About 60 people gathered recently for the Greater East Montgomery County Chamber ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Holocaust Garden of Hope at King’s Harbor. The vision and purpose of the organization — beautifully articulated by Founder and Executive Director Rozalie Jerome — were very familiar to me, as I have had the privilege of watching the Holocaust Garden of Hope (and its parent educational organization, the Holocaust Remembrance Association) grow from Marches of Remembrance and other antisemitism awareness events since 2012. Today, however, Jerome ’s words impacted me more profoundly than usual. Standing with others, some of whom also knew the history of Jerome’s journey as the daughter of Hungarian Holocaust survivors hidden from the Nazis and Arrow Cross by Gentile Christians, it occurred to me that this particular gathering would never have been possible without the heroic decision made by those who chose to hide Jerome ’s parents. Standing in the crowd were Jerome ’s daughter, obstetrician Dr. Rachel Towns of Care for Women, who has devoted her life to helping women give birth; Re/Max agent Naomi Tonsul, whose investigation of property ownership ultimately led to Brad Freels’ decision to issue a property grant of easement in perpetuity for the Holocaust Garden of Hope at Kings Harbor; Jerome ’s sister, our friend and new member of our community; Jerome ’s husband Mitch, a local businessman and local congregational leader our community; numerous friends and colleagues we otherwise would never have met.
Original Article: https://www.ourtribune.com/life-2/suburban-living/26113-garden-of-hope-holds-opening-ceremony.html
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