The Y is dedicated to easing the lives of local Holocaust survivors — helping address their unique social, welfare, health, emotional, and nutritional needs.
Our goal is clear: Provide the critical services they need with dignity and respect. The pandemic created additional challenges for isolated Holocaust survivors, and our team of dedicated professionals made sure we provided these vital services and more. Right now, your end-of-year contribution will be doubled to deliver twice the critical services to Holocaust survivors who need them most.
Every survivor’s story inspires us to do everything we can to never forget all they endured and to now provide them with the best possible care.
When Eduard lost his wife of more than 50 years last month, he was devastated and had nowhere to turn. Without the financial resources to afford a funeral and burial, or any family or close friends to provide him emotional support, the Y stepped in — arranging to have the funeral service cost covered with the help of the Free Hebrew Burial Association and burial fees through the New York Times Neediest Cases Fund. The Y also arranged for a Russian-speaking volunteer to accompany him — connecting him with a rabbi, attending the funeral service, and bringing him back to his home in Washington Heights.
After surviving the 900-day Siege of Leningrad and eventually moving to Washington Heights, Ida thought her obstacles were behind her. Now 99 and having lost her husband at the beginning of the pandemic, she struggles with medical challenges, food insecurity, isolation, financial hardship, and PTSD from the War. Today, the Y ensures Ida knows she’s not alone — providing her with hot delivered meals, emergency financial assistance, transportation to medical appointments, and emotional support.
Minna, 97, rarely missed a day at the Y’s Center for Adults Living Well, where she enjoyed hot lunches and a Friday afternoon Shabbat group — until the coronavirus outbreak caused the City to close senior centers. But, the Y’s staff continued to make sure Minna still got all the care she needed, from hot kosher meals to regular phone calls. Even her Shabbat group continued to meet by phone to help Minna and her friends feel connected.
Every dollar donated to the Y — up to $50,000 — through the end of December will be matched by a generous special year-end matching gift from UJA-Federation of New York. Together, we can fulfill our commitment to provide hope and care for local Holocaust survivors who continue to experience financial and emotional hardships.
The Y is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your contribution may entitle you to additional tax-deduction benefits under the CARES Act.
Make a gift now to help our Holocaust survivors.
