SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — Holocaust survivor, Dr. Eva Eger, and community arts and education organizer Jackie Gmach have been chosen by KPBS and Union Bank as “local heroes” as part of the two organizations’ observance of May as Jewish American Heritage month.
Eger was cited for utilizing her past as a teenager in Auschwitz “as a powerful analogy to inspire people t reach their potential and shape their destines.” It noted that she was sent to the concentration camp in 1944 when she was 16. Although she survived, her family was killed. In the post war years, she moved to Czechoslovakia and later immigrated to the United States.
Gmach spent 20 years at the Lawrence Family JCC and the San Diego center for Jewish Culture, developing such popular programs at the Jewish Book Fair, the Jewish Music Festival and two national exhibits “Inside Anne Frank’s HOuse” and “Davka” The Survival of a People.” She also served as volunteer chair this year of Yom Limmud, a day of Jewish learning.
KPBS plans to air video profiles of both women this month.
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Preceding based on material jointly provided by Union Bank and KPBS