ALBANY – Ever since October 7, 2023, there has been a disturbing rise in hate crimes across the country, many targeting members of the Jewish faith. For the folks who gathered at Congregation Beth Abraham Jacob in Albany Monday night, the violence isn’t just history repeating itself, it illustrates a persistent cascade of intolerance.
The dinner honored Holocaust survivors was a celebration of their bravery, their sacrifice, and their lives. Many of the survivors, including 91-year-old Murray Jaros of Niskayuna, who grew up in Poland, understand the importance of telling and retelling his story to others.
“I’m very grateful that I did survive and that I had the opportunity to establish a new life,” Jaros said. “I’m very grateful that during my lifetime I was able to serve in a way that would also be exemplary, as well as in a position to help others when ever I could.”…