On Monday, June 9, 2025, Jewish Family Services of Northeastern New York (JFS) and the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York (Federation) hosted a special evening: Celebrating Survivors: Their Bravery. Their Sacrifices. Their Lives.
Nearly 100 people attended, including survivors, their families, and members of the community – including over 20 who identify as “second generation” (parents were survivors). The event featured a short program in which survivors told their story of escape and resilience.
Dr. Zoria Dobkina, age 96, who uses a cane to get around, insisted on standing proudly as she shared her family’s story of living in Moscow before fleeing to the United States. Her son, Michael Parizh, rounded out the family story with his own tale of “saving” by local survivor Carol Rosner z”l. Ruth Facher Mendel, age 94 was accompanied by her daughter, Lisa A. Finkle, and relayed her family’s escape from Luxembourg when she was nine years old. Local architect Dan Dembling showcased renderings of the planned Holocaust Memorial and updated the crowd on its progress. Other speakers included, to set the stage for the evening, Rabbi Ben Kean, and Mindy Holland represented Federation and its commitment to communal support, much of which is done through JFS services.
JFS provides an array of supportive services for survivors in the area. Thanks to KAVOD-SHEF, funded in large part by Seed the Dream Foundation, they, with Federation’s partnership, have committed to providing over $20,000 in emergency financial support to help survivors live safely and with dignity. This special fund helps pay for and coordinate dental care, hearing aids, stove repair and so much more. JFS will raise $10,000 in 2025 which will be matched dollar-for-dollar by KAVOD-SHEF.
If you would like to support local survivors, please visit jfsneny.org/donations or call 518-482-48856, Ext. 2 and designate your contribution to Holocaust Survivor Assistance. JFS also provides robust care management to help survivors with necessary paperwork, navigating complicated healthcare systems, while also coordinating social programs and special food packages around the holidays.
Learn more about JFS programs at jfsneny.org.