Rabbi David Neiderman, President, United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg and North Brooklyn, sent us his response to a recent New York Times story, A Pilot and Holocaust Survivors bound by the Fabric of War are Reunited in Brooklyn (11/9/15).
The feature story reported on the reunion of Williamsburg residents who survived the Holocaust with Service Members who fed and dressed them immediately after the War. His message is followed by Our Time Press Publishers’ salute
– personally and through this paper over the year — to other service members whose stories were left behind on Normandy Beach, Warsaw and other places, and whose heirs continue to fight for freedom on battlefields here at home. (BG)
Williamsburg – Veterans Day – when we all reflect on the heroic, selfless service of our service members to our country – has a special meaning to the Jewish community in Williamsburg, built on the ashes of the Holocaust by a small number of Holocaust survivors. The community remembers the key role that the US Military played ending the Holocaust, ending the annihilation of the Jewish people in Europe and the tremendous help and care that US service members extended to the survivors immediately after their liberation.
Two weeks ago, an emotional reunion took place in Williamsburg between survivors, many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and a U.S. Pilot, Mr. Alan Golub, whom they thanked for providing them food and clothing after the Holocaust. On his own initiative, Mr. Golub saved them from hunger and returned their dignity. The reunion was covered in Sunday’s NY Times:
UJO’s President Rabbi David Neiderman said: “Lt. Golub is just one of our country’s incredible members of the military. He went unrecognized for 70 years, until he was reunited with the survivors, thanks to the interest of a family member. There are many more service members with similar stories that we don’t even know. They didn’t do it for fame, but to make the world a better place. As we mark Veterans Day, we recognize Lt. Golub and all his fellow WWII vets, many of whom are still with us, for their selfless service. We owe all U.S. veterans our deep gratitude and appreciation for enabling us to enjoy the freedoms we all hold so dear. We continue to pray for all service members in the line of duty to continue to spread freedom successfully, and return home to their families safely and healthy.”
