Subject: Commemorating January 27 — Auschwitz Liberation & Remembering There Once Was a World
Dear Members and Friends of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Miami,
Today, on January 27, we join the world in solemn remembrance of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1945 — a moment that marked the beginning of the end of the Nazi death camps. On this International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we honor the six million Jewish lives lost and remember the vibrant communities that once flourished across Europe.
One of the most powerful testaments to those communities is the extraordinary work of Dr. Yaffa Eliach, who dedicated her life to restoring the memory of the Jews of Eishyshok (Eišiškės) — a town almost entirely wiped out during the Shoah.
Featured Book
There Once Was a World: A 900-Year Chronicle of the Shtetl of Eishyshok by Yaffa Eliach
This monumental work reconstructs nearly a millennium of Jewish life in Eishyshok through photographs, survivor testimony, historical documents, and Dr. Eliach’s decades of research.
It stands as one of the most significant works ever written about a single Jewish community.
Borrow the Book Locally
Members of the Miami-Dade Public Library System can borrow There Once Was a World through the MDPLS online catalog:
https://catalog.mdpls.org/
Documentary Film
We invite you to watch a powerful documentary connected to Eliach’s work and the memory of Eishyshok: https://youtu.be/ikSdZDwS0s0?
Yaffa Eliach Collection at Yad Vashem
Explore Dr. Eliach’s extensive archives — including oral histories, research materials, photographs, and documentation: https://www.yadvashem.org/
JewishGen “Town Page” for Eishyshok
For those researching families from Eishyshok, this JewishGen page provides historical context, data, and genealogical resources: https://www.jewishgen.org/
Kehilalink for Eishyshok
The Kehilalink offers a rich collection of narratives, photos, memorials, and historical information about the town: https://www.kehilalinks.
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On this day of remembrance, we encourage you to explore these materials, share them with family, and honor the memory of the individuals and communities whose lives were extinguished but whose stories endure through our efforts.
May the memory of all who perished be a blessing.
May our dedication to preserving Jewish history continue to strengthen future generations.
Warmly,
Paulette Bronstein
President
Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Miami
