Holocaust survivor to speak – May 9th
The Summit Old Guard
Of the 1.6 million Jewish children who lived in Europe before World War II, only 100,00 survived the Holocaust. Most were hidden children. Separated from her parents in July 1942, 6-year old Maud Dahme and her 4-year old sister, Rita, were hidden from the Nazis by Christian families in the Netherlands. Dahme will share with the Summit Old Guard her wartime experiences, as well as her reunion with her parents, immigration to the United States at age 14, and serving as a Holocaust education advocate.
“I think the greatest gift that was given me was to be alive,” said Dahme in an interview with the Huffington Post. Dahme went on to explain the significance of genocide education and the importance of emphasizing the efforts of people who hid, protected, and rescued Jewish people with no concern for their own safety. “I think it’s very important to remember that it was a time in history when millions of people died and only because of their religion. But there’s also the other side of the story, which is how many people cared and were willing to risk their lives to save Jews and anyone else.”
Dahme was inducted in the New Jersey Hall of Fame as one of the state’s Unsung Heroes in 2014. She served as president of the New Jersey State Board of Education and has spent much of her time speaking to students and adults about her experiences during World War II. Dahme’s story was published in a 2015 memoir entitled “Chocolate, The Taste of Freedom.” The memoir was co-written and edited by Maryann McLoughlin of Stockton University’s Sara & Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource center.
Dahme will speak at the Summit Old Guard’s weekly meeting on Tuesday, May 9th at 10 a.m. in the Parish Hall of the New Providence Presbyterian Church, 1307 Springfield Ave., New Providence, NJ. This presentation is open to guests and prospective new members, who are also invited to enjoy coffee and conversation at a social reception starting at 9:15 a.m.
About the Summit Old Guard: The Old Guard of the Summit NJ area was founded in 1930 with the purpose of providing retired business and professional men with good fellowship and activities. Men from throughout the broader Summit area gather on Tuesday mornings to hear from interesting speakers on a broad range of topics. The 270+ members may also choose to participate in various activities/interest groups, including bocce, golf, fishing, books, chess, financial & investment, sports forum, timely topics, and weekday lunches. Prospective new members are always welcome to attend a Tuesday morning meeting to learn more about the organization. See also summitoldguard.org.
