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It’s not manna from heaven,
but this Passover, provide
something just as crucial to the
survival of the Israeli people.

Woman
Of Valor

CSZ’s Woman’s World to
honor Henrietta Weisberg.

Karen Couf Cohen
Special to the Jewish News

H

enrietta Weisberg is the defini-
tion of courage, but she would
be the last one to say it.
“I survived,” she says dismissively.
When asked how she stays so positive,
Henrietta, a Holocaust survivor, qui-
etly answers, “That’s
a very tough question
— very difficult.”
But it won’t be
difficult for her ador-
ing family, friends
and supporters to
celebrate her when
she is honored
Henrietta
as
the Woman of
Weisberg
Valor for the 2016
Lois Linden Nelson
Woman’s World sponsored by Sisterhood
of Congregation Shaarey Zedek on
Wednesday, May 4.
“Henrietta is a hopeful person always
thinking of the future,” says her son
Steven Weisberg. “She’s been through
hell but still believes she is a lucky per-
son, that being Jewish is important and
that every day we should all enjoy life.”
Henrietta Gastfrjnd was born in
Warsaw, Poland, in 1928. Upon liquida-
tion of the ghetto, she and her family
of six were deported to the Nazi death
camps, where her mother, father and two
brothers were killed. From Majdanek,
she and her sister, Rachel, then 14 and
11, were sent to a forced labor camp and
then to Buchenwald. Toward the end,
they found themselves on a death march
where, at the Elba River, they were liber-
ated by Russian soldiers.
After the war, the the girls were
smuggled to Czechoslovakia and back
to Germany. With the help of American
soldiers, the sisters were connected with
two aunts in America, who sponsored
their move to Detroit on Aug. 27, 1946.
With the help of family and various
Jewish community agencies, Henrietta
worked to become an American citizen.
In 1953, she met the love of her life,
Alvin Weisberg, when they both stood up
for a friend’s wedding at Shaarey Zedek
on Chicago Boulevard. “Alvin came over
to me and said, ‘What are you drinking?’
And I said, ‘Whatever you are drinking.’ I

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Todah rabah. Pesach kasher v’sameach.

Save the Date

Dr. John J. Mames Chapter — Michigan Region
Celebration of Life Gala
Sunday, September 18, 2016

AFMDA Midwest Region
Cari Margulis Immerman, Director
23215 Commerce Park Road, Suite 306
Beachwood, OH 44122
Toll-Free 877.405.3913 midwest@afmda.org
www.afmda.org

•

2075470

18 April 14 • 2016

Henrietta and Alvin Weisberg
at their wedding

almost died of nerves! We were married
seven months later,” Henrietta says.
They are proud of their children, Lori
and Steven Weisberg, Julie and Steve
Schlafer, five grandchildren and one
great-grandchild.
Together, Henrietta, 87, and Alvin,
89, actively support numerous chari-
ties, including the Holocaust Memorial
Center in Farmington Hills (donating
an original transport boxcar that is
accompanied by a powerful recording of
Henrietta sharing her story of survival),
Beaumont Hospital, Friendship Circle,
Israel Bonds, Jewish Federation, Shaarey
Zedek and Magen David Adom (they
were honored for the donation of two
ambulances).
“When my dad and his siblings sold
Chatham Markets, my parents got more
and more involved with Shaarey Zedek,”
Steven Weisberg says. “They have taken
up the mantle of the concert fund origi-
nally created by their parents, Peter and
Clara Weisberg.”
In 2004, Henrietta and Alvin donated
new siddurim for the congregation.
“I think both my parents take a lot of
pride in being able to make things avail-
able for people less fortunate than they
are,” he says.
“In addition to her warm sense of
humor and deep wisdom, Henrietta,
along with Alvin, are true angels within
our congregation and our community,”
says Shaarey Zedek Rabbi Aaron Starr.
“Henrietta Weisberg is truly an eshet
chayal — an outstanding woman of valor.”
To this day Weisberg is upbeat, enjoys
people, loves her shul, plays canasta and
bridge, and has a deep love of music.
“We fought so hard to be alive; I don’t
want to lose the joy of living. It’s not
always easy,” she says. “However, most
days I feel very, very lucky.”

*

Lois Linden Nelson Woman’s World is from 9 a.m.-4
p.m. Wednesday, May 4, at Shaarey Zedek, with
special guest Paula Abdul. Cost for Abdul’s talk is
$36; luncheon tickets start at $54. Boutiques are free.
For details, go to www.llnwomansworld.org or call
(248) 357-5544 ext. 48.

See related story, page 74.