An honorable Japanese diplomat put his career on the line, granting more than 2,000 visas to Lithuanian Jews fleeing the Nazis— in defiance of orders from Tokyo
Many have heard this story, but for my family, it is our story. My grandfather, Rabbi Yisroel Zev (Velvel) Zoimen from Baranovich, and my wife’s grandparents, Rabbi Avigdor and Elka Cyperstein from Pinsk, escaped to Shanghai thanks to Chiune Sugihara’s efforts. When I chanced upon a flier announcing that Chiune Sugihara’s grandson Chihiro would be speaking at our local Holocaust center, I knew our family had to be there.
The night of the event, it was pouring buckets. We were late — the MC had just introduced Chihiro Sugihara — and we crept quietly into the full auditorium, sliding into some seats at the side marked, “reserved,” the only section still empty.
I glanced around. The crowd reminded me of the shuls in those small Jewish communities you pass through on vacation, average age 75. There were plenty of walkers, but we had the only stroller.
Abie Rotenberg’s words played in my mind: And who will stand before the world, knowing what to say, when the very last survivor fades away? I had schlepped my kids here for this very reason; where were their middle-aged children and why was there only one other yarmulke in this audience?
Create a free account to keep reading.
