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On Nov. 5, the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills hosted its
33rd Anniversary Dinner at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield,
with nearly 1,200 people attending.
Nelson Hersh, an honoree with his wife, Susan, spoke passionately
about the importance of Holocaust education. He volunteers in Poland
each year where he hosts field trips to Auschwitz, and Susan volunteers
locally at her temple and provides support to children with disabilities.
Keynote speaker journalist Ann Curry shared stories about her emo-
tional experiences meeting genocide survivors around the world and the
lasting impressions this has made on her.
The HMC also presented a new short film about its critical work. The
film featured survivor Paula Marks Bolton, a prisoner at Bergen-Belsen
when British soldiers liberated the concentration camp.
Dinner proceeds will support HMC’s public tours, programs and exhi-
bitions, as well as education outreach provided to schools and commu-
nity groups. •

PHOTOS BY BRETT MOUNTAIN PHOTOGRAPHY

LEMUSPHOTO.COM

faces

Dr. Itzhak Brook speaks at a Veterans Day brunch about his involvement in the Yom Kippur War.

One Man’s View

Israeli doctor shares his
take on the Yom Kippur War.

GERALD KATZMAN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

T

he congregations of B’nai
Moshe, Beth Shalom and
Adat Shalom hosted the
annual Veterans Day Brunch held
at B’nai Moshe in West Bloomfield.
The nearly 100 attendees heard Dr.
Itzhak Brook describe his experi-
ence as a battalion physician in
the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
He called the war the most diffi-
cult time Israel has had to endure.
One mistake the invading armies
from Egypt and Syria made was to
attack on Yom Kippur. The roads
were nearly empty and reservists,
many carrying a siddur and still in
a tallit, mobilized rapidly.
The Yom Kippur War resulted
in the deaths in battle of 3,000
Israeli soldiers. Additionally, many
combatants were wounded during
the 17 days of war. The Russian-
supplied SAM missiles shot down
many Israeli jets. Similarly, new
anti-tank missiles acquired by the
Egyptians resulted in the loss of
many Israeli tanks and personnel,
especially in the first days of the
war. Eventually, the determina-
tion of the Israeli reservists turned
back the invading forces.
Brook commented that the price
of the war was seen by medical
professionals, who also cared for
enemy combatants.
He said he treated Israeli sol-
diers who confided their anxiety
and fear to him. Initially, he tried
an approach he saw in the John
Wayne movie Iwo Jima, saying,
“Get over it, man!” This was not
effective. Later, he said to him-
self that he should share his own
feelings with his patients. So, he
would say, “It’s OK to be afraid”

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December 7 • 2017

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because he was, too. Dealing with
fear and then going on to do your
job despite the fear came to repre-
sent a new definition of courage.
Brook compared the mourning
and shock from the Yom Kippur
War on Israelis as similar to what
9-11 caused for Americans.
The unpreparedness for the war
resulted in a loss of confidence in
the Labor government of Israel,
setting the stage for the success
of the opposition in the polls. The
war did apparently provide a basis
for peace agreements between
Israel and its former adversaries,
Egypt and Jordan. The Arabs felt
their honor was restored, as their
troops fought bravely. Most signifi-
cantly, the Arab nations involved
realized that they couldn’t win a
war against Israel, even by sur-
prise.
A strategic alliance developed
in Egypt with the U.S., replacing
Russian influence. Today, this alli-
ance among Egypt, Israel and the
U.S. in fighting Al Qaeda, Hamas
and other terrorist groups persists.
In concluding, Brook briefly
mentioned his bout with laryngeal
cancer and his laryngectomy. He
indicated how he thought cancer
and war are similar. In both cases,
you are fighting for your life, he
says. In doing so, you are not
alone. You don’t always know what
tomorrow will bring. When the
process is complete and you suc-
ceed, you have a greater apprecia-
tion for life. •

To help support disabled Israeli war veterans,
donations may be sent to fidf.org.

Honorees Sue
and Nick Hersh
of Franklin,
center, with
daughters
Jessica and
Becca

Jay and Risa Levinson of West Bloomfield, Glen Fisher of Farmington Hills, and Robin,
Ali and Mark Orechkin of Bloomfield Hills

Chair of the Governor’s Council on Genocide
and Holocaust Education Lori Talsky Zekelman
and HMC Board Treasurer Alan Zekelman of
Bloomfield Hills flank guest speaker Ann Curry.

Ed and Julie Hersh of Orchard Lake, Holocaust
survivor Ida Moskovitz of West Bloomfield,
Brenda Moskovitz-Sklar and Bob Sklar of
Franklin

Jason, Rachel and Ryan Zimmerman of
Huntington Woods

HMC CEO Rabbi Eli Mayerfeld, center, with
Elliot and Tom Shafer