News from the 19th Floor – At the JFR – July 2022
News from the 19th Floor
RESCUER AWARDS WILL BE SENT IN JULY
The JFR will be sending awards to rescuers the end of July. The JFR sends funds three times during the year – March, July, and November. Funds are sent after the JFR receives proof-of-life documentation from each rescuer receiving financial assistance from the JFR. Proof-of-life documents are due into the JFR office July 1st. Funds are not sent until these forms, which includes a notarized affidavit stating that the person is alive, are received. We continue to remain in contact with rescuers in Ukraine.
As a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and subsequent bank sanctions, the JFR is unable to send funds to rescuers living in Belarus or the Russian Federation. We have notified rescuers in both countries of the situation.
2022 SUMMER INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
The 2022 Summer Institute for Teachers (SIT) was terrific! I would like to thank our 2022 Alfred Lerner Fellows, there are 23, and our scholars for making this year’s SIT the success that it was. It was good to be back in person!
The 2022 Summer Institute was the JFR’s 22nd and was held at the Hilton Newark Airport.
The five days we spent together was academically stimulating, exciting, and challenging. We are proud to welcome a group of gifted, talented, and committed educators to the program.
Our scholars this year were, in order of their lecture – Doris Bergen, Benjamin Carter Hett, Samuel Kassow, Peter Hayes, Lawrence Douglas, Steven Field, Daniel Greene, Edward Westermann, Robert Jan van Pelt, Jeffrey Burds, Alexandra Zapruder, and Paul Salmons. Sheri Rosenblum presented on educational resources available from the Jewish Partisan Educational Foundation. Stanlee Stahl, JFR’s Executive Vice President, presented on rescue. The text for the Summer Institute is How Was it Possible? A Holocaust Reader by Peter Hayes.
Click here to see the photo gallery!
JFR MOURNS THE PASSING OF JOZEF WALASZCZYK
Jozef Walaszczyk, a Righteous Gentile from Poland, passed away on June 18, 2022, at the age of 102. Mr. Walaszczyk was the JFR’s oldest rescuer. On November 19, 2022, Josef would have turned 103. At the JFR’s last luncheon for Polish Righteous in September 2019, we celebrated Mr. Walaszczyk’s upcoming 100th birthday! May Mr. Walaszczyk’s memory be a blessing.
ALFRED LERNER FELLOWSHIP
Alfred Lerner, the founding chairman and chief executive officer of MBNA Corporation, passed away in October 2002. He was a valued advisor and supporter of the JFR from its early years.
In tribute to Al Lerner’s commitment to the work of the Foundation and in particular to his special interest in Holocaust education, The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous established the Alfred Lerner Fellowship program in 2002. All of the teachers who attend the Summer Institute for Teachers are known as Alfred Lerner Fellows. It is both a pleasure and an honor for the Foundation to confer on each of these men and women the privilege of bearing the name of this remarkable and beloved friend of the JFR. Today there are more than 650 Alfred Lerner Fellows.
FELLOWS IN FOCUS
We hope you have been checking out our featured educators from across the country. Last year, the JFR began featuring Alfred Lerner Fellows in a new series called “Fellows in Focus.” Each Wednesday we highlight an outstanding educator! Please check out the JFR’s Facebook page on Wednesday to learn about a terrific teacher.
Teachers who attend the JFR’s Summer Institute for Teachers are known as Alfred Lerner Fellows.
In July we are featuring:
Lucy Thrasher from Auburn, AL – July 6, 2022
Alison Graf from Lumberton, NJ– July 13, 2022
Carol Lavallee from Englewood, FL – July 20, 2022
Megan Corbin from Saint Paul, MN – July 27, 2022
Click here to see June’s Fellows in Focus.
JFR Welcomes Our New Senior Education Program Associate
Dr. Andrew Buchanan (JFR Lerner Fellow 2007) is the JFR’s new Senior Education Program Associate. Andrew received the JFR’s Goldman Award (JFR’s Holocaust teacher of the year award) in 2012. Andrew also participated in the 2010 European Study Program to Germany and Poland and several Advanced Seminars. Andrew taught high school Social Studies in Randolph, NJ public schools where he had a Holocaust elective for 16 years and he taught middle school Social Studies for the last two years. Andrew also taught a graduate program in Holocaust Studies at Kean University. If you want more information about the JFR’s education program, please reach out to Andrew at [email protected].
We are pleased to welcome Andrew to the JFR family!
WE WELCOME OUR 2022 HIGH SCHOOL INTERN TO THE JFR
This summer we welcome Luke Byun to the JFR. Luke, a senior at West Orange High School in West Orange, NJ, joined our staff in June and will be with us for the summer.
AMAZON PRIME DAY – JULY 12-13
If you shop on Amazon and plan to purchase items during Amazon Prime Day, July 12-13, 2022, please consider making the JFR your charity! Please see below for how to do this.
Simply follow the instructions below to select The Jewish Foundation for The Righteous Inc. as your charity and activate AmazonSmile in the app. Amazon will donate a portion of your eligible mobile app purchases to us.
How it works:
1. Open the Amazon app on your phone
2. Select the main menu (=) & tap on “AmazonSmile” within Programs & Features
3. Select “The Jewish Foundation for The Righteous Inc” as your charity
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to activate AmazonSmile in the mobile app
