 JULY 16 • 2020 | 27

CHARLES SILOW SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

Jews in the D

M

ichigan Gov. 
Gretchen Whitmer’
s 
Stay Home, Stay Safe 
initiative was designed to help 
save lives during the COVID-19 
pandemic. However, for many, 
being physically isolated from 
others has created emotional 
hardships as they are separated 
from their families and loved 
ones. 
For many survivors of the 
Holocaust, the difficulties of 
social isolation can also be 
emotional triggers that link the 
present situation to memories 
of being separated from and 
losing loved ones during the 
Holocaust. 
It has meant a great deal to 
survivors to receive phone calls 
letting them know they are not 
alone, that they are cared for. 
Being in touch with survivors 
has been an important sup-
portive project of the Program 
for Holocaust Survivors and 
Families (PHSF), a service of 
Jewish Senior Life. 
Through collaboration with 

Jewish Family Service and a 
special COVID-19 grant from 
the Claims Conference, survi-
vors have been in contact with 
one another in virtual groups 
and through individual phone 
calls. This communication helps 
survivors know and feel that 
they are not alone. Psychosocial 
supports for Holocaust sur-
vivors have been significant 
during this difficult time.
Relatedly, another socializa-
tion project was recently initi-
ated: the provision of gift bags 
to survivors. These gift bags, 
provided by Leo Eisenberg and 
his family, let survivors know 
they are cared about during 
these challenging times. The gift 
bags held various items to help 
brighten their days and put a 
smile on their faces and includ-
ed facemasks donated by Shari 
Ferber Kaufman and her family. 
The survivors were thankful 
to receive the gift bags. One 
survivor wrote, “I greatly appre-
ciate the gift and the thought 
that came with it. During this 

time, when loneliness is a great 
part of our lives, it feels good 
that someone out there thinks 
of our well-being.
” 
Another wrote, “Thank you 
for the lovely gift. This is a chal-
lenging time for all of us. We 
shall overcome this, too.
” 
Another happy survivor 
wrote, “Thank you for the big 
surprise! I don’
t know what 
I did to deserve this. It’
s so 
nice what you’
ve done for the 
Holocaust survivors. It’
s good to 
know that we are not forgotten. 
Believe it or not, I never had a 
stuffed animal before! Better 
late than never!”
Second Generation vol-
unteers delivered the gift 
bags from CHAIM-Children 
of Holocaust-Survivors 
Association in Michigan. 
“Doing this made me feel good,
” 
said one of the volunteers. “The 
real beneficiaries were us.
” 

Dr. Charles Silow is director of the 
Program for Holocaust Survivors and 
Families.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHARLES SILOW

Holocaust survivors receive phone
calls, gift bags during COVID-19.

rv
s 

ivors receive phone
during COVID-19.
 Not
Alone’

Are
‘You

It’s good to know 
that we are
not forgotten.

— SURVIVOR

Survivor Sandor Adler
enjoys the adult coloring book
that came in his gift bag.

 JULY 30 • 2020 | 27

