And for that, the American Society for Yad Vashem honored THR’s Janice Min and Lynne Segall with the Vanguard Award at its third annual benefit gala, a Salute to Hollywood, held June 6 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.
It was an inspirational evening in which the spirit of the survivors always took center stage. Two of those featured, Hollywood producers Meyer Gottlieb and Branko Lustig, were honored with the Legacy Award and philanthropist David Weiner received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society for Yad Vashem.
The organization, which is dedicated to advancing the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority in Jerusalem, along with the Jewish Life Foundation, which funds educational and cultural programs on Jewish life television, raised more than $600,000 during the gala.
American-Israeli actor Mike Burstyn emceed the ceremonies before an audience of 350 guests. He noted the fact that June 6 is a significant date, the anniversary of D-Day – the beginning of the end of World War II – in 1944. He also noted the many documentaries and films that have been made about the Holocaust since 1945 including “Sophie’s Choice,” “Schindler’s List” and last year’s “Son of Saul,” which bring the lessons learned to new generations and help safeguard the memory of those who witnessed the atrocities firsthand.
Elissa and Edward Czuker, chairs of the event, said it is their duty, especially as the number of survivors are dwindling, to protect their memories– but that the duties and responsibilities of that rest with all of us.
Yad Vashem’s approach is to tell one story at a time, with dignity, and the gala’s presenters and honorees exemplified that mission.
In his invocation, Rabbi David Baron noted that Primo Levi said that monsters exist but more dangerous are common people who stand idly by when they see evil. “Our duty and moral obligation is not to stand by,” he said.
Actor Tony Goldwyn, who currently stars as U.S. president Fitzgerald Grant on ABC’s “Scandal,” introduced honoree Meyer Gottlieb, who has been a partner of Tony’s father Samuel Goldwyn since the mid-1970s.
“He has never failed to speak out so that sacrifices are not lost to the sands of time. He is dedicated to affecting change in the world, so that the power of love and tolerance can subdue evil,” Goldwyn said. “”He’s been a mentor, confidant and friend who has been a champion of artists.”
Gottlieb, a child survivor of the Holocaust spoke about how proud he was to have partnered with Samuel Goldwyn, Jr. for 40 years. “For child survivors like me the heroes are the moms and dads who sacrificed everything for us. My dad died when I was four years old,” Gottlieb said, and told how he was in a displaced persons camp for 4 ½ years after the war before coming to Los Angeles and living “the American dream.”
Jeffrey Katzenberg presented Min and Segall with their honor. “Lynne and Janice have challenged us to do better and to be better through this article, which shines a bright light so that we will not forget these stories,” he said. “They have also redefined what a business journal can be.”
Along with Min and Segall, THR editor Peter Flax spoke movingly about the project, which also included videotaping all the subjects. “Hearing these stories is an experience I’ll never forget. They illuminate the deep truths of the past and the future with intimate details. Everyone understands the power of this and it’s thrilling to share with such a large audience,” he said.
Lustig, who produced “Schindler’s List” for Steven Spielberg,” told the audience he was just back from Montenegro where he spent time speaking to students about the Holocaust so they will “never forget.” Lustig’s life story includes celebrating his bar mitzvah at the age of 78 at Auschwitz – in front of the barracks where he was imprisoned at the time he was 13 years old.
As a child, David Wiener lived in the Polish ghetto of Lodz before being transported Auschwitz. He was rescued by American soldiers three weeks before the war ended and arrived in the US in 1946 with just $2 in his pocket.
The evening ended on an inspirational note as it was revealed that Wiener had just gotten married the day before and that it was his birthday. The ballroom sang to him, as he smiled from the stage.
