“My father was traveling down south to sell watches and he was sold on my mother. When my grandmother met him the first thing she asked was if she could get a watch wholesale, “ Gloria chuckles at this bit of family lore. Laughter comes easily to this good-natured woman who approaches each day with a sense of adventure.
Her parents settled on West First Street and Avenue P in Brooklyn where they davened in the senior Rabbi Kahane’s shul.
Gloria has fond memories of returning frequently to Mahanoy to visit her grandparents. She points out that the Jewish residents never experienced any form of anti-Semitism but she does recall one of the local children once asking her, “how come none of your people work in the mines?”
Gloria is accustomed to answering even the most difficult questions related to the Jewish experience when she puts on her other hat as a docent for the Museum of Jewish Heritage in downtown Manhattan. Every Tuesday, for the past six years, this energetic volunteer has informed and inspired young students, introducing them to the difficult world of the Holocaust. She is especially gratified to receive emotional letters from children who write they have gained new insights and were profoundly affected by her talks. “I love speaking to school children who are so eager to learn about our history.”
During these volatile times when the news is dominated by flotillas and fly-ins manned by fanatical volunteers whose sole agenda is to undermine and indoctrinate, extraordinary people like Gloria Schreiber work tirelessly below the radar leading lives of purpose and meaning. They never seek public recognition for their selfless gestures of goodwill and never anticipate that one day their years of commitment would be rewarded with the honor of raising the flag.
For more information about joining the ranks of Sar-El volunteers please contact Pamela at 212-643-4848 or e-mail [email protected]
Helen Zegerman Schwimmer is the author of the acclaimed anthology, “Like The Stars of The Heavens.” Please visit her website, Helenschwimmer.com.