For those who knew him, Rene was a fighter. At times stubborn, but full of immeasurable conviction and heart. I first met Rene in the IfNotNow movement. In a group of young people, he made space for himself and it was clear that all of us had much to learn from him. I think he felt that he had much to learn from us as well. Rene was a husband, a father, a grandfather, a painter, and a child Holocaust survivor. He was tireless in his efforts to provide Holocaust education and to connect with other survivors. He helped to found the World Federation of Jewish Child Survivors of the Holocaust.

Being born into genocide shaped Rene’s life. He was separated from his family as a child and sent to a Catholic family’s home, the Lepage’s in France, where he was hidden for nearly five years. After the war, he was reunited with his mother and came to the realization that he was Jewish. Rene and his mother made their way to the United States and spent the rest of his childhood in Brooklyn. He later moved to Detroit as an adult. I urge everyone to find out more about his life story, which he told hundreds of times at the Holocaust Center. There is an immense amount to learn from his experiences and life’s work. Especially in this moment of chaos and division. We can find inspiration and courage in his memory.

Rene was an early supporter of DJJ and drew important parallels between the Holocaust and today’s anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim policies and rhetoric. Most recently, Rene took bold action to demand that the Jewish community speak out against the atrocities in Gaza. At Rene's funeral, Rabbi Alana of Congregation T’Chiyah recounted an email from Rene, a reminder to us about the fear that “righteous gentiles” felt during the Holocaust as they risked their lives to save strangers like himself and his mother. He wrote, “...one definition of courage is when you are afraid and yet, you can do the right thing.”

Rene (far right) at DJJ's first ever Leadership Shabbaton in 2015.

Rene, we will miss your wisdom, your steadfastness, your strength and presence as a comrade with us in the streets. As we take risks this year to protect our communities, you will be with us.

Zichrona Livracha. May your memory be a blessing to us all.

Share a memory and make a donation at this webpage - https://www.irakaufman.com/obituaries/Rene-Lichtman-PhD?obId=35137814