Honoring Holocaust Remembrance Day
Holocaust Remembrance Day, January 27, is the annual commemoration day where Jews around the world honor the six million victims of the Holocaust and the additional millions of other victims of Nazism. Dr. Spitz and his family mark this day each year as a time of solemn reflection and a renewed desire to ‘never forget’ and to educate others. Dr. Spitz’s wife, Laurie, lost many family members as her maternal grandmother, grandfather, uncle, and cousin survived.
In addition, today, we must recognize the travails of Holocaust survivors and the hardships they have continued to suffer post-liberation. “As a Jew”, stated Dr. Steven D. Spitz, “we must all do our part to share our history and care for those who survived”.
The Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program is a dental program that provides Holocaust survivors with access to oral care to improve their health and quality of life. Smileboston’s Dr. Spitz, has proudly participated in this program since its inception, providing pro-bono dental services to survivors in the Boston area, from routine cleanings to complete dental restoration. Boston was one of the founding cities of the Program and is now in 22 cities throughout North America.
Alpha Omega International Dental Society and Henry Schein
The Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program was launched in November 2014 in response to the White House’s call to action to help Holocaust survivors age with dignity and respect. Since its inception, it has provided free dental care to over 1,000 Holocaust survivors in the U.S. and Canada. The program fills a critical need for many of the 100,000 Holocaust survivors living in the U.S., one-third of whom live in poverty. Survivors often have special oral health needs, as many suffered from prolonged nutritional deprivation and had little to no dental care access as children during World War II.
Giving as We Remember the Lost and Pay Tribute
The Holocaust Survivors Program has provided over $4.4 million in dental care to survivors and continues to grow. These survivors are the last remnants of appalling persecution that includes Jewish men, women, children, and other marginalized populations targeted by the Nazi movement before, during, and after World War II. The opportunity to serve these individuals and, in some way, improve their comfort in the days remaining is a mitzvah [a good deed] that is as rewarding for the provider as the recipients.
Dr. Spitz has provided care and listened to the stories of about 10 individuals he has personally worked with through the Program. Over the years, depending on their needs, he has relieved their pain through extractions, oral surgery, single implants, dentures, and more.
By ensuring their comfort and health, he hopes to have helped ease their suffering. “It is a small but vital way to show kindness to those who have suffered great cruelty but triumphed by surviving and continuing to live full and productive lives,” said Dr. Spitz.
How Can You Help?
The Henry Schein Holocaust Survivors Program has provided dental care to survivors since 2014, with the assistance of JF&CS Schechter Holocaust Services in qualifying and assisting survivors in the program.
Nearly 450 doctors throughout North America have participated in the program, providing donated services to more than 1,600 survivors. If you are a dentist interested in participating in or are a Holocaust survivor in need of care, contact Bernice Edelstein at [email protected].
As Holocaust Remembrance Day approaches, let us remember that many survivors of those atrocities continue to experience poor health and economic hardship.