Holocaust heroine faced terror with life and love

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During a ceremony for a survivor of one of the darkest chapters in history, Riverdale’s Rabbi Avi Weiss took the guest of honor’s hand for a joyful ritual.

After Berta Davidovitz Rubinsztejn, 92, got on her feet, the Holocaust survivor and spiritual leader danced in front of a packed auditorium at The Riverdale Y on Nov. 6.

“You are the life of the party, Berta,” said Rabbi Weiss. “You, who grew up surrounded by darkness and death, your response was life. Your response was love.” 

Ms. Rubinsztejn, who lives in Riverdale, received a Jewish Rescuers Citation award for her heroic efforts during World War II in German-occupied Hungary. The honor is for Jewish Holocaust survivors who worked to rescue fellow Jewish people during the war. 

Audience members included Meir Brand, 77. In 1944, Ms. Rubinsztejn rescued a 7-year-old Mr. Brand from the streets of Budapest, where he was sleeping under bridges and scavenging for food while posing as a Polish refugee to avoid being sent to a concentration camp. 

“I am standing here only because of you, Berta,” said Mr. Brand, 77, who credited Ms. Rubinsztejn for the happiness he has experienced in life with his wife, three children and nine grandchildren.

“Here is my adopted son,” Ms. Rubinsztejn replied as Mr. Brand spoke at a podium. 

Life-and-death struggle

After fleeing from Poland to Nazi-occupied Hungary with her family, Ms. Rubinsztejn, like Mr. Brand, hid her Jewish identity, wearing a crucifix around her neck.

Under this guise, she was able to help resistance efforts, smuggling weapons and planning operations with other members of the Zionist youth movement Habonim Dror. 

In 1944, Ms. Rubinsztejn helped secure spots for Mr. Brand, herself and about 20 Jewish children on the Kastner Train, named for Rudolf Kastner, a Jewish-Hungarian man who helped found the Budapest Aid and Rescue Committee. The organization worked to smuggle Jewish people out of occupied countries. 

Avi Weiss, The Riverdale Y, Berta Davidovitz Rubinsztejn, Jewish Rescuers Citation, Holocaust, Maya Rajamani
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