Jewish Community News

Obituaries: May 2008

Obituaries

Ruth Reischer, a Holocaust survivor and founding member of Congregation Sinai, died on March 31
By Rabbi Josh Berkenwald

     Ruth Kacenelenbogen Reischer was born in Warsaw before the war.  Her childhood was full of sweet memories. She and her younger sister, Helena, attended private schools, where Ruth was an excellent student.  Their home was an observant one, and Ruth remembered attending synagogue regularly with her family.  One memory that Ruth would fondly recall was when her nursemaid would take her to a neighborhood deli, and she would get to dip her hand in the pickle barrel.  Ruth especially liked the summers, when she would go with her family to a villa in the country, where the housekeepers would spoil her and her sister with their favorite delicacies.
     As a child, Ruth liked to be at the center of things.  When her sister Helena was born, if Ruth did not feel that she was getting enough attention, she would let everyone know it.  And so Ruth’s mother, Sala, astutely reminded her friends who would come to visit to ignore the new baby and to instead bring presents for Ruth.
       To this day, Ruth’s daughter Sandy gives her grandmother’s advice to her friends: “ignore the baby, spoil the older sibling.”
     Ruth’s idyllic childhood came to a tragic end when the Nazis invaded Poland at the beginning of World War Two.  She and her family were forced to move into the Warsaw Ghetto, where they suddenly found themselves living the opposite of the comfortable lifestyle that they had previously known.  In the ghetto, those who were able to work would be sent out during the daytime and brought back at night.  Ruth and her father were among those who were forced to work as slaves for the Nazis, while her younger sister and mother stayed behind.  It was only a matter of time before the day arrived when Ruth returned from her work detail, but was not joined by her dad.
    Some time later, the Gestapo came and lined everyone up.  Those who were thought to be strong were placed in one line to work, and those who looked too old or too young were sent to the other line.  Ruth’s mother, whose hair had prematurely grayed, tried to find a scarf with which to cover her head, but was unable to do so in time.  And so, Ruth was separated from her mother and sister.  For the rest of her life, Ruth remembered the images of her younger sister Helena leaving the Ghetto with her mother.  That was the last time that Ruth saw her family alive.  As they marched away into the distance, a bomb exploded, killing Helena.  Ruth did not find out for certain that her mother had died until after the war.
    Now, Ruth was alone.
    One day, a non-Jewish family entered the ghetto, put a mink coat on Ruth, and told her to hold her head up high as they walked out of the ghetto.  With her bright blue eyes and dark brown hair, Ruth managed to escape unnoticed.  The family managed to get papers for Ruth, and after two weeks, she escaped from Poland into Germany as Alexandria Valefsky.
     Ruth found a job working in an ammunition factory.  There was no way that she was going to help the Nazi war effort, and so she and six others plotted to sabotage the plant.  Although they succeeded, Ruth was caught and sent to prison.  A strikingly beautiful woman, Ruth was subjected to the most disgusting jobs by the jealous warden who particularly had it in for her.
     During an air raid late in the war, Ruth escaped from the prison, running out the front door.  She ran and ran until she finally came to a church.  The door was locked, but Ruth managed to find a corner in which to hide.  Some nuns discovered her, and they helped her with food, water, and blankets for a few days until she was finally liberated by American soldiers.
     How does a person who has lost so much   – her entire family, everything she owned – and gone through such physical and emotional anguish, begin again?  It is impossible for us, who have not experienced such things, to know, or understand.  Some survivors did not recover from the horrors that they went through, and were unable to pick up the pieces.
      But not Ruth.  She had an inner strength that enabled her to not only survive the war, but to thrive afterwards.  Of course, one can never forget the past, and Ruth was haunted for the rest of her life with the memories of the sister and parents who were taken from her, and the childhood in Warsaw that was interrupted.  Although she did not speak much about her experiences, they would sometimes come out in other ways – and this could be difficult for her daughters René and Sandy, who often did not understand why their mother was upset until she finally said “it’s because I’m remembering what I went through.”
     The High Holy Days were an especially difficult season for Ruth, coming close to the time when she lost her mother and sister.  Awash with memories, she would sit in synagogue and cry, particularly during the Yizkor service on Yom Kippur.
     After the war, Ruth was taken to a Displaced Persons camp in Munich.  It was there that she met Michael, with whom she discovered she had much in common.         
     They had lived close to each other in Warsaw before the war, and they had known some of the same people.  Michael was also a survivor, having been through seven different concentration camps.  They were married, and before long, René was born.  After waiting several years for a visa, they finally emigrated to the United States in 1949, coming by ship through New Orleans.  The young family came straight to San Jose, where Ruth had a cousin.  They arrived with $13, and Michael, a chemical engineer with a university degree, got a job as a janitor.  During evenings, however, he would mix potions in the bathtub, promising Ruth that one day it would restore their fortunes.  Michael eventually opened up a business as a private brand labeler, and Ruth would help out in the office.  And in that way, after having each lost their entire families, and the life that they had known – they built a new family, and a new life, together in San Jose.
    Ruth and Michael were among the founding members of Congregation Sinai.  She always felt connected to the shul and the Sisterhood, and she especially had close relationships with its Rabbis.  In the early years, she and Michael were very supportive of Rabbi Twersky, leading the effort, for example, to collect money to buy Rabbi Twersky a car.  In more recent years, Ruth would spend long hours with Rabbi Eitan Julius, whom she would call “Rabbi Gorgeous.”  He would refer to her as the “Princess of Warsaw.”
    Ruth was an outgoing person – funny, social, opinionated, and never afraid to say what she thought, whether her opinion was welcome or not.
   She had a close circle of friends, with many of whom she played Bridge and Duplicate Bridge.  She was a patron of the arts, serving on boards of directors for the Symphony and the Opera.  She loved to dance, attend plays, and entertain friends in her home.  She and Michael also loved to travel – they went around the world, visiting Israel, and countries all over Europe and Asia.
     Ruth lost Michael, her husband of fifty three years, in 1999.  A couple of years ago, Dr Art Messinger, who with his late wife had been long-time friends of Ruth and Michael, began to spend a lot of time with Ruth.  They found comfort and companionship with each other, laughing and joking, and traveling.  Ruth introduced Art, who was initially reluctant, to the symphony and the opera.  And he taught her a new card game called Spite and Malice that pulled her away, if only for a little bit, from her Bridge.
     Ruth will be remembered by her daughters: René and Sandy, along with Sandy’s husband Lance.  Her grandsons Aaron and Adam, and her great-grandchildren Logan, Michael, and Quinten.  And, of course, her loving companion Art.
    From the other side, Ruth will miss her friends and family as much as they will miss her.
    Yehi Zichra Baruch – May her memory be a blessing.

Linda Blauner Klein
Linda Blauner Klein died on April 13, at the age of 59, after a four-year battle with pancreatic cancer. She was the former executive director of Temple Emanu-El (2000-2002). Linda treasured her time studying with Rabbi Leslie Alexander and enjoyed music and photography, especially flowers and butterflies, on her world travels. Linda is survived by her partner of eight years, Deborah Zimmer, sister Audrey Blauner of New York, sons Adam Klein (Washington, DC) and David Klein (London), and many friends who will remember her brilliant mind and fabulous smile. The funeral was held on April 16 in White Plains, New York. 

Marian Wisnia, nee Goldenberg
Marian Wisnia, nee Goldenberg, died of leukemia at the age of 92 on March 27. A native of San Franciscan, she spent many years in the jewelry manufacturing business, first working for Granat Brothers and in later years alongside her husband.
     A member of Hadassah, Guardians Chapter of the City of Hope Auxiliary, and B’nai B’rith Women, Marian was the consummate volunteer, serving in many leadership roles.  Additionally she served as room mother, Blue Bird leader, BBG advisor, and PTA leader. She volunteered at the Reutlinger Center, formerly the Jewish Home for Parents.
    Using her sewing, knitting, crocheting, needle working and crafts skills, Marian created many lovely and useful items including caps for children undergoing cancer treatment at Lucille Packard Hospital at Stanford and for newborns at Kaiser in South San Francisco. She was also a gifted artist whose work now adorns the walls of her children’s and grandchildren’s homes.
    Marian moved to San Jose in 2005 and   immediately joined Congregation Shir Hadash where she spread her sunshine to all who met her. She became everyone’s “Nane Wisnia” as young and old were captivated by her cheerful smile and friendly manner. She loved everyone and they loved her back.
     Marian, the wife of the late Morris Wisnia, will be missed by her children, Jan Rose, Penny Pickens and David Wisnia (Susie), as well as her grandchildren, Jeff Rose, Kimberly Hassing-Allen (Robert), Rob Hassing (Cheryl), Jason Hassing (Jennifer), Ted Rose (Shannon), Trish McCauley, Joan Picken, Stephanie Worthington (Tom Chavez), Noah Wisnia and Kristy Wisnia. She is also survived by eighteen great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
    Donations in Marian Wisnia’s memory may be made to Congregation Shir Hadash, 20 Cherry Blossom Lane, Los Gatos, CA 95032 or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 675 N. First Street, Suite 1100, San Jose, CA 95112.

Helen
Zimmerman

Helen Zimmerman, who was the oldest living member of Temple Emanu-El, died peacefully at Kaiser Santa Clara on April 22 from heart and kidney failure.
  Zimmerman was lucid and engaged in life up until her death. At 101, she participated in weekly Mah Jongg and Bridge  games and lunched regularly  with friends. Unable to drive, she dressed herself in elegant suits and arranged for Outreach vans to transport her to and from her social engagements. Friends and even doctors often asked her what her secret was for staying so healthy and active. Her answer was that she remained open to change and learning new things,  including  how to get driving directions off the Internet.
     Zimmerman moved to the San Jose area with her husband Jack in 1933 and joined Temple Emanu-El almost immediately. She was active in the community during the war years and eventually spearheaded many fundraising activities for the sisterhood, including the well-known Drama Group which helped raise money to buy the temple’s first piano as well as the chairs for the bimah.”  Zimmerman co-chaired the temple’s 100th anniversary celebration in 1961, then co-wrote and narrated the musical tribute at its 135th celebrated in 1996. She also served as  president of the Temple Emanu-El sisterhood and Hadassah.
    “She was so well liked by people, she was constantly getting cards from people saying thank you for being my mentor,” said her son Bob Zimmerman. “A lot of people thought of her as their mentor including myself and my three kids.” Zimmerman is survived by son Bob Zimmerman, daughter-in-law Joan Zimmerman, grandchildren Loren Zimmerman (Julie), Perry Zimmerman (Elise) and Leslie Zimmerman, and  great-grandchildren Christian Zimmerman. Donations in Helen’s memory can be made to Temple Emanu-El religious school.