Four generations: (standing)
Ryan Hirsch, Sylvia Hirsch,
Caryn Hirsch, Henry Hirsch,
Stacey (Hirsch) Jeffries and
Brian Jeffries; (seated) Lori
Hirsch, Hermina Hirsch and
Bernard Hirsch.
3Gs Carry The Flame
Grandchildren of Holocaust survivors unite to honor heritage.
Esther Allweiss Ingber
Contributing
Writer
I
D
anielle Dentamaro and Ryan
Hirsch are emerging leaders of
a social and educational group
in Metro Detroit for grandchildren of
Holocaust survivors. They'd love for more
young adults to join them.
Organizations for third-generation
descendants of survivors (3Gs), like Hirsch
and Dentamaro, are sprouting up through-
out the Jewish world. They exist in several
American communities where 3Gs live
today, including New York City, Chicago,
Boston, Los Angeles and Washington,
D.C. The 3Gs also have come together in
Canada, the United Kingdom, France and
Australia.
Hirsch, 34, of Birmingham and his
friend Dentamaro, 31, of Bloomfield Hills
chose to become involved with other 3Gs
because "Danielle and I are both pretty
passionate about our grandparents. To do
good by them is so important:'
Survivors Bernard and Hermina Hirsch
of Southfield provide inspiration for their
grandson Ryan. They initially settled in
New York, where Henry Hirsch, Ryan's
father, was born. A special person in
Dentamaro's life was her grandmother,
Doris Friedman, who died on Nov. 30,
2011.
"I am honoring the memory of my bub-
bie" by being part of the 3Gs, Dentamaro
said.
Charles Silow, Ph.D, advises the local
group in his capacity as director of the
Program for Holocaust Survivors and
Families, a service of Jewish Senior Life
(JSL) in West Bloomfield. Program coor-
10 August 15 • 2013
dinator Renee Fein assists him and the JSL hailing from Hungary (originally
Foundation.
Czechoslovakia). The fact they were long-
standing friends in this community made
Helping survivors and families is also
personal for Fein and Silow, founder and
it easier to pull the guest list together.
"Bernard Hirsch met my grandparents,
president of the Children of Holocaust
Eugene and Doris Friedman, in Detroit in
Survivors Association in Michigan
(CHAIM), because both are 2Gs — direct
the early '50s, and Henry Hirsch and his
siblings grew up with my mother, Tina,
descendants of survivors.
The Metro Detroit 3Gs group operates
and my uncle and aunt:' Dentamaro said.
"with the support and cooperation of
"Everyone used to get together on holi-
CHAIM," said Silow, whose orga-
days, for barbecues and such,
nization plans an all-generations
and was part of the Hungarian
klezmer concert in early October.
family that came to be with
The JSL program's original
other survivors:'
outreach to teenage 2Gs was refo-
Four generations of Hirsches
cussed in 2010 to become a group
were represented at the bar-
reflecting the interests of the young
becue, including little Sylvia
Hirsch, Ryan and wife Lori's
3Gs.
On July 18, kosher hot dogs and i —
daughter. David Kramer, a 3G,
Daniel le
veggie burgers were part of the
and his wife, Anessa, brought
menu served at the 3Gs' first family Denta maro
their sons Max and Sam.
barbecue. Dentamaro and her boy-
"Truthfully, it's not abnormal
friend, Mike Ross, the day's grill master,
for us to be together; said Ryan Hirsch.
hosted it in their backyard. Fein helped the "My dad and grandparents support this 3G
couple with food and fun party touches,
group, so this was something for us to do
including a bubble-maker, colorful leis and with each other:'
tiny umbrellas for virgin and spiked frozen
"It was a very nice and relaxing event:'
daiquiris.
said Hermina Hirsch, Ryan's grandmother.
When it came to planning the gathering, "The weather cooperated:'
Dentamaro said she and Hirsch had the
Telling Their Stories
same thought: "Let's invite all the genera-
tions:'
Relationships were renewed at the festive
party. Henry and Bernard Hirsch were
With 35 in attendance, "it was a true
celebration of the continuity of the Jewish
happy to find Allweiss there, who they
people:' Silow said. Guests included local
knew through business.
Kathy Halliburton, 62, a 2G from West
survivors and grandparents Ibolya "Ibi"
Centeri, Anna Fein, Andy Martin, Esther
Bloomfield, attended with her mother,
survivor Ibi Centeri. Their family came
Lupyan, Zyga "Zygie" Allweiss and the
Hirsches.
to the U.S. on Dec. 5, 1956, during the
Dentamaro said six survivors [except
Hungarian Revolution, Halliburton said.
for Polish-born Allweiss] are "Hunkies,"
With three sons, ages 29-38, who are "so
close to my mom:' Halliburton is hoping
they'll eventually participate with the 3Gs.
She speculated that bringing their genera-
tion together as a group might be easier
because they're "further away from the
experience of the Holocaust. They're not
as connected to it as I and others who are
children of survivors:'
Fein agreed. "The grandchildren have
had a real American life. They don't have
to deal with nightmares and horrors,
unlike some children of survivors arriving
in the '40s and '50s."
The Metro Detroit 3G group has par-
ticipated in several meaningful projects
and activities. Artist Sylvia Nelson assisted
members with making collages to share
their grandparents' histories. Displayed at
the Holocaust Memorial Center (HMC) for
Yom HaShoah, the collages incorporated
photocopied pictures and documents sup-
plied from before and after World War II.
About 20 grandchildren toured the
HMC last fall with docent Jim Berk, him-
self a child of survivors. Some from the
group joined this year's Walk for Israel.
In the future, "it might be good for us to
go into the community, such as to schools,
to tell our grandparents' stories:' Ryan
Hirsch said.
"We're the last generation that will have
a personal connection to the survivors:' he
said. "Our purpose is to convey what they
[survivors] stood for and to talk about the
culture of their times:'
The 3Gs might record their grand-
parents on videotape talking about their
towns, Hirsch said. After playing sections
to an audience, "we'll stop and share our
personal comments and emotions:'
The group is next planning a wine-and-
cheese speaker event in an art gallery.
Dentamaro said she hopes to get more
ideas and encouragement after meeting
Dan Brooks of the New York City 3Gs.
Despite babies and career challenges —
"everyone's life is a little hectic:' she said
of her 3G cohort — a group like this is
needed.
"The 3Gs feel in their hearts an obliga-
tion to learn from their grandparents,
learn their histories and learn about
the generations that came before them:'
Dentamaro said.
"We want to carry on, enjoy life and be
together on happy occasions:' she said.
❑
For information, call (248) 661-2999, ext. 1330.
Esther Allweiss Ingber is the daughter of survi-
vor Zyga Allweiss.