Report on the events of November 4 and 6, 2014 in Nice
November 13, 2014
On November 6, a commemorative day on the persecution of the Jews in the Alpes-Maritimes (1940–1944) was held at the Palais Sarde in Nice. A talk focusing on Odette and her life, and the testimonies of Jeannette and Marthe as children hidden by the Marcel network, were on the programme for the day.
This event was preceded on November 4 by an evening at the Centre Jean Kling in Nice. To mark the centenary of Odette Abadi’s birth, under the aegis of AMEJDAM, Odette’s memory was recalled with emotion.
An intimate prelude on November 4, 2014
To mark the centenary of Odette’s birth, Jeannette Wolgust and Marthe Kuperminc recorded a radio programme on Radio Chalom, 89.3. The programme is available as a podcast.
An event in stormy weather
The deluge struck Nice and the region: Place Masséna flooded, Avenue Jean Médecin streaming with water, a few passers-by trying to leap across from one pavement to the other! Yet despite these discouraging conditions, some brave people came. Thanks to Michèle Merowka, President of AMEJDAM (Association for the Memory of the Deported Children of the Alpes-Maritimes), who organised the evening, we had an audience – small, certainly, but of exceptional quality. We felt carried, surrounded and supported by a kind and interested audience.
November 6 at the Palais Sarde
Secondary school pupils were there
The day on the persecution of the Jews in the Alpes-Maritimes took place on November 6 at the Prefecture in Nice, the “Palais Sarde”, introduced by Olivier Lalieu (head of memorial sites and external projects at the Mémorial de la Shoah). He invited the pupils from the Lycée Thierry Maulnier who were present to visit an ONAC exhibition by Serge Klarsfeld on the persecution of the Jews during the Shoah. Four of the panels concerned the Jews of the Alpes-Maritimes.
The pupils of the Collège Roland Garros, who arrived next, were able in turn to look at the panels before joining the hall to listen to the talks.
Mrs Michèle Merowka, standing in for Mr Serge Klarsfeld, who was unable to attend, covered the historical part, dividing the period into three: the free zone, the Italian occupation zone, and the zone occupied by the Nazis from September 1943.
Mr Éric Gili, history and geography teacher at the Collège de la Vésubie, spoke to us about the role of the Churches in rescuing Jews, also mentioning the Marcel network.
Mr Philippe Boukara, historian and trainer at the Mémorial de la Shoah, reminded us that the testimonies of Ignacy Honig and Haim Salomon, two escapees from Auschwitz, had been relayed by the Jewish section of the Communist Party, the MOI (Main d’Œuvre Immigrée – Immigrant Workers). He invited us to reflect, in particular, on memory after the war.
Testimony of Les Enfants et Amis Abadi
Mrs Andrée Poch-Karsenti, President of Les Enfants et Amis Abadi, retraced the course of events that led Odette Rosenstock, a young doctor, and Moussa Abadi, a medievalist, to ask Monseigneur Rémond, Bishop of Nice, for help in creating a network to rescue children. They enabled 527 of them to escape destruction.
Sowing a few seeds so that they become active citizens – memory and citizenship
Mrs Bénédicte Gilardi, librarian, and Mrs Muriel Blanc, history teacher at the Lycée Thierry Maulnier, who accompanied two Year 12 classes (L and STMG) involved in a study project on the Armenian, Jewish and Rwandan genocides, described their work and announced the week in April (13 to 18) during which the pupils’ work would be presented. Their project: “Sowing a few seeds so that they become active citizens – memory and citizenship”.
A buffet bridged the morning and the early afternoon, which resumed under the aegis of Mr Daniel Wancier, President of the Yad Vashem Committee of Nice Côte d’Azur.
Official figures
The following officials spoke:
Mr Ladislas Polski, Regional Councillor, representing Mr Michel Vauzelle, President of the PACA region.
Mr Christian Estrosi, MP and Mayor of Nice, President of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis.
Mr Gilbert Mary, General Councillor, representing Mr Éric Ciotti, MP and President of the General Council of the Alpes-Maritimes
Mr Adolphe Colrat, Prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes
All stressed the republican duty which consists, among other things, in continuing to pass on the values of respect and tolerance.
The hidden children tell their stories
Finally, the audience heard in turn the testimonies of three children who were saved and hidden – Roger Wolman, Marthe Kuperminc and Jeannette Wolgust, the last two in the Marcel network.
In conclusion
Mr Jacques Fredj, Director of the Mémorial de la Shoah, closed the day.
This day, rich in content, ended with the laying of wreaths at the Deportation memorial in Caucade cemetery. The AMEJDAM wreath was laid by Madeleine Germain, Vice-President of the association, together with Marthe Kuperminc and Andrée Poch-Karsenti, both also members of AMEJDAM.
Gabriel Pélisson, a Year 12 pupil at the Lycée Thierry Maulnier, read extracts from Odette Abadi’s “Terre de Détresse”, the powerful account and testimony of her deportation to Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen.
Download all the photos of these two days
Thank you!
On behalf of “Les Enfants et Amis Abadi”, our warmest thanks go to him and to all the people mentioned who allowed us to recall Odette and Moussa.
Special thanks to Michèle Merowka, a member of our association, whose commitment, skills and efficiency give us a voice.
