Frank Mission Project Benefits Survivors

The Frank Leadership Mission alumni group and the Holocaust Survivor Support Fund of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta held a family event Dec. 11 to make fleece blankets as Chanukah presents for Holocaust survivors.

The Frank family and Federation created the Frank Leadership Mission to engage the next generation of community leaders by inspiring a love of Israel and encouraging action as catalysts for local change.

HSSF is a community partnership created to meet the financial, health and social service needs of local Holocaust survivors. The initiative engages community volunteers in social activities on behalf of survivors. The connections with volunteers help survivors recognize that they are special parts of the community.

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Sixty people, more than half of them children, participated in the fleece blanket event Dec. 11.

Survivor Helen Weingarten greeted volunteers. She shared her story and explained that she survived after the Holocaust because Americans were so good to her.

“It was amazing to watch all the kids’ faces as they paid close attention to everything Helen said,” said Craig Kornblum, a Frank Leadership Mission alumnus. “It was lovely to get the Frank group together in this meaningful way.”

Paul Nozick added, “This was an incredible opportunity to introduce my children to Holocaust survivors and then be able to help them with a tangible project.”

While the families made 120 cozy fleece blankets in 90 minutes, younger children made Chanukah cards to include with the blankets.

“The event made my day,” teenager Sabrina Leftoff said. “This was something special for me to be part of.”

Isaac Frank said that making the blankets was fun, “but knowing who they were going to really warmed my soul. This engagement opportunity created by HSSF for the Frank family was a wonderful partnership opportunity that all participants treasured.”

The blankets were delivered to Jewish Family & Career Services to distribute to survivors at a Chanukah program and hand out to other survivors served by JF&CS and Jewish Home Life Communities.

To get volunteer with or donate to HSSF, contact Susan Moray at 404-870-7690 or smoray@jewishtatlanta.org, or visit JewishAtlanta.org/holocaustsurvivorsupportfund.