The Next Generations — Association of Jews of Vilna and vicinity in Israel

We are the second generation/ Mickey Kantor

On a hot summer's evening in 2003, in a private garden, we - about twenty members of the second generation of survivors from Vilna and the vicinity - decided to take a stand and act upon it.

What did we have then? An organization (founded in 1946) of Holocaust survivors who had arrived in Israel, settled down to earn a livelihood; there was a "Bet Vilna" in Tel Aviv where our parents would meet occasionally at cultural, social and memorial events. In addition, we had our own personal experiences that had accumulated over the years within our families under the shadow of memories and the sixty years that have passed since the Holocaust.

Looking at the situation realistically, we saw our parents – the Holocaust generation – growing older and frailer. With the knowledge that the organization, its house, institutions and activities were declining with time and that, in a short time, there would be nobody left to say "I was there, I personally experienced the Holocaust ", we set out on a ten-year voluntary path motivated only by love, fraternity and pride.

Thus began ten years of indefatigable activity, a combination of devotion to the cause, personal professional experience, individual skills, personal contacts and various connections between different members of the team who contributed endless hours, physical and emotional strength and money to the project.

During those ten years we took responsibility for our role in the chain of generations, transferring the flame creatively with an honest desire to fulfill the task we had taken upon ourselves.

For ten years we have worked hand-in-hand with the veteran members of the board who support, encourage and strengthen our endeavors.

Mickey Kantor's open letter to the Second Generation that was sent in 2003:

My name is Mickey Kantor. I am the daughter of Hanna'le Pesanzon (Gluckzam) and I am "second generation".

As you all know, 60 years have passed since the liberation of the Vilna Ghetto, an act that brought our parents to Israel and us to what we are today.

For those 60 years they rehabilitated themselves, each at his own pace, settled down and started families, while grabbing at life with all their strength and might while we children, within the four walls of our homes, experienced the repercussions of their difficult traumas

Throughout all that time we have been involved in an interminable process of absorption and internalization with all the accompanying emotions. Some of us still have some sort of involvement with the community of survivors (remember the "Roots" trip 10 years ago) and a few of us even turn up at memorials and meetings.

However, time races by and biology takes its toll….

The members of the board of Vilna residents are also getting tired of holding the fort. About a year ago, Michael Shemyavitz, a member of the board, approached me about an administrative issue that had arisen; when the issue was resolved I was asked to join the board as the representative of the second generation. I am writing this letter to you from a deep sense of purpose.

I have recently joined the team organizing the important event to mark 60 years since the liberation of the Vilna Ghetto, which will take place in September, 2003. I did so not only because I wanted to help but also to generate excitement for the invitees, thinking that for many of our parents it would also serve as closure…ever since then I have been committed to the event.

At this point I decided to take an irrational step, to make contact via a personal letter and to approach each and every one of you of the 90 members of second generation, to raise awareness, to delve into your emotions and consider our commitment to what is to be called –"Vilna –the fraternity of the second generation".

There are two missions we would like to accomplish:

• The short-term mission – to produce an event with all its component parts that will reach emotional heights and the warmest corners of our parents' hearts as a gesture of appreciation and love at this stage of their lives.
• The long-term mission: to brainstorm and decide if we want to keep our roots and our heritage from "Jerusalem of Lithuania" alight on a modest back burner or will we let these important values vanish into the mist of time? Can we do it for the sake of the house, the library and the heritage? How (if at all) is it possible and what can we do to contribute to the strengthening of the historical thread that connects our children, our grandchildren and their descendants?

You are hereby invited, from wherever you may be today, to join us in this undertaking to enrich and guarantee the success of the 60^th anniversary event: suggestions, computer presentations, a performance, a reading, a book of memoirs, flowers, refreshments, electronic effects, the media and anything else you can think of.

Please devote a few more minutes to think about this opportunity that we of the second generation have, to contribute, to show our appreciation and our love at this unique event. Think about what such an exciting evening means to our beloved parents. What an experience it will be for you and where it will take you as an individual and all of us as the next generation. Should we opt to ignore this golden opportunity that will not return? We may regret it in the future.

Please, consider this request seriously, free up an hour or two from your daily routine – for the sake of the future, and ……join us.