Jewish Family Service - Cincinnati

"It turned your heart." For Holocaust Survivors Day, we asked Lisa MacVittie, where she gets meaning in her life today. This Holocaust survivor fled Berlin in 1939 as a 6-year-old with polio for Shanghai, then New Jersey, then Cincinnati.

Lisa said:

“I like to work with kids. You don't see too many kids smiling when they're hungry. So I like to see them smile. I never smiled much.

Up until two, three years ago, I ran the children and youth program for the [American] Legion. At Christmas, you see how delighted they are when they get to sit on Santa's lap. That is the best part. That or when Penny's over here, they opened up an hour early for us to take a whole group of these kids, and let them pick out what clothes they want. And no parents allowed! [grins].

It was the reaction of those kids that turned your heart, when you see the look on their face or when a little one comes to you, ‘Can I buy this for my brother?’ It was supposed to be for the kid we had with us, and if it wasn't anything big, I'd say, ‘Don't tell anyone. But your brother can have that.’ They are so vulnerable at that age.”

Holocaust Survivor Day, June 4, asks us to celebrate and support survivors and the lives they are living today. We are celebrating all month.

Lisa MacVittie is a part of our Center for Holocaust Survivors, and enjoys programming, conversation, and wrap-around social services. She meets regularly with her JFS care manager.

"I know he would be so proud.” Some good can come from even deep loss. In March of this year, Cindy Jarnicki coordinated with her sons and grandsons to deliver Passover meals and items for the seder together, as part of Jewish Family Service’s Passover Delivery Project. They’ve been doing this as a family for six years now.

“Starting March, 2021—just three short months after my husband, Oscar Jarnicki, passed away from a short illness—my family started volunteering for JFS’s Passover Delivery Project,” said Cindy. “For me, participating in this meaningful mitzvah was a way to honor and remember my beloved husband Oscar. I know he would be so proud.” See link to full story in first comment.