|
בס"ד
LEAH (Buimaz) KAUFMAN, M.A. (Jewish Studies)
Elazar Hamodai 6/2, Betar Illit 90500
Tel/fax: +972-2-572-5503 email: morahleah@013.net.il
http://www.liveremembertell.com
The voice of a Hidden Child Survivor of Transnistria
Life Profile
Born in Hertza (Herţa), Romania, in 1932, after living through unimaginable horrors, Leah Kaufman, at the age of nine and a half, became the sole survivor of her parents and six siblings. In 1948, the Canadian Jewish Congress brought her to Canada where she continued her education, married, raised three sons, and became an exceptionally productive teacher and member of the Jewish community. In 1999 Leah and her husband Mark made aliyah to Israel where Leah is continuing her service to the Jewish community and to her family as grandmother of 22 and great-grandmother of 1.
Educational Background
|
1975
|
MA, Jewish Studies, Concordia University, Montreal,
|
|
1973
|
BA, History, Loyola University, Montreal
|
|
1950
|
Teacher of Hebrew, Yiddish, and Jewish heritage and culture, Hebrew Teachers Seminary, Montreal
|
Teaching Experience
|
1983-99
|
Ladies’ Shabbat Torah Class, Beth Zion Congregation Montreal
|
|
1997-99
|
Torah class for seniors, Camp B’nai Brith of Montreal Golden Age Association
|
|
1965-97
|
Jewish People and Peretz Parochial Schools, Montreal,
|
|
1961-68
|
Founding Teacher of Beth Zion Junior Congregation, Montreal
|
|
1954-57
|
Young Israel Synagogue Day School, Montreal
|
|
1985-57
|
Young Israel Synagogue Afternoon School, Montreal (Founding Teacher)
|
|
1958-61
|
Jewish Peoples and Peretz Parochial Schools, Montreal
|
|
1951-53
|
Adath Israel, Outremont, Montreal
|
|
1953-54
|
Borochov School, Toronto
|
Committee Member
|
1999
|
Vice President, Association of Romanian Jews
|
|
1992-99
|
Hidden Child Survivors Committee, Education Committee Executive Member,
Board of Governors, Holocaust Memorial Center, Montreal
|
|
1991
|
Met with UN representative of Human Rights Commission in Ottawa as Vice Vice President of Romanian Holocaust Survivors Association
|
|
1968-76
|
Board of Directors, Jewish Peoples and Peretz Schools
|
Honors
|
2007-
|
Lifetime Honorary President, Romanian Survivors of the Holocaust in Transnistria
|
|
1999
|
Outstanding Canadian Holocaust Survivor Lifetime Achievements and Contributions to Canadian Life, Canadian House of Parliament, Ottawa (One of 50 Canadian Holocaust survivors honored on the 50th anniversary of the Human Rights Commission and of the birth of the state of Israel)
|
|
1998
|
Honorary Lifetime Member, Montreal Holocaust Memorial Centre
|
|
1994
|
J.J. Segal Award for excellence in Jewish Education, Montreal
|
|
1993
|
Inaugural Eshes Chayil Award, Beth Zion Congregation, Montreal
|
|
1992
|
Torah Award, Beth Zion Congregation, Montreal
|
|
1986
|
Exemplary Contributor to Synagogue Activities, Beth Zion Congregation, Montreal
|
Published
|
2005
|
“Live, Remember, Tell the World” the Story of Leah Kaufman, Hidden Child Survivor of Transnistria, ISBN 1-57819-671-X, Mesorah ArtScroll, on January 27, the same day that Auschwitz was liberated sixty years previously.
|
|
2007
|
Hebrew translation of “Live, Remember, Tell the World”, Mesorah ArtScroll
|
Citations
|
2007
|
"Leah K., Hiding on the Run: Perspectives of Child Survivors", "Shards of Memory – Narratives of Holocaust Survival", Professor Yehudi Lindenman, Praeger, Westport, Connecticut London
|
|
2006
|
"On behalf of the children who were brutally murdered", Yated Ne'eman, December 22, (Hebrew daily for the haredi-orthodox community)
|
|
2005
|
“Breaks Her Silence". Only after 50 years did Leah Kaufman decide to break the wall of silence she had hidden behind all the years.” Mishpacha (Hebrew) weekly magazine, April 21, Issue 700
|
|
2005
|
“Live! Remember! Inspire the World! Mrs. Leah Kaufman fulfills her mother’s last wishes.” Mishpacha (English) weekly magazine, April 13, Issue 53
|
|
2004
|
Report on Mrs. Leah Kaufman’s being key note speaker, to a combined memorial of three Synagogues commemorating Yom Hashoah, Connections (A monthly magazine published in Beth Shemesh, Israel), May
|
|
2003
|
Interviewed by Romanian National TV for a documentary on Leah’s childhood experience during the Holocaust in Rumania and Transnistria
|
|
2003
|
Appears in the documentary “RELENTLESS" reporting on the Infidada from the “Israeli Jerusalem perspective” by Honest Reporting (first edition)
|
|
2005
|
"The Death March" and readers' comments, Holocaust Studies section, http://www.aish.com/holocaust/people/The_Death_March.asp
|
|
2005
|
"Opening My Memory Vault" and readers' comments, Holocaust Studies section, http://www.aish.com/holocaust/people/Opening_My_Memory_Vault.asp
|
|
2002
|
Supplement published on behalf of Clifton College, Bristol, UK. Re Leah’s speaking on “From near death to life”, The Jewish Chronicle, London, May 10
|
|
1997
|
Annual Commemoration of “Transnistria the Forgotten Cemetery”, Front Page Interview by Mark Abley, The Montreal Gazette, September 28
|
|
1995
|
Ten survivors interviewed on the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau by the Red Army, The Montreal Gazette, January 28
|
Speaking engagements.
Leah gives her presentations in English, Hebrew, Yiddish and/or Romanian.
Leah has spoken in Montreal and Toronto in Canada, in the United States in New York and also in Memphis where she was keynote speaker for the Jewish Communities Annual Holocaust Memorial Service.
In Jerusalem, Yad Vashem, Synagogues Yeshivot, Seminaries, and hotels, Aish HaTorah, Discovery, Birthright, Israeli Army and Air Force, Safed, Bet Shemesh, and Ashdod.
In June, 2007 Leah was honored as keynote speaker at the 67th annual commemoration of the Dorohoi pogrom by the Romanian Survivors of the Holocaust in Transnistria
In July, 2007 Leah was jointly brought to London, UK, by the Kinloss Learning Centre, Finchley Synagogue, and by Aish HaTorah, for a speaking tour. Leah spoke in seven Jewish schools. Leah was the keynote speaker on Erev Tisha B'av for Aish HaTorah, and for the Kinloss Learning Centre on Motzaei Tisha B'av.
In 2002 and 2004 Leah was brought to England for two, two weeks speaking tours
In London, Synagogues, Jewish Schools, and Universities and private homes.
Bristol Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and Oxford and Cambridge Universities
Leah has spoken to over150 audiences in Canada, USA, Puerto Rico and England, and to over 350 audiences in Israel.
|
