NEW YORK, NY — It is nearly 70 years since the start of the systematic, state-sponsored murder of over six million European Jews. Today, with anti-Semitism on a global rise and Holocaust deniers stridently espousing their hate, survivors are facing their own enemy: loneliness and depression.
“Several years ago we realized that survivors, particularly those living in Manhattan, were isolated and often without friends or family,” explains Sheva Tauby, co-director of Ivolunteer. Tauby and her husband Tzvi, serve as Chabad representatives to Manhattan and are the founders of this visitation program for homebound Holocaust survivors. The couple organizes volunteers--50 are currently involved--to visit survivors each week for companionship and aid.
In Late Life, Isolated Holocaust Survivors Find New Friends
NEW YORK, NY — It is nearly 70 years since the start of the systematic, state-sponsored murder of over six million European Jews. Today, with anti-Semitism on a global rise and Holocaust deniers stridently espousing their hate, survivors are facing their own enemy: loneliness and depression.
“Several years ago we realized that survivors, particularly those living in Manhattan, were isolated and often without friends or family,” explains Sheva Tauby, co-director of Ivolunteer. Tauby and her husband Tzvi, serve as Chabad representatives to Manhattan and are the founders of this visitation program for homebound Holocaust survivors. The couple organizes volunteers–50 are currently involved–to visit survivors each week for companionship and aid.
“To have someone come and listen to their experiences is tremendous,” shares Tauby. “They survived and gave us a future. The least we can do is be there for them.”
In Holocaust Survivors and Immigrants: Late Life Adaptations, author Boaz Kahana reports on the current state of survivors. Not surprisingly, he found that survivors, particularly those who currently reside in the United States, have significantly higher levels of isolation, low morale, and depression than their contemporaries.
As they age, health problems accrued during the war years are becoming more pronounced. In addition, a large percentage of survivors do not have family. “Many survivors’ bodies were simply too damaged to bear children,” explains Tauby. “And countless others who felt that the world was too evil to bring children into.” Those that were able to have families were often very hard on them: now their children have distanced themselves.
That is where Ivolunteer steps in. “We become case managers by default,” says Tauby. Volunteers are trained to recognize when outside help, from social service agencies, physicians, or cleaning services, is needed. In one extreme case last month, a volunteer making her weekly visit discovered that her survivor had died. With no family to organize a funeral, Ivolunteer took care of all the arrangements.
chaim
Great Organization!!!
I(would love to)VOLUNTEER
hey i would love to join… how do i hook up?