Kansas City’s Jewish community has been home to many Holocaust survivors over the years, and Jewish Family Services (JFS) has supported, listened and helped many of them navigate daily life with care and dignity.
Recently, JFS hosted a gathering in honor of Holocaust Survivor Day — a day created in 2021 to recognize survivors not just for what they endured, but for the lives they built and the wisdom they continue to share. This was the second time JFS hosted an event to honor survivors.
Seventeen survivors joined JFS for an afternoon filled with music and remembrance. With support from the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City and a grant from the Seed the Dream Foundation, JFS was able to host this event. The Midwest Center for Holocaust Education also partnered with JFS.
This year’s theme, “Return to Life,” celebrated not only survival, but the resilience and contributions of survivors. Campers from The J brought sang to survivors and each offered a white rose to a survivor.
Svetlana Yeager, originally from Russia, translated the program in both Russian and English. MCHE shared a slideshow of survivors rebuilding their lives after the war. Rabbi Jonathan Rudnick, Jewish Community Chaplain, closed the day with uplifting words.
Before heading home, each survivor received a small gift bag including a “Stand Up to Jewish Hate” pin, information for Holocaust Survivor resources and cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes.
The day came together thanks to JFS Director of Social Work Programming Jana Fielder.
“It was a day of love, gratitude and remembrance — a celebration of life and legacy that we will always carry in our hearts,” Fiedler said.
