“Why I Attended My First Gombiner Meeting”

by Soren Packer

email: soren212 "at" yahoo.com (replace "at" to @ to avoid spam)

I  attended my first annual Gombiner meeting this past August. My mother Minna has participated in these meetings for several years, but only now have I come to realize the importance of embracing this part of my ancestry.

As the grandchild of Michael Zielonka who survived the Holocaust in Poland and lost his entire family to Nazis at Chelmno, forgetting my family’s past would be a tragedy in itself. I am forever grateful to my grandparents for their perseverance and work ethic, and will always work toward achieving greatness and dignity in their honor.

My mother Minna has devoted the last five years of her life to creating and distributing a film about the survivors of Gombin, many of whom were our ancestors. Her work traveling across the world to preserve their memory has certainly been a source of inspiration for me, and it is this inspiration that I plan to carry forth into my own future involvement with the Gombin Society.

As a recent college graduate and alumnus of the Birthright Israel program, I have come to realize the value of participating in a Jewish organization, especially one with which I have a personal connection, like the Gombin Society and my cousin Joe’s organization, Fuel For Truth. Many of my peers downplay the importance of their Jewish heritage and take for granted the hardships and sacrifices made by grandparents and great grandparents. I have vowed not to follow this route.

Through my involvement with the Gombin Society and Fuel For Truth, I hope to become one step

closer to embracing my ancestry, and strengthening our Jewish community. I look forward to

interacting with you all as I strive to reach those goals.

Minna Packer: "Back to Gombin"

Screening in Israel in "YES"

Last updated on January 3^rd, 2005