Beth Tifilah and Tifereth Israel Synagogue , where guest speakers discussed topics from the Holocaust to Jewish music and culture and more . Over the years , New Life Club members have held dinner dances and picnics together , celebrated members ’ life-cycle events and held a community-wide Holocaust memorial service each year . Some members have written about their Holocaust experiences and continue to speak about them in the community and around the country .
“ New Life Club is a treasure of our community , composed of people who have persevered through one of humanity ’ s greatest tragedies to build lives of meaning and purpose ,” Darren Schwartz , Chief Program Officer at Federation shared with GB Magazine . “ Establishing a public memorial is their vision as they think about their legacy and their desire to educate future generations .”
“ The group has been a support system for all of us as we started new lives .” adds Vera Falus Lorell , President of New Life Club . “ Now , after 75 years in the community , celebrating together and growing together , we are thinking about what comes next , what we must leave for others . For us , it is about telling our story in ways that will live on forever so people know what occurred - and will do everything in their power to ensure it never happens again .”
For its entirety , New Life Club was an independent entity under its own operations . Late last year , however , it moved under the auspices of Federation , a development welcomed by both organizations . Federation is
now working with the New Life Club on building the community ’ s first ever public Holocaust monument and memorial , with plans to include an existing local exhibit that shares a Survivor ’ s story .
This new partnership builds on Federation ’ s work supporting all of San Diego ’ s local Holocaust Survivors , which today number roughly 400 , ensuring they live with dignity in their homes . Federation provides funds to help them with food , medical care and other needs . Eighty percent of these Survivors are from the Former Soviet Union ; one-third of them live in poverty . Beyond providing them with resources for care , Federation is dedicated to raising awareness in the broader community about this population , their legacy , and their needs today .
Together , they are launching Friends of the New Life Club where community members will be able to volunteer and help a Survivor with day-to-day needs , such as grocery shopping or home maintenance . To learn more about Friends of the New Life Club and about Federation ’ s work with survivors , please visit jewishinsandiego . org / holocaust-survivors .
Federation also will launch an awareness campaign in April coinciding with Yom Ha ’ Shoah , to commemorate 75 years of Survivors in San Diego . Adds Schwartz , “ We are calling the campaign , “ Exploring 75 years of Survivors in San Diego ” because this is about getting to know each of these individuals and showing them the dignity and respect they deeply deserve .”
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