30 | SEPTEMBER 5 • 2024 
J
N

faces&places

M 

ore than150 guests of 
Hadassah Greater Detroit 
gathered on May 15 at 
Temple Beth El’s outdoor tent 
to honor and celebrate our local 
Holocaust survivors. Guests enjoyed 
a delicious tea luncheon and had 
the privilege of hearing firsthand 
accounts from two Detroit Holocaust 
survivors. Elizabeth Silver, a prisoner 
in Siberia, and her cherished friend 
Sophie Klisman, an Auschwitz 
survivor, recounted their harrowing 
stories of survival. 
I, a third-generation survivor, and 
Carol Ogusky, a second-generation 
survivor, co-chaired the successful 
program. I spoke about being a 
grandchild of Holocaust survivors 
and the profound impact it has 
had on my life. It is part of my life 
mission to carry on the stories of 
my late grandparents, the 6 million 
Jews who perished at the hands of 
the Nazis and those survivors we are 
lucky to still have with us.
May 15 was particularly special to 
me because it was the birthday of my 
late grandmother, Fryderyka Fuchs-
Hojda. A survivor of Auschwitz, 
Fryderyka was liberated from 
Theresienstadt on May 9, 1945. After 

Fryderyka was liberated, instead 
of rushing to consume food, she 
walked to the tulips. She always 
loved flowers and didn’t see any for 
six years. 
At the event, each table had a 
photograph of my late grandparents 
(Fryderyka and Stanislaw Hojda, 
both survivors) alongside a vase 
of tulips. The symbolism of hope, 
resilience, survival and freedom was 
powerful.
Carol spoke about the event’s 
theme, L’dor V’dor (from generation 
to generation). She stressed our 
responsibility to pass on the 
teachings and lessons of the Shoah 
to future generations so history will 
never repeat itself. 
As a past president of Hadassah 
Greater Detroit, Carol spoke 
with pride about the founder of 
Hadassah, Henrietta Szold, who 
created a program in Israel called 
Youth Aliyah. The Youth Aliyah 
villages ultimately saved over 
22,000 Jewish children from Hitler’s 
concentration camps.
Thirty Holocaust survivors were 
present and recognized by all those 
attending. Guests were inspired and 
in awe of the strength and resilience 

of this group, ranging from their 
early 80s to 100 years old. 
The program raised more 
than $8,500, which will support 
Hadassah’s Youth Aliyah Villages in 
Israel. Carol and I hope to continue 
honoring our cherished survivors for 
many years to come. 
We all pledged to never forget. 

Honoring 
Local Survivors

MELISSA LIVERMAN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT: Rae 
Nachbar, Sofia Chayt, Sophie Klisman, 
Miriam Ferber, Ida Aisner, Melissa 
Liverman, Alex Raab, Irene Raab, Anna 
Fein and Carol Ogusky; Marcie Rosen, 
Joan Epstein, Carol Ogusky, Fran 
Heicklen, Melissa Liverman, Beverly 
Fine. Guest in Temple Beth El’s outdoor 
tent. Melissa Liverman, Elizabeth Silver, 
Sophie Klisman and Carol Ogusky.

