Posted by Carol Laibson
While we observe Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, JF&CS honors the true stories of and pays tribute to Holocaust survivors, including those served by JF&CS Schechter Holocaust Services. We continue to be inspired by the story of Izzy Arbeiter, current chair of the JF&CS Schechter Holocaust Services Hakalah Advisory Committee:
The four-minute, award-winning* documentary, produced in conjunction with Embryo Creative, is a first person account of Izzy Arbeiter, a Holocaust survivor now living in Newton who lost both parents and two brothers while being held at the Auschwitz concentration camp. The founder and past president of the American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors of Greater Boston and Their Descendants, and a member of the founding committee for the New England Holocaust Memorial, Izzy volunteers with JF&CS to help Holocaust survivors live with dignity as they age.
*The Communicator Awards honored the online documentary "Izzy" with a first-place prize in the nonprofit category in 2014. This leading international awards program recognizes excellence in marketing and communications. Founded two decades ago, The Communicator Awards receives more than 6,000 entries each year from companies and agencies of all sizes, making it one of the largest awards of its kind in the world.
Carol Laibson, Manager of Case Management Services for JF&CS Schechter Holocaust Services is a licensed clinical social worker. She has more than 20 years of experience helping older people age well with dignity, works directly with Holocaust survivors and their families, and provides training and consultation to professional staff on the special needs of aging Holocaust survivors.