What Café Europa Means to Me

by Gina Lanceter

When I first saw an article in the Jewish News about Café Europa: The Holocaust Survivors Friendship Society, I immediately decided to join. A friend of mine, who is no longer with us, had her doubts but joined also. The first meeting, if I remember correctly, was in September 2001. We were a small group. My first thought was “will it work?” I wanted very much for Café Europa to succeed.

On November 27, 2001, we had a celebration in the beautiful Crystal Plaza sponsored by Jewish Family Service of MetroWest, the Blue Card, and UJC MetroWest, launching Café Europa with generous funding from the Health Care Foundation of New Jersey. Debbie and Allen Janoff graciously welcomed us to their beautiful facility and did their utmost to make this event memorable.

As I looked around the room, I saw how excited everyone was, including me. Yet thoughts entered my mind – why so late, why not years before? How many more survivors could have enjoyed this gathering? But, it was better late than never and was an uplifting occasion for those of us able to attend and the beginning of many good things to come.

We started to meet twice a month. Under the very capable leadership of Leah Kaufman and Susan Schechter, Café Europa flourished. We had many good programs, trips to museums and a weekend trip to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC. We thought of our loved ones and silently paid tribute to them. We shared our experiences with each other and also with students from the Solomon Schechter Day School and the Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy who we hope will remember and preserve the memory of the Holocaust into the future.

Our memoir group consisted of a smaller group of survivors willing to share their experiences in writing. Many of the essays they wrote moved me immensely. Some had humor in them and made us laugh; for the most part, the stories were sad and made me cry. But it was good to share our pain. The group felt very close, like a family. From those meetings, an anthology was created and printed and the second anthology should be coming out soon. I am very proud that I and others were able to contribute to this lasting legacy. Another group of participants created a beautiful quilt of memories that has been exhibited in many places. Strong friendships developed and a feeling of belonging grew both within these small groups and the larger Café Europa.

Although Leah left for another job, the very capable JFS staff — Susan, Karen, Suzanne, and Ann — has continued to make each Café Europa meeting an occasion to look forward to and enjoy. They are all very caring and compassionate. When I attend a meeting, I feel like we are a family, sharing good news and bad news, bonded together by a common background.

There are so many people to thank who have contributed to making Café Europa a reality. Martha Rich, a Holocaust survivor herself, first brought up the idea of having a place for survivors to meet. Unfortunately, she has been ill for several years and can no longer attend our gatherings. The staff of JFS, who so capably maintain and enrich Café Europa for us all. Ellin Cohen for her involvement, understanding, and generosity. They all make us feel welcome and valued. And more recently, we thank the late Lore Ross for the bequest that will allow us to maintain Café Europa into the future; we are very grateful for that and Café Europa is being renamed the Lore Ross Café Europa in her honor.

I would like to conclude with my personal thanks for this wonderful meeting place. It means more to me than I can express. I hope Café Europa will exist for many years to come and that all of us will be able to continue to attend and feel so close to one another.

Gina Lanceter is a Holocaust survivor and a member of the Lore Ross Café Europa, a program located at Temple Oheb Shalom, in South Orange, and conducted by Jewish Family Service of MetroWest, a UJC MetroWest beneficiary agency.

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