PURIM IS MARCH 13th/ SEND HAMENTASCHEN FOR PURIM
For those who celebrate Purim, which begins March 13th, or have family or friends who celebrate, the JFR is offering a Purim eCard. For a donation of $18 or more, you can send the eCard to fifteen email addresses. If you have any questions about the Purim eCard, please contact the JFR office at 973.736.1800. Click here to schedule your eCards in advance.
2025 EUROPEAN STUDY PROGRAM
An announcement for the 2025 European Study Program to the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark was emailed to all Lerner Fellows. Professor Robert Jan van Pelt will be our scholar. The dates of the Study Program are July 2 – 10, 2025. For application information, please click here.
CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL BILL FOR MASTER SGT. RODDIE EDMONDS
On Wednesday, February 19, 2025, JFR’s Executive Vice President, Stanlee Stahl, attended a luncheon in Washington, D.C. to mark the introduction of bipartisan legislation to award Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of his heroic actions during World War II. This medal is given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the security, prosperity, and national interest of the United States.
United States Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) introduced S. 262. Congressmen Tim Burchett (R-TN) and Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) introduced H.R. 921. The legislation is called the Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act. Before the bill can make it to committees for discussion, it requires the support of two-thirds of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Click here to view JFR’s award-winning documentary on Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds. You can read his story by clicking here.
MOURNING THE PASSING OF MARIAN TURSKI
The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous mourns the passing of Marian Turiski a close friend and colleague of The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous. Marian, a Holocaust survivor who became a journalist and historian in postwar Poland, passed away on Tuesday, February 18, at the age of 98. He was instrumental in the creation of the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw, a landmark institution that preserves and honors the legacy of Polish Jewry. Marian was a boyhood friend of Roman Kent, JFR’s Board President, until Roman’s passing in May 2021. Marian and Roman were in the Lodz ghetto, were deported to Auschwitz, and both survived a death march. Click here to read JFR’s announcement of Marian’s passing.
MOURNING THE PASSING OF ANDRZEJ SITKOWKSI
The JFR mourns the death of Andrzej Sitkowski, a Righteous Gentile from Poland. Andrzej who had been living in Germany for years died on February 14, at the age of 96. Andrzej and his mother, Helena, hid two Jewish girls, Hadassah and Marion and their mother, Bronislawa in Warsaw. They all survived the war. After the war, Marion went to the United Kingdom. Her two sons, David and Edward Miliband became leaders of the Labor Party in Great Britain. David was the Foreign Secretary of Great Britain from 2007 to 2010 and a member of Parliament from 2001 to 2013. He is currently president of the International Rescue Committee. His brother, Edward, has served as Great Britain's Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero since July 2024. He has been a Member of Parliament since 2005. Click here to read Andrzej’s story.
ALFRED LERNER FELLOW KIMBERLY COOMBS RECOGNIZED BY PALM BEACH FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIANS AND JEWS
Kimberly Coombs (Lerner Fellow 2022) received the 2025 John C. Randolph Award from the Palm Beach Fellowship of Christians and Jews on February 26, 2025. Kim was honored for her significant impact in promoting Holocaust education in Palm Beach County, Florida.
RECOGNIZING A JEWISH RESCUER – GILEL STORCH
The JFR is known for supporting and honoring Righteous Gentiles, Christians and Muslims, who risked their lives to save Jews during Holocaust. During the Holocaust there were Jews who helped saved Jewish lives. We wanted to share the story of Gilel (Hilel) Storch with you. Please click here to read his story.