Leon Hoffman remembers Henri Parens

“What Happened to me can happen again.”

These were Henri's first words in his granddaughter, Sophie Parens,' film Zaida. Henri spoke these in 2008 to kids at Parkway High School for Peace and Justice (vimeo.com).

Henri's life was dedicated to helping children and their families to overcome the sufferings in their lives. He communicated his knowledge to many students and colleagues. I am honored to have been one of those students, later colleague, and friend to Henri. I was extremely moved when Erik asked me to speak today as we celebrate Henri's life and work.

And I was emotionally stirred to learn from Sophie's film that today, April 2, is the date of Henri's marriage to the love of his life, Rachel. Rachel, I hope that memories of your long life together ease the pain from Henri's absence.

Henri's life and work were intimately intertwined. Although he says in the film that very few people knew that he was a Holocaust survivor, his traumatic experiences had a profound influence on his life-long professional work. Yet, every year, during the Passover seder's focus on the experience of liberation, he would discuss the impact of the Holocaust and his escape to freedom.

Tonight at sundown, in the US, our Muslim friends celebrate the beginning of Ramadan. To them we say, “Ramadan Mubarak” (“have a blessed Ramadan”). Furthermore, in 2 weeks, we will be celebrating, not only Passover, but at the same time, Easter. Whether holidays recur according to the lunar cycle, solar cycle, or an intercalated solar cycle, we are all keenly aware of the phases of the Earth's journey around the sun. At this time of the year, we memorialize the rebirth of life and march to freedom. Henri's life work is a prime example of how a rich authentic existence can emerge, just like a phoenix which arises from the ashes of its predecessors.

Henri did not wear his pain and suffering on his sleeve but it is clear that the pain he suffered was “mastered” (to use a clinical ter