Letters to the Wise One

In 1945, she and her mother who survived were freed by the Russians, and they made their way to America to begin a new life. Helga met and married a young jewelry maker, Eric Newmark, also a holocaust survivor. As Helga Newmark, she and Eric proceeded to raise a family.

But memories of the holocaust continued to haunt her resulting in several attempts at suicide. Eventually, she found more spiritual meaning in her life and went on to become a respected principal of a synagogue religious school and then earned a master's degree in social work. But this was not enough for Helga. With so much experience to offer the next generation, she felt called upon to become a rabbi and after extensive study was ordained in the year 2000.