Choosing Life at 100 Years
William S. always “chooses life.”Born in January 1921 in Łódź, Poland, William’s early life was fraught with challenges and sadness. His father passed away when William was very young. By the time he turned 19, his hometown of Łódź had become the largest ghetto in occupied Poland. His mother was murdered during a Nazi raid, and William lived in the ghetto until 1944 when he was deported to Auschwitz during the liquidation.From Auschwitz, he was transferred to work at an automobile factory. In 1945, as the Americans were closing in, he and the other workers at the factory were sent on a death march. Though he was grazed by a bullet in his back, William managed to narrowly escape. After the war, he reunited with his girlfriend, Irene Borenstein. They married in Berlin in 1946 and immigrated to the U.S. three years later.
This year, William celebrated his 100th birthday. Living in the Northeast during the COVID pandemic, it was unclear what kind of celebration would be possible. Being a very social person, he decided he would “cut a deal” with his home attendant.
William asked if she could help him coordinate a few visits – briefly and safely – to help him celebrate the momentous occasion. She agreed and a small group of people were contacted. Making the shortlist was his favorite social worker, Elisheva Lock, the Director of Connect2: Friendly Visiting for Holocaust survivors and Educational Coordinator at the Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island (JCCGCI)!
“I was thrilled to be invited to this very personal celebration,” Elisheva said. She described William as a “charismatic character” filled with spirit and emotion. “Despite the hardships he has endured in his life, he remains fiercely optimistic.” Elisheva continued. “His wife passed in 2010, he tragically lost his son 6 years ago, and his vision is deteriorating. But he is quick to explain that the Torah teaches us that we must choose life, and so William chooses life every day.”
William is greatly appreciative of all the services and socialization he receives through grants from the Claims Conference. He received emergency support and food through the Claims Conference COVID Emergency Fund. But his favorite services are those that keep him connected to his friends. He is an active and long-standing member of Club 2600 at JCCGCI, a Café Europa-like monthly club that has continued to meet virtually during the pandemic.
“I also appreciate when I receive phone calls and people are thinking of me,” William told Elisheva. “Especially because I cannot call on my own with my vision now; everything is just complicated.” Elisheva and her team deliver a weekly cake for Shabbat to William’s house. “I don’t need so much food,” he quipped, “but I like cake!”
Remarkably sharp for his age, Elisheva didn’t even realize how old he was when he would come to events at the JCCGCI’s Jay Harama Senior Center located next door to William’s home. At 100 years old, he is a beacon of hope and perseverance and fittingly his advice to future generations is of similar nature. He described the sense of helplessness he felt during the Holocaust and said, “We must be strong and stand up for ourselves nowadays and especially for Israel.”
On the occasion of a Holocaust survivor’s 100th birthday, the Claims Conference sends a letter to each survivor letting them know that we will ask their Senator to fly a flag over the U.S. Capital in their honor. The flag is then mailed to the survivor. A flag was flown in William’s honor in Washington D.C. and then mailed to him. It was a complete surprise to William when it arrived a few weeks after his birthday. He expressed his gratitude to Elisheva for the gesture and was proud to be honored in such a way.
The friendship between William, Elisheva and the entire JCCGCI team is an incredible reminder of how important the work we do is. We wish William a very happy birthday and bless him that he should continue to celebrate many more in good health and happiness.
