Holocaust Survivor Visitation Program in New York and Montreal

[Lovetsky Anna]

Never forget.
This mantra is the main message of the Holocaust, a testament to the bravery of all those who suffered and died as a result of Nazi rule, a safeguard to ensure that this part of history will never repeat itself.
Today, however, nearly 60 years later, aging Holocaust survivors must face an ironic fate: being forgotten. In theory, of course, the memory of the Holocaust is still very much alive. Media coverage on the subject is frequent, and museums and memorials dedicated to its victims can be found worldwide.
One cannot live on remembrances alone, however. As the population of Holocaust survivors becomes older, many of them are beginning to lose their physical strength and health. Some are physically incapable of taking care of themselves, or are financially unable to afford proper medical care and simple daily necessities. Perhaps worst of all, many are still psychologically haunted by the horrors of the concentration camps.
As with any aging population, many of their family members have moved away or become entrenched in their own hectic lives and are thus unable or unwilling to provide assistance. Often, their friends have become ill themselves or have passed on, leaving them with nowhere to turn.
Then Tzvi and Sheva Tauby decided to start an organization to help the survivors age with dignity and assuredly that the legacy of the Holocaust and its tremendous lessons would live on.
iVolunteer is a dynamic visitation program that sends volunteers to the homes of Holocaust survivors, providing them with companionship and much-needed assistance. Our volunteers are carefully matched with survivors who live nearby and share common interests. Through weekly visits, our volunteers build rewarding and enduring friendships with survivors. They are given the privilege of hearing extraordinary stories, and the inter-generational bonds that inevitably form ensure the experience of the Holocaust will not be forgotten.

In addition to providing assistance with shopping and personal organization, the volunteers read to survivors, accompany them on walks, and escort them to doctor visits. iVolunteer creates a sense of community by providing both our survivors and volunteers with social events and special programs. These programs include monthly Friday night dinners for our volunteers and luncheons for our survivors.
iVolunteer began in September of 2007 and already has a team of 40 volunteers consisting of professionals, businessmen and students visiting survivors in the city. This month, a branch of iVolunteer will open in Montreal Canada.
“We are very excited to open another branch of iVolunteer.” Says Co-Director Tzvi Tauby.
“For some survivors, our program is the only connection our seniors have to the outside world.”
iVolunteer is on contact with the aging survivor population. Plagued with chronic diseases and fear, many live alone in a small apartment in the city that they almost never leave.
Most of their income is from Social Security.
As such, clients is dependent on iVolunteer to provide them with dedicated volunteers who provide socialization and assistance with things like going on walks and communicating with some service providers such as her phone service.
Little can be done, however, to take away the pain caused by remembrances of life in the concentration camp. Not surprisingly, while most senior citizens experience a degree of depression, survivors often find themselves overcome by thoughts of their traumatic experiences.
As survivors, much of their depression also stems from guilt associated with the knowledge that, while their closest relatives and dearest friends were killed, they remained alive.
"I cry a lot for my family . . . I can't forget for a minute," Say a survivor named Ruth.
Co-Director Sheva Tauby has a personal relationship with every one of the 100 survivors that are a part of the program.
Every week, Tauby visits with the survivors in order to provide supportive counseling and assess the client’s well being, as new things always come up. Frank also coordinates social gathering for both the survivors and volunteers.
"I think the main thing is to make contact and develop a relationship, and let them know that we care about them and that we are here to help them," Tauby said of her agency's work with Holocaust survivors.
Because of survivors' unique experiences, another characteristic that distinguishes most of them is their strong desire to remain self-sufficient. However admirable, this trait also can be a detriment when help is truly needed to maintain their physical and emotional well-being.
Tauby has found that many survivors prefer to put the burden of care on their own shoulders.
"They as a whole are very independent by the very definition of their name -- survivors," Tauby
"More than anything," she said, "they wish to remain at home through their final years. They have been gypsies too long, and the thought of going to an institution is abominable. We will do everything we can to avoid that by providing them the services in the home that support them."
If you know of a Holocaust Survivor who would like to be a part of this program, or if you would like to volunteer for iVolunteer, please contact Tzvi or Elisheva Tauby at [phone], [e-mail]. If you are interested in learning about dedication opportunities or if you would like to partner with us in our new initiative, please contact us or visit our website www.ivolunteerny.com.