"Genocide." The deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, racial, political, or cultural group."
What does it mean to set out to deliberately and systematically exterminate an entire nation, race or culture? And what does it mean to be the target of such a campaign? Though we use words like "genocide" and "Holocaust" casually in everyday speech, the reality behind the words is too mindboggling to comprehend. And yet, every year, on the 27th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan (which is today) Jews all over the world spend a few hours thinking, remembering, grieving, praying, trying to wrap their hearts and minds around the horror that was that reality in the not-so-distant past.
Many of us have friends and family who lived through the Nazi Holocaust. Survivors. Some of us actively seek them out, others prefer to avoid them. Often they're a little strange. Many of them don't talk about it, don't want to talk about it, can't talk about it. Others share their stories as if they were precious gifts. Which they are. With some, you can look into their eyes, if they'll let you, and feel that you're falling into a bottomless well of pain. But you'll find others brimming with an infectious kind of joy, as if still, today, they're marveling that they're alive and free and cherishing each and every moment.
My cousin Trudi (z"l) was one of the latter. She passed away last year in Jerusalem. I'd like to introduce you to her, via this website, which is dedicated to her memory. She was a most remarkable person.
Trudi Birger's privileged childhood is Frankfurt, Germany, ended abruptly at the age of seven when the Nazis forced her and her family out of the life they knew. After several years of hiding, they were captured by the Nazis. Trudi and her family were separated from the rest of their family and sent to a death camp. Trudi was literally snatched from the crematorium door through a miracle that she describes in her book "A Daughter's Gift of Love (The Jewish Publication society, 1992). She made a vow then never to leave a child in distress. After the war she married and emigrated to Israel with her husband and mother. She began to fulfill her vow in the 60's when she was a full-time microbiologist pregnant with her third child. During her work with needy children she became aware of the physical and psychological suffering of severe dental problems. She could identify with those children, having had her own teeth knocked out by a Nazi guard in a concentration camp. In 1978 she established the Dental volunteers for Israel, a non-profit organization. The organization is staffed by volunteer dentists, both Jewish and non-Jewish, from many countries, who pay their own travel expenses. Living quarters are provided by funds donated to DVI. These donations also cover expenses other than direct dental care, such as a very effective oral hygiene community educational program conducted by dental hygienists, in which children and their mothers participate. Unfortunately, the Government aids with only 5% of the expenses. The organization serves 150 of Jerusalem's poor children ages 5 to 18 every day, free of charge, regardless of race or ethnic background. Most of the children come from large families and have a religious background. These children would not have been able to receive dental care without DVI.
(Taken from the article of the Association for Wise Giving by the Sherman Foundation)
Trudi Birger. Beloved mother, cherished wife, devoted daughter, dear cousin and angel of mercy to so many. Her memory is indeed a blessing.
