HJ249: Celebrating the life of Alexander Lebenstein.
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WHEREAS, Alexander Lebenstein of Richmond, a dedicated educator and humanitarian, died on January 28, 2010; and
WHEREAS, a native of Haltern am See, Germany, Alexander Lebenstein was born to loving parents Natan Lebenstein and Charlotte Lebenstein in 1927 and was one of four siblings; and
WHEREAS, after Kristallnacht in 1938, Alexander Lebenstein, then 11 years of age, and his parents hid in various locations before they were found by the Nazis and sent to a concentration camp; and
WHEREAS, Alexander Lebenstein endured great hardship and terror and was the only member of the 19 Jewish families living in Haltern am See in 1938 to survive the Holocaust; and
WHEREAS, after the war, Alexander Lebenstein left Germany and came to the United States to create a new life for himself; he lived in Richmond, Miami, and New York before coming back to Richmond; and
WHEREAS, for decades, Alexander Lebenstein harbored great anger towards his hometown of Haltern am See and his native country for the atrocities inflicted upon him and his family; and
WHEREAS, in 1994 two schoolchildren from Haltern am See wrote to Alexander Lebenstein, asking him to come back to Germany and talk about his experiences during the Holocaust; and
WHEREAS, Alexander Lebenstein bravely returned to his native land in 1995; as he shared his story and experienced the sincerity of the schoolchildren, the healing process for himself and the families of Haltern am See began; and
WHEREAS, Alexander Lebenstein?s relationship with his hometown continued to grow; the school was renamed in his honor and Alexander Lebenstein was named an honorary Haltern am See citizen; and
WHEREAS, Alexander Lebenstein became a speaker and docent for the Virginia Holocaust Museum; shared his story in The Gazebo, a book that chronicles his Holocaust experience; and traveled across the Commonwealth at his own expense to educate students and encourage tolerance; and
WHEREAS, an example of the amazing resilience of the human spirit, Alexander Lebenstein demonstrated extraordinary physical and emotional courage and strength throughout his life; his hard work to heal himself and his hometown and educate a new generation against the injustices of intolerance leave an enduring legacy on behalf of those he lost; and
WHEREAS, Alexander Lebenstein will be fondly remembered for his kind and generous nature and will be greatly missed by his children Daniel and David and their families; his numerous friends and admirers; and the citizens of Haltern am See; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of a dedicated educator and humanitarian and outstanding Virginian, Alexander Lebenstein; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Alexander Lebenstein as an expression of the General Assembly?s respect for his memory.
WHEREAS, Alexander Lebenstein of Richmond, a dedicated educator and humanitarian, died on January 28, 2010; and
WHEREAS, a native of Haltern am See, Germany, Alexander Lebenstein was born to loving parents Natan Lebenstein and Charlotte Lebenstein in 1927 and was one of four siblings; and
WHEREAS, after Kristallnacht in 1938, Alexander Lebenstein, then 11 years of age, and his parents hid in various locations before they were found by the Nazis and sent to a concentration camp; and
WHEREAS, Alexander Lebenstein endured great hardship and terror and was the only member of the 19 Jewish families living in Haltern am See in 1938 to survive the Holocaust; and
WHEREAS, after the war, Alexander Lebenstein left Germany and came to the United States to create a new life for himself; he lived in Richmond, Miami, and New York before coming back to Richmond; and
WHEREAS, for decades, Alexander Lebenstein harbored great anger towards his hometown of Haltern am See and his native country for the atrocities inflicted upon him and his family; and
WHEREAS, in 1994, two schoolchildren from Haltern am See wrote to Alexander Lebenstein, asking him to come back to Germany and talk about his experiences during the Holocaust; and
WHEREAS, Alexander Lebenstein bravely returned to his native land in 1995; as he shared his story and experienced the sincerity of the schoolchildren, the healing process for himself and the families of Haltern am See began; and
WHEREAS, Alexander Lebenstein?s relationship with his hometown continued to grow; the school was renamed in his honor and Alexander Lebenstein was named an honorary Haltern am See citizen; and
WHEREAS, Alexander Lebenstein became a speaker and docent for the Virginia Holocaust Museum; shared his story in The Gazebo, a book that chronicles his Holocaust experience; and traveled across the Commonwealth at his own expense to educate students and encourage tolerance; and
WHEREAS, an example of the amazing resilience of the human spirit, Alexander Lebenstein demonstrated extraordinary physical and emotional courage and strength throughout his life; his hard work to heal himself and his hometown and educate a new generation against the injustices of intolerance leave an enduring legacy on behalf of those he lost; and
WHEREAS, Alexander Lebenstein will be fondly remembered for his kind and generous nature and greatly missed by his children Daniel and David and their families; his numerous friends and admirers; and the citizens of Haltern am See; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of a dedicated educator and humanitarian and outstanding Virginian, Alexander Lebenstein; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Alexander Lebenstein as an expression of the General Assembly?s respect for his memory.
