Holocaust Survivor Inspires Scottish Jewry
It was an evening of mixed emotions at the Lubavitch of Scotland’s 43rd Anniversary Dinner held this week. Some 160 people packed into the Giffnock Shul Hall to celebrate and be uplifted by the guest speaker – holocaust survivor Leibel Zisman of New York.
The evening began with a video presentation encapsulating the activities of Lubavitch in Scotland over the last 43 years, which was followed by spontaneous dancing as everyone said L’chaim and celebrated the accomplishments thus far and wished every success for its future.
A moving internet message was delivered by former Giffnock Shul minister Rabbi Jeremy Rosen who was responsible for bringing Lubavitch to Scotland. At the time, Rabbi Chaim Jacobs was employed as Youth rabbi to the synagogue and his wife Sora taught in the Shul Nursery School. He noted the feelings of Glasgow Jewry when the first Lubavitch chosid walked on Scottish soil. He too was sceptical of their success but stated that Chaim and Sora’s achievements surpassed all expectations – including his own.
Dinner chairman Stephen Jacobs welcomed the guests, including: Lord Provost the R.H. Councillor Sadie Docherty, and the provost of Eastwood Councillor Allastair Carmichael. The toast to Lubavitch was given by Lubavitch supporter Dr Bernard Groden who listed the numerous programmes and achievments of Lubavitch directors Chaim and Sora and Outreach Workers Mendel and Tzirl. Chaim and Sora are the longest serving Rabbi and Rebetzin in Scotland.
During his 45 minute address, which left not a dry eye in the house, Leibel spoke about the five miracles of his survival – despite seeing his parents and siblings being taken away, the numerous beatings, shootings and killings, the inhumane conditions in which he survived and even going twice on the famous death march at the tender age of 13-15 years.
More than once a gun was held to his head; but he miraculously survived. Once holocaust victim screamed at him in the camps before he died “When you get out from here tell the world of all the suffering of our people.” He does not know the name of that man, but his message still rings in his ears, and this is why he travels around the world telling people of the suffering of our people at the hand of Nazis. Leibel explained how proud he is to be a Lubavitcher chosid and a religious Jew, and how his belief in G-d keeps him going each day. His survival and everything he has today is only thanks to G-d.
He spoke about the special blessing he received from the 6th Lubavitcher Rebbe when he first arrived in the United States, and how it inspires and gives him the strength to carry on.
In his address Rabbi Chaim Jacobs welcomed the guests, including chairmen of the first two Lubavitch dinners held in January and November in 1972 – Bill and Alte Talbot – when only 36 people were in attendance.
During the evening the Kindness to Mankind Award was given to the Lord Provost and Provost for the Glasgow City Council and East Renfrewshire Council in appreciation of the way Glasgow and East Renfrewshire welcomed the Jewish refugees of Europe pre, during and post world war Two. In response, the provost of Glasgow presented Lubavitch with the Glasgow city council coat of arms in recognition of all their efforts.
The event was catered by Lubavitch’s L’chaim’s Kosher Catering, organised entirely by Sora Jacobs.
The evening concluded with a vote of thanks by long standing friend and supporter of Lubavitch Michael Samuel.
The event was sponsored by the Sholom and Pessy Jacobs family foundation promoting Jewish Awareness. This enabled the ticket price to be kept at a rate everyone could afford.
