SARASOTA COUNTY (WSNN) – Hanukkah starts at the end of the month. With that in mind, a Suncoast resident remembers what it took for her family to have the freedom she has today.
Temple Emanu-El Education Director Sabrina Silverberg lived in three continents by the time she was seven years old.
“People find it very glamorous, but it’s not by choice, it’s escaping by prosecution,” Silverberg said.
She was born in Egypt to a Jewish family in the capital of Cairo. Her family lived well-off with her dad working as the tailor to King Farouk’s court.
“We lived a very nice comfortable life, we lived in a penthouse,” Silverberg said. “We had a laundress, a nanny, a porter, and even a driver.”
But then everything changed when Gamal Nasser took over in the 50s. Anyone who wasn’t Egyptian or Muslim was persecuted.
“This is not compared to the Holocaust, it was more of the Holocaust of spirit, the Holocaust of human dignity,” Silverberg said. “We were stripped of our wealth, but we were not aware of anyone that died or was tortured physically.”
So, all 70 members of her family escaped with 20-dollars in their pockets. Her dad especially felt the financial struggle.
“His spirit was broken for many years because of it,” Silverberg said. “There was much suffering.”
They left for France, stayed for two years, and then left for Israel. And finally, her family felt …
“A great sense of freedom,” Silverberg said.
Even though it was not easy, over time, her family made roots; they got jobs, she made friends and she got an education. Eventually, she left for the states. started a family and began working at Temple Emanu-El… where she is now keeping her religion alive… teaching the next generation.
“My work touches my heart,” Silverberg said. “It’s wonderful to see children engage with their heritage in such a positive and happy way.”
This past Friday, she was recognized for 25 years of service in the congregation.
“It truly touched my heart and made me feel appreciated and valued,” Silverberg said.
Silverberg says adds, even though there are small pockets of antisemitism like we witnessed a year-and-a-half ago at the temple, she’s grateful for her life here today.
