Mr. Fred S. Zeidman
Chairman, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Sara Bloomfield, Director
100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW
Washington, DC 20024-2126
Dear Mr. Zeidman and Ms. Bloomfield:
As relatives of the rabbis who took part in the 1943 march in Washington, we are writing to express our support for Elie Wiesel’s recent statement that the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum should include in its Permanent Exhibit the efforts undertaken by the Bergson Group to promote the rescue of Jewish refugees.
The rabbis’ march, which was organized by the Bergson Group together with the Vaad ha-Hatzala (the Orthodox rescue committee), was the only rally for rescue of Europe’s Jews that was held in the nation’s capitol during the Holocaust. The march was an important part of the campaign to alert the American public about the mass murder of the Jews and the need for rescue.
We note that the Museum’s own web site states that the Bergson Group’s efforts “resulted in a greater public awareness of the Holocaust, and helped create an atmosphere conducive to changes in American rescue policy. Thus, at the least, Bergson’s activities contributed to the creation of the War Refugee Board and the Oswego free port in 1944.” (http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/article.php?lang=en&ModuleId=10007041)
But a brief reference on your web site is no substitute for inclusion in your Permanent Exhibit. We feel it is vitally important that some reference to the rabbis’ march, including a photo of the marchers, be added to the museum’s Permanent Exhibit. Visitors to the Museum need to know about those Americans who spoke out for rescue.
Sincerely,
Dr. Rebecca Kook
(daughter of Peter Bergson / Hillel Kook)
Dr. Astra Temko
(daughter of Peter Bergson / Hillel Kook)
Dr. Yehuda Ben-Meir
Deputy Foreign Minister of Israel, 1981-1984; Member of the Knesset, 1972-1984
(son of Rabbi I. Solomon Rosenberg and grandson of Rabbi Eliezer Predmesky)
Rabbi Dr. David Golinkin
President, Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies
(grandson of Rabbi Mordechai Yaakov Golinkin)
Rabbi Zevulun Charlop
Rosh Yeshiva & Dean,
Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, Yeshiva University
(grandson of Rabbi Jacob Pomerance)
Rabbi Elchanan Adler
Rosh Yeshiva & Rubin Memorial Chair in Rabbinics,
Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, Yeshiva University
(grandson of Rabbi Jacob Pomerance)
Rabbi Reuben Poupko
Past President, Montreal Board of Rabbis
(grandson of Rabbi Eliezer Poupko and Rabbi David Novoseller)
Nathan Lewin, Esq.
(son of Rabbi Dr. Isaac Lewin)
Neshama Carlebach
(granddaughter of Rabbi Naftali Carlebach)
Mrs. Chaya Dusya Aaron
(granddaughter of Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky,
great-granddaughter of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Tova Adler
(daughter of Rabbi Jacob Bobrowsky, granddaughter of Rabbi David Talansky)
Dr. Uriel Adler
(grandson of Rabbi Jacob Pomerance)
Baruch Amsel
(great nephew of Rabbi Isaac Amsel)
Leonard J. Barishansky
(grandson of Rabbi Raphael Mordechai Barishansky)
Atara Beck
(daughter of Rabbi Dr. Meyer J. Nurenberger)
Dr. Pearl Berger
Dean of Libraries, Yeshiva University
(daughter of Rabbi Baruch M. Rabinowitz,
niece of Rabbi Isaac J. Rabinowitz)
Jordana Berke
(grandaughter of Rabbi Dr. Meyer J. Nurenberger)
Ann Birstein
(daughter of Rabbi Bernard Birstein)
Pearl Borow
(daughter of Rabbi Hyman Karalitzky)
Rabbi Irwin Borvick
(son of Rabbi Abraham S. Borvick)
Mrs. Libby Brick
(granddaughter of Rabbi Elimelech Kovalenko)
David Buchwald
(grandson of Rabbi Baruch Rabinowitz)
Don Buchwald
(son of Rabbi Baruch Rabinowitz)
Jennifer Buchwald
(granddaughter of Rabbi Baruch Rabinowitz)
Rabbi Jonathan Chipman
(grandson of Rabbi Simcha Eliyahu Chipkewitz)
Dr. Chaim Cohen
(son of Rabbi Meyer Cohen)
Aaron M. Cohen, Esq.
(grandson of Rabbi Meyer Cohen)
Baruch Cohen, Esq.
(grandson of Rabbi Meyer Cohen)
David Cohen
(grandson of Rabbi Meyer Cohen)
Judah Cohen, Esq.
(grandson of Rabbi Meyer Cohen)
Michael Cohen
(grandson of Rabbi Meyer Cohen)
Mrs. Ettel Cyperstein
(granddaughter of Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky,
great-granddaughter of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Rabbi Yochonon Donn
(grand-nephew of Rabbi Zeidel Epstein)
Sharon Rabinowitz Ettkin
(daughter of Rabbi Baruch Rabinowitz)
Reena Sionne Evenchik
(daughter of Rabbi Baruch Rabinowitz)
Rabbi Emanuel Feldman
(son of Rabbi Joseph H. Feldman)
Mitchell First
(grandson of Rabbi Benzion Blech,
grand-nephew of Rabbi Moshe Blech)
Anita Flaks
(daughter of Rabbi Ezra Lejbik)
Aaron Foxbruner
(grandson of Rabbi Meyer Cohen)
Charlotte Friedland
(granddaughter of Rabbi Mordechai Mayer Silverman)
Henry Frisch
(grandson of Rabbi Eliezer Predmesky;
nephew of Rabbi I. Solomon Rosenberg)
Mrs. Betty Friedman Goldberger
(granddaughter of Rabbi Chaim Bloch)
Cantor Abe Golinkin
(grandson of Rabbi Mordechai Yaakov Golinkin)
Riva Gottesman
(granddaughter of Rabbi Aaron L. Gottesman, niece of Rabbi
H. Zvi Gottesman, and great-granddaughter of Rabbi A. J. Gottesman)
Jack Greenwald, Esq.
(son of Rabbi Leopold Greenwald)
Ernest Greenwald
(son of Rabbi Leopold Greenwald)
Debbie L. Greenwald
(granddaughter of Rabbi Leopold Greenwald)
Dr. Gary Greenwald
(grandson of Rabbi Leopold Greenwald)
James Howard Greenwald
(grandson of Rabbi Leopold Greenwald)
Jeremy Greenwald
(great-grandson of Rabbi Leopold Greenwald)
Judith (Berzon) Greenwald
(daughter of Rabbi Bernard L. Berzon)
Ken Greenwald
(great-grandson of Rabbi Leopold Greenwald)
Meira Gross
(granddaughter of Rabbi Baruch M. Rabinowitz)
Gayle Grunberg
(great-granddaughter of Rabbi Leopold Greenwald)
Rochel Lea (Kakon) Groundlland
(great neice of Rabbi Baruch Rabinowitz)
Mrs. Sarah Halberstadt
(granddaughter of Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky,
great-granddaughter of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Rabbi Avraham Y. Heschel
(grandson of Rabbi Abraham Heschel, Kopyczynitzer Rebbe)
Mrs. Ettil Hissiger
(granddaughter of Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky,
great-granddaughter of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Allon Jacobs
(great-grandson of Rabbi Israel Rosenberg)
Dr. A. Gerson Jacobs
(grandson of Rabbi Israel Rosenberg)
Dr. Daniel Jacobs
(grandson of Rabbi Israel Rosenberg)
Eadon Jacobs
(great-grandson of Rabbi Israel Rosenberg)
Jonathan Jacobs
(great-grandson of Rabbi Israel Rosenberg)
Leore Jacobs
(great-grandson of Rabbi Israel Rosenberg)
Michael Jacobs, Esq.
(great-grandson of Rabbi Israel Rosenberg)
Rebecca Jacobs
(great-grandson of Rabbi Israel Rosenberg)
Linda Jaffe
(great-granddaughter of Rabbi Leopold Greenwald)
Mrs. Shavy Jaffe
(daughter of Rabbi Nathan Thumim; granddaughter of
Rabbi Isaac Amsel, niece of Rabbi David Amsel)
Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Kakon
(great nephew of Rabbi Baruch Rabinowitz)
Elliot P. Kakon
(great nephew of Rabbi Baruch Rabinowitz)
Joyce Rabinowitz Kakon
(niece of Rabbi Baruch Rabinowitz)
Bashi Kamenetzky
(granddaughter of Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky,
great-granddaughter of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Chana Kamenetzky
(granddaughter of Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky,
great-granddaughter of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky
(son of Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky,
grandson of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Rabbi Pinchus E. Kamenetzky
(grandson of Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky,
great-grandson of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetzky
(grandson of Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky,
great-grandson of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzky
(grandson of Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky,
great-grandson of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Rabbi Yehuda B. Kamenetzky
(grandson of Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky,
great-grandson of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Rabbi Zvi Kamenetzky
(son of Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky,
grandson of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Prof. Feige Kaplan
McGill University
(daughter of Rabbi Baruch M. Rabinowitz,
niece of Rabbi Isaac J. Rabinowitz)
Rabbi Shaya Karlinsky
Dean, Yeshiva Darche Noam – David Shapell College of Jewish Studies
(grandson of Rabbi Shaie Karlinsky)
Rabbi Dov R. Katz
(grandson of Rabbi Shmuel Aizik Katz)
Azriel Klagsbrun
(great-grandson of Rabbi Isaiah Molotin)
Baruch Klagsbrun
(grandson of Rabbi Isaiah Molotin)
Chayim Klagsbrun
(grandson of Rabbi Isaiah Molotin)
Eliyahu Klagsbrun
(grandson of Rabbi Isaiah Molotin)
Shmuel Klagsbrun
(great-grandson of Rabbi Isaiah Molotin)
Shulamith Klagsbrun
(daughter of Rabbi Isaiah Molotin)
Simcha Klagsbrun
(grandson of Rabbi Isaiah Molotin)
Yael Klagsbrun
(great-granddaughter of Rabbi Isaiah Molotin)
Yehoshua Klagsbrun
(great-grandson of Rabbi Isaiah Molotin)
Zev Klagsbrun
(great-grandson of Rabbi Isaiah Molotin)
Mrs. Bashi Klugman
(granddaughter of Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky,
great-granddaughter of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Rabbi Avraham Knobel
(grandson of Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky,
great-grandson of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Rebbetzin Sarah Knobel
(daughter of Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky,
granddaughter of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Dr. Amy Koreen
(great-granddaughter of Rabbi Israel Rosenberg)
Rabbi Shraga Kotler
(grandson of Rabbi Meyer Cohen)
Heshy Koval
(great-grandson of Rabbi Elimelech Kovalenko)
Ellie Kovalenko
(great-grandson of Rabbi Elimelech Kovalenko)
Heshy Kovalenko
(great-grandson of Rabbi Elimelech Kovalenko)
Irving Kovalenko
(grandson of Rabbi Elimelech Kovalenko)
Mattis Kovalenko
(great-grandson of Rabbi Elimelech Kovalenko)
Menachem Kovalenko
(great-grandson of Rabbi Elimelech Kovalenko)
Naftali Kovalenko
(great-grandson of Rabbi Elimelech Kovalenko)
Jonathan Krigel
(great-grandson of Rabbi Israel Rosenberg)
Anna Krigel
(great-granddaughter of Rabbi Israel Rosenberg)
Mrs. Itta Landau
(granddaughter of Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky,
great-granddaughter of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Shmuel Landesman
(grandson of Rabbi Pesach Raymon, great-nephew of Rabbi Elchanan Teitz)
Baruch Mordechai Lefkowitz
(grandson of Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky,
great-grandson of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Rabbi Naftali Lefkowitz
(grandson of Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky,
great-grandson of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Mrs. Shoshana Lefkowitz
(daughter of Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky,
granddaughter of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Rabbi Shaya Lefkowitz
(grandson of Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky,
great-grandson of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Arthur Lejbik
(son of Rabbi Ezra Lejbik)
Suzanna Levin
(daughter of Rabbi Baruch Rabinowitz)
Mrs. Rachel Levy
(granddaughter of Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky,
great-granddaughter of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Alyza D. Lewin, Esq.
(granddaughter of Rabbi Dr. Isaac Lewin)
Andrew E. Lewin, Esq.
(cousin of Rabbi Dr. Isaac Lewin)
Na’ama B. Lewin
(granddaughter of Rabbi Dr. Isaac Lewin)
Mrs. Esther Marilus
(daughter of Rabbi Nathan Thumim, granddaughter of
Rabbi Isaac Amsel, niece of Rabbi David Amsel)
Rebbetzin Marcie Meier
(daughter of Rabbi Joseph Yarmish)
Tova Hertzberg Menken
(granddaughter of Rabbi Zvi Elimelech Hertzberg)
Rabbi Dr. A. Morduchowitz
(son of Rabbi Shimon Morduchowitz,
grandson of Rabbi Simcha Chipkewitz)
Rabbi Moshe Morduchowitz
son of Rabbi Shimon Morduchowitz;
grandson of Rabbi Simcha Eliyahu Chipkewitz)
Dr. Steven Morduchowitz
grandson of Rabbi Shimon Morduchowitz,
great-grandson of Rabbi Simcha Eliyahu Chipkewitz)
Dr. Stuart Morduchowitz
(grandson of Rabbi Shimon Morduchowitz,
great-grandson of Rabbi Simcha Eliyahu Chipkewitz)
Daniel Moskowitz
(great-garndson of Rabbi Yisroel Elimelech Moskowitz, the Zeborover Rebbe)
Mrs. Miriam Nadler
(granddaughter of Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky,
great-granddaughter of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Esther Nussbaum
(great-granddaughter of Rabbi Jacob Israel Twersky, Grand Rabbi of Chernobyl)
Malka Nussbaum
(great-granddaughter of Rabbi Jacob Israel Twersky, Grand Rabbi of Chernobyl)
Tziporah Nussbaum
Zahava Twersky Nussbaum
(great-granddaughter of Rabbi Jacob Israel Twersky, Grand Rabbi of Chernobyl)
Yosef Nussbuam, Esq.
(grandson of Rabbi Jacob Israel Twersky, Grand Rabbi of Chernobyl)
Zahava Twersky Nussbaum
(granddaughter of Rabbi Jacob Israel Twersky, Grand Rabbi of Chernobyl)
Daren Ovadya
(grandson of Rabbi Dr. Meyer J. Nurenberger)
Ilana Ovadya
(daughter of Rabbi Dr. Meyer J. Nurenberger)
Jeffrey Ovadya
(grandson of Rabbi Dr. Meyer J. Nurenberger)
Alan Pekelner
(granddaughter of Rabbi Israel Rosenberg)
Alan Pekelner
(grandson of Rabbi Israel Rosenberg)
Andrew Perlmutter
(great-grandson of Rabbi Israel Rosenberg)
Dr. Bonnie Perlmutter
(great-granddaughter of Rabbi Israel Rosenberg)
Dr. David Perlmutter
(great-grandson of Rabbi Israel Rosenberg)
Lisa Perlmutter
(great-granddaughter of Rabbi Israel Rosenberg)
Ruth Perlmutter
Artistic Director, Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival
(granddaughter of Rabbi Israel Rosenberg)
Sharon Perlmutter
(great-granddaughter of Rabbi Israel Rosenberg)
Rabbi Mayer Platnick
Congregation Kahal Keser Yisroel Mordechai & Yeshiva Derech Chaim
Grandson of Rabbi Aaron Zlotowitz
Prof. Michla Pomerance
Von Hofmannsthal Professor of International Law, Hebrew University
(daughter of Rabbi Jacob Pomerance)
Rachel Samson Rabinowitz
(author of A Jubilee of Watching, and daughter of
Rabbi Chaim Eliezer Samson, Dean, Talmudical Academy of Baltimore)
Shlomo Rabinowitz
(grandson of Rabbi Chaim Eliezer Samson)
Shmuel A. Rabinowitz
(nephew of Rabbi Baruch Rabinowitz)
Aaron Rappaport
(great-grandson of Rabbi Israel Rosenberg)
Daniel S. Robbins
(son of Rabbi Baruch Rabinowitz)
Debra Rose Robbins
(daughter of Rabbi Baruch Rabinowitz)
Jonathan M. Robbins
(son of Rabbi Baruch Rabinowitz)
Malkah Robbins
(wife of Rabbi Baruch Rabinowitz)
Jules Rosenberg
(nephew of Rabbi Baruch Rabinowitz)
David Rosenfeld
(grandson of Rabbi Zvi Elimelech Hertzberg)
Elie Rosenfeld
(grandson of Rabbi Zvi Elimelech Hertzberg)
Eve Hertzberg Rosenfeld
(daughter of Rabbi Zvi Elimelech Hertzberg)
Mrs. Ettil Schoenberger
(granddaughter of Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky,
great-granddaughter of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Mrs. Devora Schuster
(granddaughter of Rabbi Shimon Morduchowitz;,
great-granddaughter of Rabbi Simcha Eliyahu Chipkewitz)
Eytan Shander
(great-grandson of Rabbi Bernard Birstein)
Gedalyah Shatz
(grandson of Rabbi Baruch M. Rabinowitz)
Hannah Shatz
(daughter of Rabbi Baruch M. Rabinowitz)
Rabbi Yehuda Shoshana
(grandson of Rabbi Meyer Cohen)
Chaim Silberberg, D.O.
(grandson of Rabbi Meyer Cohen)
Avigail Slonim-Rothner, Esq.
(granddaughter of Rabbi Jacob M. Pomerance)
Dr. Wolfe Snow
(son of Rabbi Israel Snow)
Mrs. Dubbi Snyder
(granddaughter of Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky,
great-granddaughter of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Rabbi Dr. Shimon Solnica
(granddaughter of Rabbi Shimon Morduchowitz,
great-grandson of Rabbi Simcha Eliyahu Chipkewitz)
Rabbi Naftali Aryeh Spiegel
(grandson of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Rabbi Dovid Spiegel
(son of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Rabbi Menachem Spiegel
(great-grandson of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Rabbi Moshe Spiegel
(son of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Rabbi Naftali Spiegel
(son of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Rabbi Nussen Spiegel
(son of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Rabbi Yaakov Yitzhak Spiegel
(son of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Rabbi Yosef Spiegel
(grandson of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Mrs. Dina Spira
(daughter of Rabbi Nathan Thumim; granddaughter of
Rabbi Isaac Amsel, niece of Rabbi David Amsel)
Brenda Stein
(granddaughter of Rabbi Yehuda Leib Glatt)
Shana Wachsman Steinmetz
(great-granddaughter of Rabbi Shimon Morduchowitz
and great great-granddaughter of Rabbi Simcha Chipkowitz)
Shoshi Steinwortzel
(granddaughter of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Jonathan Stern
(grandson of Rabbi Baruch Rabinowitz)
Devora Strauss
(granddaughter of Rabbi Dr. Meyer J. Nurenberger)
Rebbetzin Rivka Teitz
(granddaughter of Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky,
great-granddaughter of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Danny Temko
(grandson of Peter Bergson / Hillel Kook)
Rebbetzin Elisa Goldberger Travis
(great-granddaughter of Rabbi Chaim Yitzchok Bloch)
Aaron Twersky
(grandson of Rabbi Israel Twersky)
Rabbi Shlomo Twersky
(son of Rabbi Jacob Israel Twersky)
Aryeh Vogel
(nephew of Rabbi Baruch Rabinowitz)
Nina Wachsman
(granddaughter of Rabbi Shimon Morduchowitz,
great-granddaughter of Rabbi Simcha Chipkowitz)
Shira Tal Wechsler
(daughter of Rabbi Baruch Rabinowitz)
Rabbi Avraham Wilhelm
(grandson of Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky,
great-grandson of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Rabbi Dov Wilhelm
(grandson of Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky,
great-grandson of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Mrs. Esther Wilhelm
(daughter of Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky,
granddaughter of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Rabbi Naftali Aryeh Wilhelm
(grandson of Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky,
great-grandson of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Rabbi Shmuel Wilhelm
(grandson of Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky,
great-grandson of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Eden Winget
(granddaughter of Rabbi Baruch Rabinowitz)
Rabbi Joel Yormark
(grandson of Rabbi Tzvi Hersch Kohn)
Rabbi Yosef Yoselovsky
(grandson of Rabbi Meyer Cohen)
Hindy Twersky Yudin
(granddaughter of Rabbi Israel Twersky)
Rabbi Naftali Aryeh Zaks
(great-grandson of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Mrs. Mindy Zelbes
(granddaughter of Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky,
great-granddaughter of Rabbi Pinchus E. Spiegel)
Dr. Vera Zimbalist
(daughter of Rabbi Jacob M. Pomerance)
(Institutions listed for identification purposes only.)
March 2007