Joseph Sher<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Sher, who was born in Krzepice, Poland, described many close calls both before and after the Nazis invaded his homeland in which he narrowly escaped death. Like his father, Sher was a tailor, whose skills made him a valued tradesman to both the Nazis and, later, the Soviet Red Army soldier who captured him at war’s end.<\/p>\n
Married in 1941 to his wife Rachel Israelowicz, both Shers were separated during the Holocaust, but miraculously found each other after the war ended. Sher’s three sisters and both parents were killed at Treblinka death camp, but his two brothers miraculously survived. After living for a time in a displaced person’s camp, the Shers were able to participate in a resettlement program instituted by the United States. Using a cousin, Leopard (“Lep”) Stahl of blessed memory as a sponsor, the Shers were able to emigrate by ship from Europe along with their toddler son Martin in 1949.<\/p>\n
When Sher landed in New Orleans that fateful day, he had a place to live and a job set up for him at Harry Hyman Tailors. It was there he plied his craft and eventually became manager of the tailor shop that employed dozens of workers manning Singer sewing machines. Sher’s excellent work made him a favorite of local and nationally renowned performers such as Fats Domino, Chubby Checker, Al Hirt, Chris Owens and Elvis Presley. When Harry Hyman Tailors was purchased by Murphy Rosenzweig, it became Murphy the Tailor and Sher continued his work as manager.<\/p>\n
He was a founding member of the New Americans Social Club and a longtime leader of the community of survivors who chose to live and raise their families in New Orleans. He was the last of the male Holocaust survivors.<\/p>\n
Sher was a member of Theodore Roosevelt Masonic Lodge #415 and a leader of Congregation Anshe Sfard synagogue. He was also quite involved with the Holocaust Memorial Committee that annually presents the Community-Wide Yom Hashoah program at the JCC. Until he was too sickly to perform last year, Sher would present the Memorial Prayer (El Mole Rachamin<\/em>) and helped with the reading of the names of the New Orleans survivors who had passed away by reciting the Kaddish prayer in their memory and for the six million souls who perished during the Holocaust.<\/p>\nSher was married for 56 years before his wife passed away in 1997. He is survived by his two sons, Martin Sher (Donna) of Plano, Texas and Leopold \u201cLee\u201d \u00a0Sher (Karen) and three grandchildren.<\/p>\n
Despite the hardships and unspeakable horrors he witnessed, Sher was an irrepressible spirit who worked hard, but enjoyed life and counseled all who he met to “stay young!\u201d He was fluent in Polish and Yiddish and especially loved leading prayer and participating in Hebrew worship at Anshe Sfard.<\/p>\n
Known as “Zaydie” to his family and later to other community members, he was a patriotic naturalized American citizen who praised the United States for the opportunity it brought him and whose favorite motto was “God bless America!\u201d<\/p>\n
Sher addressed students of all ages for many decades about his Holocaust experiences. He continually repeated the final admonition given him by his mother: \u201cYou should tell the world what happened to us so that no one will ever forget.\u201d<\/p>\n
A funeral was held in the sanctuary of Anshe Sfard, 2230 Carondelet Street on Friday, March 25, beginning at 11:30 a.m. At the service, Sher’s voice was heard reciting the memorial prayer he recorded for the HolocaustSurvivors.org site<\/a>, where his and other New Orleans survivors’ stories can be found.<\/p>\nBurial followed immediately at Anshe Sfard Cemetery, 4400 Elysian Fields Avenue. Rabbi David Polsky officiated at the memorial and graveside services.<\/p>\n
In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to Congregation Anshe Sfard, The New Americans Holocaust Memorial Fund at the Jewish Endowment Foundation, Shir Chadash Conservative Congregation, and the United States Holocaust Museum.<\/p>\n
Tharp-Sontheimer-Tharp<\/a>\u00a0was in charge of arrangements.<\/p>\n
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