When I was a high school student I worked part time and summers at the Lafayette Hotel in Atlantic City. Of course like so many of the older hotels and motor inns in Atlantic City the Lafayette was torn down to make way for a new parking lot. But back in the 1970s the Lafayette was owned and operated by a couple named Sara and Sam Schoffer. Shortly after beginning my short career in the restaurant business (as a dishwasher), the hotel and restaurant became kosher. I was promoted to busboy and began wearing a yarmulke and learning the ins and outs of kosher rules and regulations. I had a wonderful teacher in Rabbi Aaron Krauss and a crusty yet kind man known as the mashgiach, who certifies that all is kosher.
Mr. & Mrs. Schoffer were kind and hard working people. I found out in the course of my employment that they were also Holocaust survivors. From that time on in my life I have built a great love for the Jewish people and a keen awareness of what hate and prejudice can devolve into. I loved my years of working at the Lafayette and treasure those memories in my heart.
How happy and proud am I to announce that we will be having a Catholic-Jewish program titled, “Irena Sendler: In the Name of Their Mothers,” on Aug. 17, at 7 p.m. at Beth El Synagogue, 500 North Jerome Ave. Margate. It just so happens that Beth El is presently being spiritually led by Rabbi Aaron Krauss and the program is being co-sponsored by Sara and Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center at Stockton College of New Jersey. Admission is free and all are welcomed.
This film tells the true story of a network of young Polish women, led by Irena Sendler, a Catholic social worker, who outfoxed the Nazis for five years during World War II and saved the lives of thousands of Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto. Irena was eventually captured by the Nazis, imprisoned and tortured for almost three months. When she refused to give information on her network of saving children she was sentenced to death. She was able to escape and tell of the bravery of this group of women. Please come out and learn about this amazing true story of courage and faith.
One of the sad commemorations for the Jewish people of the Holocaust or Shoah is known as Kristallnacht — the night of the broken glass. On the night of Nov. 9, 1938, Nazi Storm Troopers launched a massive, government-coordinated attack on Jews throughout Germany. The mobs burned synagogues, destroyed businesses, ransacked Jewish homes and brutalized the Jewish people. This sad memory has taught that intolerance and persecution often begins with the desecration of that which communities hold sacred. The recent desecrations of statues of saints in the Cherry Hill and Marlton area sparked a swift response from both the Jewish and Muslim communities.
Our Catholic-Jewish Commission in conjunction with our Jewish-Catholic-Muslim Dialogue issued the following statement:
The Jewish Catholic Muslim Dialogue and the Catholic Jewish Commission of Southern NJ strongly condemn the wanton, evil destruction of many religious statues at a number of Catholic churches in Camden and Burlington counties. Such actions are despicable. Bigoted actions as done by these vandals are reprehensible to all people of conscience. It is a form of religious terrorism that should be condemned by all. It is appropriate for these hateful acts to be declared and punished as hate crimes, which will garner greater criminal penalties for the perpetrators. There are many successful efforts to build bridges of understanding among citizens of different faiths and ethnic backgrounds in our community. We stand for respect for all Americans and their houses of faith. We extend our solidarity to the parishioners of the affected churches.
Though we are not sure of the circumstances of these crimes, we are sure of the need to condemn attacks of any kind on our religious communities and their houses of worship. Our vigilance against these senseless and hateful acts also shows our respect for one another. I hope to see you on August 17 at 7 p.m. at Beth El Synagogue in Margate. Shalom, Salam and Pax.
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