Auschwitz Survivor Honored

Rep. Meisner Moves Up

restored the last remaining synagogue
Ruth Muschkies Webber was nine
in Oswiecim, Poland, to create the
when she Was liberated from
Auschwitz Jewish Center.
Auschwitz. She was among the
Representing the liberators, Anatoly
youngest to have survived the infa-
Shapiro, a 92-year-old Russian Jew
mous Nazi death camp.
who was the commander of the first
Representing the survivors, Webber,
Russian unit that entered and liberated
of West Bloomfield, received one of
Auschwitz, also received a Witness to
the Auschwitz Jewish Center
Justice Award.
Foundation's annual "Witness to
— Harry Kirsbaum, staff writer
Justice" Awards at the Museum of
Jewish Heritage in
New York City Nov.
30.
"I feel that I'm a
very, very lucky person
to have survived and
be able to live a 'nor-
mal' life," she said.
"For the first time, I
was better able to con-
trol my emotions
[while speaking at the
event]. \Vhen I fin-
ished, quire a number
of them were in tears."
Webber and her
mother hid for two
years in the forests to
avoid capture, but
ended up in
Auschwitz in the sum-
mer of 1944. Ruth's
mother also survived,
and Ruth's sister was a
hidden child, but her
father died on the
death march from
Auschwitz.
Webber was intro-
duced by Hadassah
Lieberman, a child of
survivors and the wife
of Sen. Joseph
Lieberman, D-Conn.
The foundation,
Ruth Muschkies Webber holds a famous photo of her at
formed in 1995,
liberation.

State Rep. Andy Meisner, D-Fern-
dale, was chosen by colleagues to be
assistant minority leader of the House
•
Democratic Caucus.
He'll help draft Democratic legisla-
tive priorities, negotiate the state
budget and lead on other matters of
policy and communication.
He represents the 27th district,
serving Berkley, Ferndale, Hazel Park,
Huntington Woods, Oak Park and
Pleasant Ridge.

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Although Jews have complete political freedom in
America, some state restrictions placed limitations
earlier in American Jewish history. Do you know
when these restrictions finally came to an end?

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12/17
2004

10

With his new
leadership posi-
tion, he said,
"The state
Legislature will
better reflect the
priorities of the
people of south-
eastern Oakland
County.

"

Rep. Miesner

— Robert A Sklar, editor

Momentous Mitzvah

Miracle provides Chanukah gifts to
In a creative mitzvah project to cele-
children from low-income families.
brate Marni Lieberman's becoming a
The Finkel Family Foundation donat-
bat mitzvah, her family helped raise
ed $5,000 to help pay for the gifts.
about $10,000 through a road rally to
About $10,000 will be
benefit two local
spent on toys for 340
charitable organiza-
kids.
tions.
While volunteering at
Participants
Yad Ezra, Marni realized
received clues that
that people in need are
took them to a super-
not always homeless or
market where they
drug addicts.
had to buy a variety
Some do work —
of items that spelled
most have homes — and
out "I\4ARNI," send-
they have families with
ing as close to $20 as
clean clothes on their
possible. Items
!packs," she said. "Some
included M&Ms,
people don't earn enough
applesauce, raisins,
to pay for their homes
napkins and iceberg
and for medicine and
lettuce. These items
food, so this is why they
were donated to Yad
come to the food
Ezra, the Berkley-
pantry."
based kosher food
Marni Lieberman
"Marni did all her vol-
pantry, which serves
unteer work out of love
1,100 client families.
for helping others and not just to ful-
Participants also received $20 to
fill a commitment," said her mother,
buy a toy for a less-fortunate child.
Lori.
Toys were given to A Small Miracle, a
—Robert A. Sklar; editor
West Bloomfield-based charity found-
ed by Paul and Kathy Finkel. A Small

Quotables

Do You Remember?

"While for the majority of Americans, Christmas
is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus,. for Jews it
is time to consider their relationship to the wider
society. Some Jews have chosen to adopt the
Yuletide festivities. Some have emphatically reject-
ed the rituals and symbols of Christmas. Still oth-
ers have sought ways to meld Christmas and
Chanukah. Christmas, in effect, has become a
prism through which, over time, we can view how
living in this land of opportunity and freedom has
shaped our religion, culture and identity."

December 1974

— Joshua Eli Plaut, historian, in "The Xmas
Mirror," in the winter Reform Judaism magazine

Some 700,000 Israelis signed the petition that
demanded that the government refuse to give up
any portion of Judea and Shomron on the West
Bank.
At the same time, 100 professors have issued an
appeal to form a government of national unity,
including the opposition bloc, Likud.

— Sy JYfanello, editorial assistant

