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Amcha Footprints
July 30, 2003
RABBIS VISIT HOLOCAUST DEATH CAMP,
TEMPORARILY HALT DESECRATIONS
Camp archaeologist admits bones are everywhere
Amcha to Polish Government, AJC:
Stop Desecrating the Remains of Holocaust Victims
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Rabbis Avi Weiss and Shmuel Herzfeld witnessed first-hand the ongoing desecrations at the Belzec death camp in southeast Poland. "Our worst fears have been realized," stated a shaken Rabbi Weiss, National President of Amcha - The Coalition for Jewish Concerns. "The utter disregard for the remains of our brothers and sisters is both shameful and inexcusable. The desecrations taking place at Belzec are without parallel." Rabbis Weiss and Herzfeld arrived early Wednesday morning seeking to determine the extent of the desecrations taking place as a result of the trench being constructed at the site. Rabbi Weiss has long contended that the trench would disturb the ashes and bones of Holocaust victims covering the entire surface of the camp and further disturb the human remains that lie underneath. Upon entering the camp, the rabbis saw bones strewn throughout the camp, including in the path of the trench. "There was a large field and throughout this field there were literally bones everywhere. It is very hardto imagine. In fact I was there andI myself couldn't believe it," said Rabbi Herzfeld. "I kept seeing these small white shards which looked to me like they were small stones. But then the archaeologist of the camp came over and toldme that these white pieces were in fact bone shards. I said, 'These things are bones, but they are everywhere.' And, he answered me, 'Of course, the bones are everywhere in this field.'" Despite assurances from the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and project supervisor Rabbi Michael Schudrich that there wouldbe "strict rabbinic supervision" of the project, Rabbi Schudrich's designated on-site representative was not present while the work proceeded. Rabbi Herzfeld informed the site workers that they were rabbis and explained that the work desecrated the remains of Holocaust victims. The workers ceased digging and left the scene. The Belzec trench is a joint project between the Polish Government andthe AJC. Rabbi Weiss recently filed suit against the AJC seeking injunctive relief to stop the further construction of the trench. In addition, Amcha has calledupon a beitdin, or Jewish court, to adjudicate the dispute, and is awaiting the AJC's response. While Amcha whole heartedly supports a memorial at Belzec, the building of this trench does not bring honor to the memory of the victims, but rather desecration. Amcha calls upon the Polish Government, andmore importantly the American Jewish Committee, to stop these unspeakable and unnecessary desecrations immediately. A Monumental Failure at Belzec Part I By Avi Weiss April, 2003 Two weeks earlier: Friday, July 18th, OVER CONSTRUCTION OF TRENCH AT POLISH DEATH CAMP New York A prominent rabbi filed suit on Friday, July 18th, against the American Jewish Committee (AJC), seeking injunctive relief to stop construction of a trench that it is digging at the Belzec death camp in southeast Poland. This trench will disturb the ashes and bones of Holocaust victims that cover the entire surface of the camp and further disturb the human remains that lie underneath. The suit does not seek to stop any other aspect of the work at Belzec, much of which will have a positive effect on that site. The plaintiff, Amcha National President Rabbi Avi Weiss, lost seven members of his family at Belzec, including two aunts, two uncles and three cousins. Rabbi Weiss isa long-time activist in the preservation of Holocaust memory and, as editor of Haggadah for the Yom Hashoah Seder, a leader in efforts to create rituals to memorialize the Holocaust. Co-plaintiff RosaSacharin ofGlasgow, Scotland, believes her brother was murdered at Belzec. Rabbi Weiss and Ms.Sacharin are represented by Steven Lieberman, located at 1425 K Street NW, Washington, DC20005. In the process of building this trench, some of the worst desecrations of Holocaust victim remains have occurred. These desecrations are continuing today, said Rabbi Weiss. While we wholeheartedly support the effort to builda memorial at Belzec, the trench must be stopped. We mourn our brothers who were killed this week in Israel Evan Asa Ashcraft, 24, of West Hills, CA Jonathan Barnes, 21, of Anderson, MO Jonathan Cheatham, 19, of Camden, AR Nathaniel Hart Jr., 29, of Valdosta, GA Raheen Tyson Heighter, 22, of Bay Shore, NY William Maher III, 35, of Yardley, PA Heath McMillin, 29, of Canandaigua, NY Daniel Methvin, 22, of Belton, TX Hector Perez, 40, of Corpus Christi, TX Wilfredo Perez Jr., 24, of Norwalk, CT Juan Serrano, 31, of Manati, Puerto Rico |
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