing up.”

Even before the invitations were mailed Jan. 20, the committee had recruited 40 women who have agreed to be table captains, each of whom will encourage eight to 10 women to join their table for the evening.

“I am hoping that we have a huge response to what I know will be a great evening,” said Eastern. “Not only will women hear an outstanding speaker and support federation, but they will be able to interact with other women in the community.”

The evening will also include a sneak peak at the “48 Jews” exhibit coming to the Oregon Jewish Museum in June. Ten of the 48 portraits by Abshalom Jac Lahav will be on display during the cocktail hours. The paintings at Impact will include Golda Meir, Anne Frank, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Betty Friedan.

Klein will present “A Survivor’s Tale of Hope” Feb. 25 at the Governor Hotel. The evening begins at 6 p.m. with a wine reception and the OJM sneak peak at portraits of famous Jews. Dinner begins at 6:45 p.m. The evening is presented by the JFGP’s Women’s Philanthropy Committee.

A WPC press release said, “The former Connnections has changed its name, but the goal of coming together to share our philanthropy is still key to this very important event. … Feb. 25 will be your chance to make an Impact on the lives of the many Jews who depend on your generosity.”

Several women from the Oregon Holocaust Resource Center speakers’ bureau have been invited to enjoy the evening as guests thanks to funding from a generous underwriter. Eastern said that after visiting the Stutthof concentration camp in Poland last year it was even more apparent to her how important it is that “we never forget what these people had to suffer.”

Attendance requires a minimum gift of $180 to the JFGP 2009 campaign, which touches the lives of the young, the elderly, the needy and the vulnerable.

Cost of the event is $48 per person or $58 after Feb. 16. The price includes 3 percent to Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger. For more information, contact Rachel Halupowski at 503-892-7413 or Rachel@jewishportland.org.