The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING THE LIFE OF HERBERT KALINER
______
HON. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ
of florida
in the house of representatives
Thursday, June 17, 2021
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise to pay tribute to a great man, Herbert Kaliner, who passed away on June 1st at the age of 94.
Herb was a cherished member of the Miami community. One of the last living survivors of Kristallnacht and the SS St. Louis, Herb was widely known and respected for his decades of engagement with community groups, schools, churches, and synagogues. He was a ubiquitous presence as a teacher and docent at the Holocaust Memorial on Miami Beach, where he spent every Saturday leading tours and educating generations of visitors about the Holocaust.
Born in Germany, Herb was just 12 when he and his family fled the Nazi regime on ``the Voyage of the Damned,'' the tragic ocean liner which was forced to return to Europe in 1939 after being turned away from the United States, Cuba, and Canada. When the ship returned to Europe, about 250 of the passengers were killed in the Holocaust, including Herb's parents and two sisters. ``We were so close to Miami Beach, I could see it,'' Herb told the Miami Herald in 1997. ``I said to my parents, `Someday, I'll come back here.' ''
Despite the odds, Herb survived the Nazi invasion of France by hiding in the woods and working under false papers. In 1949 he immigrated to Miami and would go on to serve admirably in the Korean War, open a bakery, marry the love of his life, and raise a wonderful family.
Herb dedicated much of the latter part of his life to advocating for the rights, interests, and needs of Holocaust survivors, especially those living in poverty. As a member of the Holocaust Survivors Foundation USA Executive Committee, he often met with elected national political and communal leaders, even testifying before Congress to ensure the rights of Holocaust survivors to live in dignity. Despite the tragedy he endured, Herb never let his commitment to justice waiver and is an enduring example of commitment, leadership, and service. He will be deeply missed.
Herb is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Vera; his daughters Debbie and Michelle; son-in-law Amir; and three grandchildren, Jessica, Zachary, and Jonah.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 106
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