Dear Members and Friends,

Welcome to the year 5786. If you celebrated the High Holidays, I hope it was a meaningful observance. For me, this time of year is an opportunity to reflect on the past year and to remember deceased family members and preserve their memories. As a Holocaust Association, it is a time to remember events that took place during the Shoah.

• Here are some events that took place around this season: In late September of 1941, the Nazi Einsatzgruppen murdered almost 34,000 Jews at Babyn Yar (Babi Yar) on the outskirts of Kyiv. The ravine continued to be used as an execution site for another two years, mostly for Jews but also for prisoners of war and other regime-perceived enemies. The exact number of dead is not known.
• Around Rosh Hashana in 1943, the Jews of Denmark were warned that the Nazis were planning a deportation action. The Danish Resistance, with the aid of many local civilians, assisted most of the Jews in escaping by sea to neutral Sweden. More than 7000 Jews were saved. As a result, the number of Jews killed during the Holocaust in Denmark was less than 100. It’s the lowest death toll of Jews in any of the Nazi occupied countries.

Stay tuned for information about our January 2026 International Holocaust Remembrance Day event which is related to the rescue of the Danish Jews. In the meantime, a sweet and peaceful new year to all.

Shana Tova,

Eva

evaflaster.pha@gmail.com

Donations

We are grateful for your generous support

For Café Europa 

Jeff Cain

Charlotte Adelman 

A Tribute to PHA 

Jeff Chasan

Cheryl and Phillip Jalowiec

In Memory of Asher Ben Alter Y"Chiel

Helaine Wasser 

Hilton Family Holocaust Education Center in Honor of Rose Schwartz's Birthday

Karen Perna

A Tribute to PHA in Honor of Sheryl Bronkesh's Birthday

Eva Flaster

Hilton Family Holocaust Education Center in Honor of Sheryl Bronkesh's Birthday

Carol Dresner

Karen Perna

PHA is supported by a grant from the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix.PHA’s Holocaust Education Initiatives are supported by a grant from the Molly Blank Fund.

Condolences

Condolences to the family Benjamin Lesser. Benjamin was a Holocaust survivor and founder of The ZACHOR Holocaust Remembrance Foundation. Benjamin died on September 23 at the age of 96. 
May his memory be a blessing.

Speakers Bureau

Holocaust survivor Dirk Van Leenen shared his powerful testimony with an audience of over 80 attendees at the Payson Public Library, offering a moving reminder of the importance of remembrance and education.

In September, educator and PHA board member Ashley Crose welcomed two impactful guest speakers to his Holocaust/Genocide Studies class at Saguaro High School: 3G speaker Adena Bernstein and Holocaust survivor Rise Stillman. Their powerful stories brought history to life for students and deepened their understanding of the Holocaust.

To request a speaker: https://phxha.com/educate/#speakers-bureau

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