Ignas Krakowiak
Excursions with Alberto Malafaia - A page from THE "LUCKY" ONES a Snapfish photo album
Here's a page from THE "LUCKY" ONES a Snapfish photo album I prepared for Maria-Luisa and Alberto Malafaia II, the daughter and grandson of my parents' friend. I presented this memento to them at the SMF Journey on the Road to Freedom's group dinner at our hotel in Figueira da Foz, 2013. See the auto the Krakowiaks drove to freedom (upper right) and Alberto and Ignas Krakowiak standing together at the newly created "Portugal dos Pequenitos," in Coimbra (lower left).
In 1997 my mother, Hala, gave me the slim vinyl album which contained fifty-four (54) photos from their stay in Portugal. (Click to enlarge photo.)
Inês Fialho Brandão presents photo of Krakowiak Family
#WWII #Refugees in #Portugal
Thank you, Mariana Abrantes for sending this photo of Inês Fialho Brandão speaking on 15.12 2021 on the subject:
"Porque é que importa saber quem foram as pessoas salvos por Aristides de Sousa Mendes que se alojaram em Cascais?" and including my family, the Krakowiaks, pictured here on their trip to Boca do Inferno with their friend Alberto Malafaia, 1941.
My family took refuge in #FigueiradaFoz #Portugal from June 1940 - January 24, 1942 when they sailed on the SS Serpa Pinto to Jamaica, BWI after one year and seven months in limbo.
Bernard-Henri Lévy Combats Antisemitism - His arguments are compelling.
Bernard-Henri Lévy speaks at the Chicago Humanities Festival in conversation with Laurance Haim.
France's preeminent contemporary philosopher confronts his spiritual roots and the religion that has always inspired and shaped him.
In his latest work 'The Genius of Judaism', Lévy offers a new vision of what it means to him to be a Jew.
Prof. Mordecai Paldiel - Sousa Mendes Visa Recipient and SMF Board Member @InstytutPileckiego (Copy)
Professor Paldiel (Yeshiva University, NY)
gives Keynote Lecture (Click to View Video) at
The Pileckiego Institute Conference
“The Choice to Save Lives:
Diplomatic Rescue During the Holocaust”
9:15am - 10:15 am October 19, 2021, Warsaw, Poland
Prof. Mordecai Paldiel at The Pileckiego Institute Conference,
October 19, 2021 - Artist Unknown.
Holidays Under the Nazi Flag - The winter venue of the 1936 Olympics @SousaMendesFdn
in Holocaust
Holidays Under the Nazi Flag
Read MoreProf. Mordecai Paldiel - Sousa Mendes Visa Recipient and SMF Board Member @InstytutPileckiego
Professor Paldiel (Yeshiva University, NY)
will give the Keynote Lecture at
The Pilecki Institute Conference
“The Choice to Save Lives:
Diplomatic Rescue During the Holocaust”
9:15am - 10:15 am October 19, 2021, Warsaw, Poland
Streaming at: https://www.facebook.com/InstytutPileckiego
The Entire Conference will run from October 19 - 21, 2021
Smithsonian Magazine Features Aristides de Sousa Mendes
The Righteous Defiance
of
Aristides de Sousa Mendes
Article by Chanan Tigay
Click to download https://we.tl/t-cWWSVC3k7G
The Righteous Defiance
of
Aristides de Sousa Mendes
Article by Chanan Tigay
Click to download https://we.tl/t-cWWSVC3k7G
A new bi-weekly podcast hosted by Beth— featuring fascinating guests and friendly banter! Join us Live on Instagram @bethlanefilm or watch the replay on IGTV - don’t forget to hit “like!” Stay tuned for a YouTube channel to share these fun banters.
LIVE on Instagram @bethlanefilm - Beth Lane in Conversation with Joan Arnay Halperin
September 22, 2021 - 10 am PT, 1pm ET on Instagram @bethlanefilm
@bethlanefilm
To learn the story of Beth’s family’s experience during the Holocaust watch this trailer: Would You Hide Me?
Strong Words Against Hate Speech on Social Media #NeverIsNow
Hatred Is NOT Okay! Maine Holocaust Educator Fights Antisemitism @sousamendesfdn #NeverIsNow
Heidi Omlor, Holocaust Educator, Chairperson of the Sousa Mendes Educational Initiatives Committee (and much more) organized students and members of the Jewish Community of Bangor, ME to march against Antisemitism.
CLICK to see the WABI5 TV interview: Hatred Is NOT Okay!
Phot credit: Ellsworth rally against anti-Semitism By Connor Clement WABI5, Bangor, Maine.
Updated: Jun. 14, 2021 at 11:04 PM EDT. (Heidi Omlor third from left.)
Heidi also petitioned for and succeeded in having Holocaust Education mandated in Maine Public Schools.
Joan:
Heidi, How and when did you become interested in Holocaust education?
Heidi:
“I first became interested in teaching about the Holocaust twelve years ago when I was teaching AP European history. I had a textbook that devoted more than one paragraph to the Holocaust, and I realized how little I knew.
I looked for some professional development but did not find a lot at first. Fortunately, I discovered that the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum offers the Belfer program for beginning teachers of the Holocaust every summer. So, in 2011 I went to Washington, D.C. and studied at the museum for a week.
I met a survivor from Auschwitz, the first I had ever met, and listened to many testimonies from other survivors. One survivor in particular, Helen Goldkind, challenged me to share the survivors’ stories with my students, reminding me that soon all the survivors would be gone. I can honestly say, this changed my life.
Helen told me it was now my responsibility to make sure they were never forgotten. I took this very seriously and began the journey to educate myself and others about the Holocaust.
I learned about the SMF “Journey on the Road to Freedom” through our mutual friend Ellen Widawsky. Ellen had signed up and asked me if I would accompany her. And boy am I glad I did!!
The story of Sousa Mendes spoke to me on many levels but mostly because he was not Jewish and yet he was concerned for the Jewish people. This has challenged me on a personal level to continue to find ways to stand up for not only the Jewish people but for any group that is oppressed.”
Click here to Learn more about:
The Legacy of Aristides de Sousa Mendes
FIGUEIRA DA FOZ - ITS IMPORTANCE IN THE RECEPTION OF WWII REFUGEES
Fernando Curado
Yesterday at 4:28 pm ·
FIGUEIRA DA FOZ - ITS IMPORTANCE IN THE RECEPTION OF REFUGEES FROM THE 2nd GREAT WAR
Today, June 20, World Refugee Day, we recall the importance of Figueira da Foz in welcoming refugees from the Second World War (1939-1945) and the Civil War in Spain (1936-1939).
In 1940, on St. John's Day, the first refugees arrived in Figueira da Foz. The newspaper O Figueirense, of 26 June, reported that the group consisted of 85 exiles, of various nationalities, arrived by train from Vilar Formoso , along the Beira Alta line, having been distributed to hotels and pensions, and some rented houses.
At the beginning of July of the same year, another 600 refugees arrived in Figueira da Foz. They were received at the CP station by a delegation made up of the vice-consul of France, in Figueira, members of the Municipal Tourism Commission and of the French colony and many others people.
Many of the refugees were intellectuals, artists, writers, musicians and sculptors, other merchants, some jewelers and some very rich.
There were also children, who quickly enrolled in schools in Figueirense, mainly in the Academia Figueirense, as was the case of Edith Liliane Schwarz, whose family also received a visa from Aristides de Sousa Mendes.
The refugees quickly integrated into the community of Figueres, which, in turn, received them with the greatest affection. They had free movies, restaurant menus were written in their languages, and the Grand Peninsular Casino allowed them free entry to their matinees.
Here took refuge the Jew Eugen Tillinger, well-known Czech journalist, contributor to Paris-Soir and other newspapers, and the pianist couple Colette Gaveau and Witold Malcuzynski, all helped by our consul Aristides de Sousa Mendes who, disobeying Salazar's express orders , issued entry visas to Portugal to thousands of refugees, including Jews.
Witold Malcuzynski, just arrived from Poland, a brilliant pianist, immediately performed at the Peninsular Casino on July 17, 1940.
When World War II started, Malcuzynski was in France. After the capitulation of France, Malcuzynski fled to Portugal, with his wife Colette Gaveau, where he met conductor Grzegorz Fitelberg, who offered him a tour of South America. Małcużyński went to Argentina in October 1940 and in April 1942 he moved up to the United States.
After World War II, the couple Colette Gaveau and Witold Malcuzynski moved to Switzerland. He would return to Figueira da Foz, to the Peninsular Casino, as a sign of “thanks for the attention and affection that surrounded him and his compatriots at an uncertain time of their own. stocks”.
Many other artists were exiled in Figueira da Foz, such as Marcel Dalio, French film actor, Gisele Quittner Allatini, French writer who gave several conferences at the Casino and wrote in the local press, Ivan Sors, Czech painter, represented at the Santos Rocha Municipal Museum, who is the central character of the literary work “The painter under the sink” by writer Afonso Cruz from Figueire.
In Afonso Cruz's book, Sors lived in the house of photographer Afonso Cruz, the writer's grandfather, from Figueire, sleeping in a corner of the house. “Under the sink was a relatively large space, which extended under the stove. That's when a mattress was spread and that's when Sors went to sleep, hiding behind the firewood, afraid that the PVDE agents would show up in the middle of the night”.
In reality it had happened that way, the late photographer Afonso Cruz, arrested three times during the Estado Novo, hid in his house Ivan Sors, the Czech painter who was a refugee in Figueira da Foz.
With the refugees, Figueira da Foz acquires a new life in winter, felt above all in the Bairro Novo cafes, which now have permanent customers throughout the year.
“Through the streets of the city, in the gardens, in the avenues, in the cafes, on the banks, there is a constant vibration of foreign languages, Polish, Belgian, Czech, Dutch and French, of both sexes, which give a note of cosmopolitanism to this city”, reads in Figueirense of 9 July 1940.
The presence of refugees, some with a prominent intellectual category, alters the routine of Figueirense, moves its conservatism, encourages new habits and demands the learning of new languages.
Local newspapers suggest visits to Figueira da Foz, “to make contact with the civilization of the 20th century”, “because you will have the opportunity to see ladies with pants and without them, and smoking like any tax guard, vigilant on the banks of the rivers or coasts”, advises O Figueirense of 20 July 1940.
In addition to pianist Witold Malcuzynski, other refugees were also excellent musicians, working in the various cafes and restaurants of Bairro Novo.
At Café Nicola, the “Orquestra Ginasio Jazz” was played with violinist David Teller, a Russian refugee, pianist Engleman Malanzer, also exiled, and trumpeter Joaquim Machado.
The “Orquestra Portuguesa”, from Porto, performed at the Café Espanhol, and at the exquisite “Casino Oceano” dinner was served to the sound of an orchestra and other varieties.
At the seafood restaurant “Lagosta Vermelha”, “one of the most luxurious and frequented in Figueira”, classic Spanish ballets were exhibited.
The wealthier refugees, with habits of “casinar”, as they used to say, played games of chance, particularly roulette, contributing to the Casino's profits.
But the intense social life of the refugees was supervised by the regime's political police, called PVDE - State Surveillance and Defense Police from 1933 to 1945, whose International Section was responsible for checking the entry, stay and exit of foreigners from the national territory and his detention if it were undesirable elements.
In the absence of the PVDE in Figueira, the inspection of refugees was the responsibility of the municipal officials to whom it belonged to inform about the eventual political activity of the refugees.
Refugees were prohibited from “making use of cameras, as well as painting or drawing means, trying to fix points that could be considered of strategic interest in our maritime zone or land border”.
And the owners of establishments where foreigners stayed were required, within 48 hours, to communicate their presence, even if it was a single overnight stay, under penalty of payment of a fine.
“In order to intensify the inspection of the addresses of foreigners”, at the beginning of each week, the list of all foreigners staying in hotels, pensions or guest houses should be sent.
Likewise, visits by foreigners to refugees living in Figueira should be immediately reported by the owner of the residence, under penalty of fine.
Refugees were prohibited from leaving for locations more than 3 km from Figueira da Foz, although some departures took place, including a wedding party in Curia, as Luís Cajão told us.
Luís Cajão, at the time a 20-year-old boy, born in Santa Luzia de Lavos on May 20, 1920, member of the “Reception Committee for Refugees from Figueira da Foz”, presents in his book “As torrentes da Memória. Stories and inconfidences of the old arch”, many episodes that occurred with the refugees and shows her enchantment with the beauty of the Polish woman Irene Kisterowna who “eat hake with sugar syrup” and confided in her that the most beautiful name she knew in Portuguese it was “alguidar”, which would be the name of his first child.
The majority of World War II refugees were received with “flagrant proof of affection and sympathy so that they would not feel their misfortune so much”, as happened from 1936 to 1939, during the civil war in Spain, but it is fair to emphasize the role of the owners of Casa Havanesa, the Santos Alves brothers, who were honored by the Belgian and British governments for their achievements in favor of freedom.
José dos Santos Alves, vice-consul of Belgium, and Mário dos Santos Alves, vice-consul of England, not only performed their diplomatic role well, but also helped all refugees who sought them, welcoming them to their homes and requesting support financial resources for the most disadvantaged.
Casa Havanesa became an obligatory meeting point for refugees and many of them sent their mail here.
At Casa Havanesa, and within the Santos Alves family, the refugees from the 2nd World War found comfort, friendship and a lot of help, and, after the war, many returned to their countries, having maintained contact and friendship with the Santos Alves family for a long time. years old.
The hospitality of Figueires was recognized by the refugees, with letters of thanks sent to Oliveira Salazar and the mayor of the municipality Dr. Rui Manuel Nogueira Ramos being deposited in the municipal historical archive, expressing the “warm welcome” and “sympathy of the local population and city officials”.
Helena Romão's 9th-grade English students in Figueira da Foz, PO read MY SISTER'S EYES
In never-before-seen clips from a January 1, 1989 video in which Joan interviewed her mother Hala Arnay (née Kaplan) major points in the story of the Krakowiak family’s escape are brought to life using personal photos and Hala’s testimony (39 minutes).
From their questions, one sees that the students begin to understand the plight of one family of refugees saved by Aristides de Sousa Mendes in June of 1940 at the beginning of WWII.
Here is their Blogpost with the link to Joan's video answers to their questions. Click to see the Freedom Lighthouse blogpost : https://figueirathefreedomlighthouse.blogspot.com/2021/03/interacao-dos-alunos-do-9-ano-com-joan.html
Joan answers question from 9th-grade Portuguese students who read My sisters’ Eyes.
@TimesofIsrael "LessonsToLearn" from @SousaMendesFdn Sunday Programs
Times of Israel blogger Josef C. Kaplan
Says: “…the pandemic has taught us that without them (referring to the Sousa Mendes Foundation‘s Sunday Programs among others), our days and evenings — and our minds — would have been emptier and sadder.”
Click here to find out what’s next!
I REMEMBER: A CONVERSATION WITH JOAN ARNAY HALPERIN #Rescuers #HolocaustEdu #WWII
Maria Inês Brandão Director of Espaço Memória dos Exílios, Estoril, Portugal (Exiles Memorial Center ) has invited Joan to tell her family’s story.
Click here to Register for the ZOOM conversation
"Crossing Lines" The TOLI Sacramento Satellite's Online Seminar July 8-29, 2021 - @olgas_table
Join Gail Desler and Pam Bodnar master educators -and my friends- for the TOLI Sacramento:
"Crossing Lines" Online Seminar
Dates: July 8-29, 2021 (Click for info)
THE OLGA LENGYEL INSTITUTE FOR HOLOCAUST STUDIES AND HUMAN RIGHTS
(Click to learn more)
Six trees planted in memory of the Six Million
United Congregation of Israelites of Kingston, Jamaica plants six trees at The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus in memory of the Six Million Jews murdered by the Nazis during WWII
(L-R) Eva Pinchas, student of Hillel Academy; Mr Ainsley Henriques, past president of The United Congregation of Israelites (UCI); Michael Matalon, spiritual leader, UCI; Israel Pinchas, president of the UCI and Mickel Hylton, member of the UCI, looks on as Immanuel Knight, student of Hillel Academy and Eva lead the planting of the trees.
February 1, 2021: On Thursday, January 28, 2021, The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus hosted the Tree Planting Ceremony of The United Congregation of Israelites (UCI), where they planted six (6) trees in memory of the 6 million Jews who were murdered by the Nazis in the Holocaust during World War II.
The Tree Planting Ceremony was led by Mr. Ainsley Henriques, past president of The United Congregation of Israelites, Honorary Consul of Israel in Jamaica, and Vice President of the Commonwealth Jewish Council. Mr. Henriques thanked The UWI Mona for granting the space necessary to mark the special occasion. Speaking on behalf of the Jewish Community, he also thanked the Jamaicans who gave their time and their service for these refugees.
The Gibraltar Camp Site (located on Gibraltar Road, Mona) was created to house the civilian population from the Rock of Gibraltar by the Royal Navy near the beginning of WW2; it became the home for 600 Jews who were saved from the Holocaust who were cared for by Jamaican people during the war. The Camp was also home to children, women, and men past the age of active service to the military authorities in Gibraltar.
On January 28, the Georgian Calendar marked the Holocaust Memorial Day, the anniversary of the liberation of the death camps of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest of the Nazi death camps during World War 2. Coincidentally, on this day, in the Hebrew calendar, it is also Tu B’Shevat, the celebration of the first blossoming of fruit trees. Mr Henriques highlighted the fact that these two days rarely coincide, and so to celebrate both anniversaries, the UCI saw it fit to have the Tree Planting Ceremony and at the most appropriate location, the Mona Campus, at the Old Library on Gibraltar Road, home of the Gibraltar Camp Site.
For more information, please contact: The Marketing Recruitment and Communications Office
Tel.: (876) 453-1332. Email: marketing.communications@uwimona.edu.jm