Connecting with 3Gs across North America
After attending the World Federation of Jewish Holocaust Survivors & Descendants Conference in D.C. in 2023, I knew I would attend again. Spending a long weekend with other survivors and descendants made me feel safe and truly understood in a way that most of the world does not get. The fact the rest of the world does not understand has become especially pronounced in the wake of October 7th as the masks have come off.
The 2024 conference was held September 20-24 in the Markham suburb of Toronto. I had heard stories of blatant antisemitism in Toronto, but I didn’t see any trace of it in Markham. I still had my guard up as I wondered if the hotel staff could be trusted.
Opening night started with some schmoozing in the hotel bar, as those of us who met at last year’s conference reconnected and made acquaintance with newcomers. This was followed by dinner and a get-to-know-you session where we were randomly assigned to multigenerational groups.
October 7th dominated the weekend. Saturday morning started with a plenary session of Survivors perspectives on the world post-October 7th. Of note was one survivor who said that what surprised her was not October 7th, but October 8th and the world’s silence. October 7th was also the theme for a 3G-specific workshop later that morning. A frequently repeated sentiment was relief that our grandparents are not around to see what is happening now.
Shai DeLuca, a Canadian-Israeli interior designer and television personality, gave the lunch keynote address. He shared his story of serving in the Israeli Defense Forces and his becoming an activist on behalf of Jewish and Zionist causes. While it was an entertaining talk, the subject matter seemed geared more toward youth who are just starting to get engaged in activism.
I attended a panel on building allyship, which featured speakers from the First Nations, Unions, and the Canadian-Ukrainian community. These allies emphasized making your voice heard and holding the government accountable.
On Sunday, we heard a presentation from Dr. Irit Felsen of Columbia University, which focused on how descendants of Holocaust survivors in North America have responded to the aftermath of October 7th.
Since I am both a 2G and a 3G, I attended a session for 2Gs called “Are We Allowed To Be Happy?” This is a question I have always struggled with since I feel the cold fingers of intergenerational trauma reach their way into my soul. Even after attending this presentation, I still don’t have an answer, however it is helpful to know there are others struggling with the same question.
Ambassador Witold Dzielski, the current Polish Ambassador to Canada who has also handled Polish-Jewish affairs at the Polish Embassy in D.C., gave the dinner keynote on the return of Jewish life in Poland—a popular topic for Poland’s Foreign Ministry. His remarks evoked gasps and guffaws and led to angry discussions the next day.
On a lighter note, after the Ambassador’s talk, we were treated to a live performance of Saul Rubinek’s play All In the Telling, a captivating tale of growing up in a survivor family.
Then the real party began, with 3G DJ Jazzy Gold spinning phat beats, followed by an all-night rager on the third floor.
Monday morning we said our goodbyes to friends old and new. We plan to see each other again, and hopefully some of you, at next year’s conference in Paris.
If you’re curious about what other sessions and activities occurred during the meeting, you can see the full program here: https://www.holocaustchild.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2024-CONFERENCE-PROGRAM.pdf
