At Lincoln South Rotary Club on November 5 our presenter was Art Zygielbaum. He presented information about being Jewish and also about his Father and Grandfather and their experiences during the Holocaust.
Art stated his presentation was about being Jewish, his father's book, a bit about his family history, and about him.
He stated that the Jewish religion is 3500 years old and is the foundation for both Christianity and Islam. They believe in one God. Though they do not accept Jesus Christ as the Messiah they accept Jesus as a great leader and respect those that do believe.
He talked about the Jewish holidays. He pointed out that Yom Kuppur is when they ask forgiveness from others for transgressions stating that God is less concerned about transgressions against him then about those between people.
When talking about the the ethical foundation, Art stated that it is 3,000 years in the making. Early there was punishment for wrong-doing such as stonings but they have evolved to a strong belief in social justice, ethical behavior and compassion for others.
There is a strong emphasis on education. Art said some wonder if Jews are smarter than other people but indicated there are no studies to indicate that. About 1/2 of one percent of the earth's population are Jews. 20% of Nobel Prizes have bee earned by Jews. It does not mean they are smarter just that they emphasize education and questioning.
Art then shared stories of his family.
Art's grandfather (his father's father) was a member of the city council in Warsaw and was in exile in London.
After the Nazi invasion, her mother's family was gathered in the town square of their Polish community and separated. Only she and her older sister were spared - but went to a slave labor camp.
Art's father, Joseph, became a partisan fighting against the Nazis.
He wrote a book of his journey based on a diary and personal memory. The book used fake names to protect the identities of the participants. While riding his bike to Warsaw with his father, a Nazi plane shot at them. They were separated and lost track of each other. Joseph learned of his father's suicide by chance much later. Joseph's first wife and first son were killed by the Nazis.
Joseph and Art's mother married and came to the United States in December of 1946. They were displaced persons, traveling in frigid weather by ship. And, she was pregnant with Art who was born in February 1947.
Joseph had become a mechanical engineer and, while in Europe, gained a great deal of practical experience. Eventually he took a job at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and built the cage that held the batteries for the first satellite. Since Joseph knew 11 languages, including Russian, he was transferred to the Director's office.
Art then moved to information about his father's father - Art's grandfather - Szmul (Arthur) Zygielbojm.
Szmul was an advocate for the the Jews reaching out to British and American Governments asking for help. He served on the Judenrat in Nazi occupied Warsaw. The Judenrat set up to govern the Jews to ensure that Nazi orders were followed. He committed suicide hoping it would bring attention to the dire situation and shock the world into action.
Art read from his grandfather's suicide note: “I cannot be silent . . .. My comrades in the Warsaw ghetto took weapons in their hands on that last heroic impulse. It was not my destiny to die together with them, but I belong to them and in their mass graves. By my death I wish to make my final protest against the passivity with which the world is looking on and permitting the extermination of the Jewish people.”
Art attended a ceremony in Washington DC where his grandfather was honored with a posthumous medal from the Polish equivalent of secretary of state. Among Art's comments at that ceremony:
"His death was a protest and a realization that he could not live while his people perished. He assumed responsibility for not being able to mobilize action to save his people.
He grieved the silent cry.
...
Speaking for my family and myself I am deeply honored to be here to share this event. Szmul Zygielbojm was my grandfather, a hero, and the conscience of a people.
His cry is not silent."
As art concluded his presentation he shared his thoughts about Rotary and His Story To Be Told:
We [Rotary] stand for respect, acknowledgement, caring, and ethical behavior
Stand for those things
If others had been able to, there would be no need to tell this story
BIO:
Dr. Arthur (Art) Zygielbaum is an Emeritus Research Associate Professor from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Natural Resources. In January 2019 he began his second attempt at retirement.
Art joined UNL after spending nearly 30 years at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory progressing from an engineer working on spacecraft tracking systems to a senior manager. He was on the science and tracking teams of many space missions, including Voyager, Viking and Helios, and helped test Einstein’s theory of general relativity.
Art holds a BS in Physics from the University of California at Los Angeles and a MS in Electrical Engineering-Computers from the University of Southern California.
In 1998, he joined The University of Nebraska-Lincoln as a member of the administrative faculty working in educational technology. Art “retired” in 2005 to pursue a PhD in Geography/Remote Sensing at UNL. After completing the degree in December 2009, he joined the faculty.
Along with teaching, Art performed research in the measurement of vegetation stress and photoprotective response. He has published over 50 professional papers/conference presentations and edited a book on Earth Science Information Systems. Art also served as a member of NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel, National Research Council National Weather Service Modernization Committee, and independent review teams for the Navy and Department of Commerce.
He is a member of several civic and non-profit boards including Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest Board, Lied Center for the Performing Arts Statewide Advisory Board, City of Lincoln Telecommunications/Cable Advisory Board, South Street Temple Trustees, and the American Radio Relay League Board (national amateur radio organization) and his hobbies include amateur radio and photography.
