Dear Community,
During the weeks of the Omer—a traditional time of reflection and spiritual growth between Passover and Shavuot—our Temple community will gather for a meaningful Yom HaShoah observance.
We have a rare opportunity to hear directly from a Holocaust survivor in our own congregation.
Maritza Shelley, now 97 years old and living in Brooklyn, will join us to share her story. Born in 1928 in Budapest, Hungary, Maritza’s life changed dramatically after the Nazi invasion of Hungary in 1944. She and her sister were selected for forced labor. During a brief visit to their mother in the Jewish ghetto in Budapest, a roundup took place and they were sent on a death march. The three women later reunited, escaped, obtained false papers, and even hitchhiked back to Budapest alongside a convoy of Nazis. Maritza came to New York City in 1947 and built her life here.
Maritza is known for her powerful storytelling and is the co-author of In the Very Air We Breathed, written with Randi Dickson. We are deeply grateful that she has the energy to come and share her experiences with us. Opportunities to hear directly from Holocaust survivors are becoming increasingly rare. Gathering to listen, remember, and bear witness together is one of the most meaningful ways we can honor Yom HaShoah.
Please invite family, friends, and anyone who you think should hear her story. This is a powerful program for our entire community and for the next generation.
Saturday, April 18
1:00–2:00 PM at B’ShERT
No RSVP is required, though we would love to know if you are planning to attend so we can plan for space.
Questions: educator@bshert.org
A Rare Opportunity: Hear a 97-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor at Our Temple (April 18)
March 6, 2026 by zivn • Features
Dear Community,
During the weeks of the Omer—a traditional time of reflection and spiritual growth between Passover and Shavuot—our Temple community will gather for a meaningful Yom HaShoah observance.
We have a rare opportunity to hear directly from a Holocaust survivor in our own congregation.
Maritza Shelley, now 97 years old and living in Brooklyn, will join us to share her story. Born in 1928 in Budapest, Hungary, Maritza’s life changed dramatically after the Nazi invasion of Hungary in 1944. She and her sister were selected for forced labor. During a brief visit to their mother in the Jewish ghetto in Budapest, a roundup took place and they were sent on a death march. The three women later reunited, escaped, obtained false papers, and even hitchhiked back to Budapest alongside a convoy of Nazis. Maritza came to New York City in 1947 and built her life here.
Maritza is known for her powerful storytelling and is the co-author of In the Very Air We Breathed, written with Randi Dickson. We are deeply grateful that she has the energy to come and share her experiences with us. Opportunities to hear directly from Holocaust survivors are becoming increasingly rare. Gathering to listen, remember, and bear witness together is one of the most meaningful ways we can honor Yom HaShoah.
Please invite family, friends, and anyone who you think should hear her story. This is a powerful program for our entire community and for the next generation.
Saturday, April 18
1:00–2:00 PM at B’ShERT
No RSVP is required, though we would love to know if you are planning to attend so we can plan for space.
Questions: educator@bshert.org