As you may or may not know, Boston 3G is a group for the grandchildren of Holocaust survivors. My grandmother was always hesitant to talk about her story to us as she did not want us to know how she suffered but throughout my life, I managed to get bits and pieces from her and other family about her journey.

I recently received a copy of her three-hour testimonial from Yad Vashem in Israel, in which she talks about her amazing struggle during the Holocaust and her life in the aftermath. I knew this story would provide the answers I was looking for in discovering my family’s history and be a key to my past. The video, however, was in Hebrew and above my level of comprehension. I was fortunate to find someone to sit down with me and translate it word for word as I typed vigorously. A total stranger to me who simply wanted to help! (What a mitzvah!)

I now have my grandmother’s full story, including her immigration to Israel and eventually New York. She talks with such love about the State of Israel and tells of her excitement in 1948 when it became a state. She describes the feeling of getting off the boat at the port of Ben Yamina and feeling free.

It is an honor for me to be attending Boston 3G’s event at The Paint Bar in Newton this coming Wednesday to paint a beautiful painting of the country that gave my grandmother her freedom to display proudly in our home.  Israel will always have a special place in my heart.

We will also have the privilege of hearing from Felice Cohen, an acclaimed author, about her family’s story of survival.

I hope you will all join us for a very fun and memorable event.

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