Rescuers Honored At JCC Exhibition LESLEY PEARL STAFF WRITER W hen California Rabbi Harold Schulweis, creator of the Jewish Foundation for Christian Rescuers of the Anti- Defamation League, approached writer and con- gregant Malka Drucker to write a children's book about the saviors of Jews during the Holocaust, she agreed. To research the project, Ms. Drucker knew she would need to meet and hear the stories of Right- eous Gentiles. From that realization grew a second undertaking — "Rescuers: Portraits Of Moral Courage In The "These people taught us something so profound." Holocaust." A photo exhib- it, video and book, "Rescuers" is a project by Ms. Drucker and photogra- pher Gay Block. "Rescuers" began show- ing in 1990, spending one year at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and is booked through 1995. It stops in Detroit at the Jewish Community Center's Janice Charach Epstein Museum Gallery Sept. 22 until Oct. 31. "I'd been to Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Israel and seen the Avenue of the Righteous. I thought they were all dead," Ms. Block said. Working with the files at Yad Vashem, Ms. Block and Ms. Drucker located 105 rescuers from 10 dif- ferent countries, pro- filing nearly 50 of them. They spoke with women like Irene Opdyke, a Polish rescuer now living in California. She never discussed sav- ing Jews during the Holocaust until 1975 when the revisionist movement devel- oped. "She said as a Catholic woman, she had to speak out," Ms. Block said. Others, many in Pragile, had never spoken of their actions, for they had never been asked. "These people taught us something so profound. They changed our lives," Ms. Block said. "To look at them, you might say, 'They're old people.' But they have learned the meaning of life — to help others, to pay attention. "The rescuers weren't all people who loved Jews. The rescuers came for- ward for many rea- sons. But they all said they were not heroes, but merely did what they had to do." Although the project grew from a rabbi's sugges- tion, to act as part of the healing process while iden- tifying 10,000 rescuers, the Andree Guelin Herscovice: A rescuer living in Brussels. writer and photographer find much relevance today in the stories. "We learned there were four roles in World War II — Nazi, victim, rescuer and bystander. Those four roles exist in every choice we make." Ms. Block said. "We need more rescuers today." In 1993, Ms. Drucker ful- "I think it's important that young people in our community learn the impor- tance of giving and that feeding the hungry is such an important responsibili- ty," said Jeffrey Adler, who chairs the walk. "I hope that through a program like this, we are able to increase awareness in our future generations of the impor- tance of charity." Yad Ezra, which provides food to more than 1,500 per- sons a month, is active in fund raising year-round, especially during the High Holidays, Dr. Adler said. "At this time of the year, we as Jews are directed to be particularly aware of our responsibility and the importance of giving." Last year's walk drew about 500 participants and raised more than 515,000. Taking A Walk To Feed The Hungry JENNIFER FINER JEWISH NEWS INTERN C hildren of all ages will take their families and hit the streets next month to raise money for Yad Ezra, the only kosher food bank in the state. Within the coming weeks, children will be seeking sponsors for the Second Annual Walk for Yad Ezra. The Oct. 10 walk will span a little over a mile and take place entirely in the Maple-Drake Jewish Com- munity Campus. ❑ filled her promise to the rabbi. Jacob's Rescue, a children's book based on the story of real-life res- cuers Alex and Mela Roslan, was published. ❑ CORRECTIONS In the Nathan- Rudnack wedding anouncement, the name of junior grooms- man Jacob Nathan was omitted. Suzanne Arnoff's name was misspelled in the item on the parkland honoring Joseph Still.