Met Council & Haym Salomon Pre-Chanukah Event December, 2017

In Partership With
Holocaust Survivor
Pre-Chanukah Event
December 3rd, 2017

Haym Salomon Nursing Home and Met Council
Collaborate on Magnificent Holocaust Survivor
Pre-Chanukah Socialization Event
The Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty Holocaust Survivor Program
teamed up with the Lipschitz family of the Haym Salomon Home
for Nursing and Rehabilitation to host a
Pre-Chanukah Event for Holocaust Survivors
on December 3rd, 2017. Over 550 Survivors
from all across New York City attended the
lavish event which was held in the beautiful
Haym Salomon ballroom featuring panoramic
views of the New York City skyline.
The collaboration between the Haym Salomon
Nursing Home and the Met Council Holocaust
Survivor Program works so well since
both programs provide services in a person-centered
manner, which allows survivors
to receive help in a dignified and sensitive manner, individualized to each
person’s experience. These social events aid in alleviating
symptoms of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic
stress. The survivors in attendance are
often isolated with little opportunity or ability
to leave their homes and engage in distraction
from painful memories. This event created an
opportunity for survivors to join together to
celebrate not only the miracles of Chanukah,
but their own miraculous survival as well. Chaim,
an 89 year old Survivor proudly dressed for the event,
declared: “I haven’t left my apartment in three weeks, but today’s the
day!’”

Arriving in comfortable coach buses, the attendees were greeted by
a pair of playful mimes and ushered to their seats. One survivor was
struck by the welcome they received: “All the staff members were smiling
as we came in and throughout the event.” They enjoyed a delicious,
beautifully presented four course lunch in the elegantly decorated, Chanukah-themed
ballroom. Guests were entertained by renowned singers
Shulem Lemmer and Yoely Lebowits and
a full musical orchestra, and were treated
to performances of songs from the ‘alte
heim’ that they remembered from their
youth growing up in Europe. The survivors
enjoyed clapping and singing and dancing
along to the music. One guest, an 86 yearold
survivor from Boro Park, felt that “the
music was not from this world, it was so
beautiful.”
Survivors were addressed by distinguished
guests - New York City Council Members Rafael Espinal and David Greenfield,
Councilman-Elect Kalman Yeger, and a representative from the
Mayor’s Office. A grateful guest commented that the event was ‘Yiddish’
and ‘Heimish,’ thoughtfully organized and personally
designed towards ‘our background’.”
The joy of the hundreds of survivors was clear
to all in attendance. “Seeing all the smiling
faces and all of our survivors having a great
time was such a wonderful treat,” said Judah
Zellermaier, Met Council’s Director of the Holocaust
Survivor Program. “We were so fortunate to
be able to team up with the Lipschitz family of the Haym
Salomon Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on this outstanding program
and we look forward to working on many future projects together.”

In the Press

The Event