Congregation Beth Torah will honor Sonia Warshawski, local Holocaust survivor and subject of the documentary “Big Sonia,” as part of its Shabbat services on Friday, Sept. 1.
The public is invited to the services, which will begin at 6:30 p.m.
Warshawski, whose tailor shop closed in May, has spoken publicly about her experiences surviving the Holocaust for years, telling The Chronicle that, “I’ll speak for those who never made it, and I feel the Almighty still wants me to do it.”
Her tenacity both as a survivor and a businesswoman influenced her granddaughter to spearhead a documentary project. The documentary, “Big Sonia,” was released in 2016 and won numerous awards.
Beth Torah’s tribute is sponsored by the congregation’s Adult Education Committee and coincides with the Torah portion Ki Tavo.
According to committee chair Jill Maidhof, “The title of the portion means ‘when you come,’ and the focus of our event will be the strength and Jewish spirit which allowed Sonia to not only survive but to thrive after coming to Kansas City. It’s extremely rare for her to make public appearances these days, and we’re thrilled that she has accepted our invitation to be recognized as part of our service and to be available to those who wish to meet and greet her during a reception.”
