L-R: Robert Krakow, Herbert Karliner, Howard Kaye, Rani Garfinkle. Click photo to view a gallery.

Turned away from the U.S. and many other governments, the passengers rightly feared the worst as the ship returned them across the Atlantic, where over 250 of them perished and countless others suffered at the hands of the Nazis. The St. Louis became a “ship of destiny,” carrying the fate of millions of others with a clear message to Adolf Hitler: Jewish people were expendable.

 

On December 14, joined by 34 surviving SS St. Louis passengers from across the globe, and by local neighbors who bear personal witness to the Holocaust, 400 guests of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County gathered at the Federation’s west Boca Raton campus to commemorate this watershed historical moment.

 

The evening program centered on the passenger signing of the historic U.S. Resolution 111, passed unanimously in May to acknowledge the role of the U.S. in the St. Louis tragedy. Further ensuring that memories are honored and lessons never forgotten, the audience also sat as jurors to try Adolf Hitler in The False Witness, an acclaimed play by Robert Krakow.

 

“We could not be prouder to host this occasion for our community to learn about the St. Louis tragedy and honor its surviving passengers,” said Federation President and CEO William S. Bernstein. “As soon as Howard Kaye approached me with his vision, I knew we would find a way to serve as a home for this once in a lifetime project.”

 

	Ellen R. Sarnoff

Preceding the program, the passengers were welcomed by the Federation’s major donors at a reception. “How magnificent that tonight we are able to host these heroes, who have traveled from across the globe – from Tel Aviv, Manchester and Toronto as well as 27 U.S. cities,” said Ellen R. Sarnoff, Campaign Chair. “Their presence and courage inspire and fortify us immeasurably as we work to raise resources to meet unprecedented urgent human needs in our own community and overseas.”

 

“If these Jewish heroes could endure life's most challenging circumstances and still maintain a connection to their faith than we — the inheritors of their stories — must do our best to create goodness around us during these difficult economic times,” concurred Bernstein.

 

	Rani Garfinkle

“Because of people like you, the St. Louis would not be turned away today,” said Rani Garfinkle, welcoming the crowd gathered in Zinman Hall for the ceremony. Referencing the event’s timing during Chanukah, she noted, “You help create miracles with your caring.”

 

	Rosemary Schindler

“Together, we educate and take action, spreading the message of ‘Never again,” said Rosemary Schindler, an advocate and relative of Oskar Schindler (Shindler’s List), in her remarks. “In turning away those who sought refuge, the U.S. committed the greatest offense as a place of safety and assistance. We asked the passengers to return to the scene of the crime, “she said of the passengers’ reunion, which began two days earlier in Miami Beach at the Eden Roc.

 

	Herbert Karliner, Howard Kaye

SS St. Louis passenger Herbert Karliner, 83, added the last of 34 signatures to the original copy of Senate Resolution 111. In leading the ceremony, Howard Kaye relayed some of the riveting memories Karliner had shared with him, “He told me, ‘When we were two miles from Miami Beach, so close we could see the palm trees. Then the Coast Guard came close and fired a shot. They followed us as we left, to make sure nobody jumped ship to try to swim to safety.’”

 

	Dr. Irving Smokler

“The voyage of the St Louis stands as the preeminent symbol of failure to extend a hand,” remarked Dr. Irving Smokler, continuing the ceremony after the signing. Smoker is President of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), the largest international Jewish humanitarian aid organization, which was instrumental in finding refuge for some St. Louis passengers and other Holocaust survivors. Smokler implored the audience to, “Push back the darkness and extend our hands and hearts to the less fortunate among us.”

 

	Paul Hirschson

Paul Hirschson, Deputy Consul General from Israel to Florida and Puerto Rico spoke on the historical significance of the Resolution, and acknowledged the receipt of a copy to be archived at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. Additional original signed copies will be housed at the National Archives, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and other significant sites.

 

Diego Andres Echeverri, Special Assistant to Governor Charlie Crist, accepted the signed Resolution for permanent archiving at the Museum of Florida History in Tallahassee. Crist sent a letter lauding the commemoration. “Few events have had the significant impact, or better symbolized the horrors of the Holocaust,” he wrote of the voyage. “This ceremony will surely raise public awareness of this tragic event in United States history.”

 

	L-R: Event and Major Gift sponsors Richard Steinberg, Steinberg Global; Al Gortz, Proskauer Rose LLP; Howard Kaye, The National Foundation for Jewish Continuity, Inc.; Rani Garfinkle; Dan Levine, Kaplan, Krauss & Levine LLC

Contributions from Rani H. Garfinkle, in loving memory of her beloved husband Sandor Garfinkle; and by and Pamela & Howard Kaye and The National Foundation for Jewish Continuity, Inc. made the moving event possible. The Federation also thanks Major Gifts Sponsors Kaplan, Krauss & Levine LLC, One Thousand Ocean, Proskauer Rose LLP, and Steinberg Global for their commitment to the wellbeing of our community.

 

The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County serves the Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Highland Beach areas, raising and allocating funds to meet vital human needs locally, in Israel and in 70 countries worldwide.The Jewish Community Relations Council is the public policy and community relations arm of the Federation.