A Different Kind Of Beauty Pageant
Published by: ICEJ Reports
Miss Holocaust Survivor
Can you imagine what it was like to live through the Holocaust? The deprivations, constant fear, hiding, not knowing if you will be discovered. Witnessing death and destruction. Sensing the incomprehensible hatred as a young child. The grief and trauma could paralyse you. Many did not survive. Many of those who did, relocated to Israel.
In 2009, the ICEJ began a partnership with a local charity, to provide a Home especially for Holocaust survivors. This unique joint project between Christians and Jews offers assisted- living facilities and a warm community of loving staff and volunteers surrounding them looking after their daily needs. The staff do everything they can to honour, support and restore these precious survivors.
First held in 2012, an annual beauty pageant open to elderly Jewish women in Israel who survived the Holocaust, is sponsored by the charity, Yad Ezer L’Haver, in cooperation with the ICEJ. The contest gives these women a moment to recapture the beauty of their youth, particularly since certain rites of passage were robbed from them as youngsters during World War II.
Ladies in their 70’s, 80’s and 90’s are trained to walk the catwalk. Professionals provide hair-styling and make-up, and beautiful gowns. In rooms off the main stage, the ladies enjoy the pampering and the fun before stepping into the limelight. The friendly competition also allows their stories to be heard which portray the strength and inner beauty of these true survivors.
Each year, the contest attracts significant media attention from around the world because the concept of a beauty contest for Holocaust survivors is quite unconventional. But another important purpose is served, to bring wider attention to the Holocaust, lest we forget.
The unusual pageant certainly captivated the imagination of documentary film-maker, Radek Wegrzyn, a Polish-born resident of Germany. He laboured for four years with sensitivity and patience towards the residents to recreate the essence of the emotions they suffered and the hope which enabled them to rebuild their lives. His film captivates audiences with a heartfelt portrayal of Holocaust survivors in Israel taking part in a unique beauty contest late in their lives.
The main character in the film is a Haifa Home resident, 90 year-old Rita Kasimow Brown. Her father hid his young family, including Rita, in the Polish forest to evade the Nazi invaders. Her life was a nightmare of endless moving, inadequate food and constant fear. With her family she hid in caves and barns, finally living in a confined dugout under a cattle shed for nearly twenty traumatic and terrifying months. The farmer would throw down some food mixture with which he fed his rabbits. Sometimes the Nazi soldiers would come by with dogs looking for hidden Jews while the family waited in their underground hole in fear.
To overcome the daytime nightmares she created an imaginary world in her dreams where there was delicious food like her mother used to make.
Acclaimed
Following its first screening at the Haifa Home in July 2022, Miss Holocaust Survivor has been showcased in numerous countries and film festivals. For example, it was featured at the Golden Panda Awards in Chengdu, China. The film also received positive reviews at various venues in Germany and in the USA, it had a highly successful screening at the Miami Jewish Film Festival and was shown at American Holocaust education institutions.
The accolades recently culminated with the receiving of the prestigious Ernst Lubitsch Prize in Germany. In late August, Yudit Setz of the ICEJ and Shimon Sabag of our partner organisation Yad Ezer L’Haver were invited by the city of Berlin to join director Radek Wegrzyn in receiving the Prize for Miss Holocaust Survivor – A Beauty Contest that Celebrates Life.
“It has been wonderful to see how our Haifa Home for Holocaust Survivors is being used to not only impact many people who visit and connect with us, but also to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive through TV programs and documentary films for years to come,” said Yudit Setz, the ICEJ’s deputy Aid director. “At this time, when antisemitism is so rampant and at an all-time high in Europe, this prize could not have come at a timelier moment. Winning a prize for a film about the Holocaust in the current climate in Europe is very significant. Some of the Jewish and Israeli members of the audience were especially moved to hear about the Christian Embassy, what we stand for, and our involvement in the Haifa Home.”
The recognition of Miss Holocaust Survivor by the Ernst Lubitsch Prize awards committee not only honours the film but also reinforces the vital role of artistic and educational endeavours in combating Holocaust denial and antisemitism. The film’s success also is a testament to the enduring impact of Holocaust survivors’ stories and the continued relevance of their experiences in contemporary discourse.
Sharon Brauner, a prominent German Jewish actress, producer, and singer, lauded the film, saying: “It’s up to the generations of us who are here, how we deal with the memories, whether we want to forget and suppress them or whether we are the ones who have built a bridge to the future when there are no more witnesses.”
Remembering
As Miss Holocaust Survivor continues to be screened and discussed, there is hope that it will reach even broader audiences and achieve further accolades. The film’s ability to blend humour with emotional depth ensures its place as a significant work in Holocaust remembrance and education for years to come. The recognition in Berlin marks a milestone in the film’s journey, affirming the importance of remembering, celebrating and honouring the life stories of Holocaust survivors.
One of the most frequent words occurring in the Bible is ‘remember’. We are exhorted to remember God’s faithfulness; His covenant promises and His purposes. We remember man’s inhumanity to man, and that there is another way – the way of forgiveness, dignity, encouragement and hope. Help us to continue to support survivors of the Holocaust.
