It is with a heavy heart that we acknowledge the passing of Luna Kaufman, a cherished figure in the Seton Hall University community, beloved Trustee of the Sister Rose Thering Fund, and a remarkable contributor to the university’s archives. Known for her unwavering commitment to Holocaust education and interfaith dialogue, Kaufman leaves behind a legacy that will inspire generations to come.
Luna Kaufman, who was born in Krakow, first lived through the German occupation of Krakow and was later held as a prisoner in the concentration camps of Plaszow and Leipzig. She was able to survive the Holocaust, and eventually emigrated to America. She and her husband settled in New Jersey, where Kaufman was an active part of the Jewish community and became the first woman president of her Temple. It was later in life that she began to work and advocate for Holocaust education, picked by former Governor Kean to work on the Advisory Council for Holocaust Education when it was first formed in 1982. Kaufman spoke at Nancy Forsberg’s Interfaith Committee, and would eventually find her way to speaking at Seton Hall, where she met and then worked with Sister Rose Thering on Holocaust education through the Sister Rose Thering Fund.
Just last year, the archives completed a project funded by the New Jersey Historical Commission that processed Kaufman’s archive, together with the papers of Sister Rose Thering and Nancy Forsberg. That project resulted in an exhibit and conference presentation celebrating the legacy of interfaith dialogue left by these three powerful and inspiring women, whose friendship arose from their shared commitment to fighting intolerance and increasing understanding.
The archives is proud to steward Luna Kaufman’s legacy into the future. Her collection contains drafts of her memoir, teaching materials, notes on speeches, and recordings of events and talks that she gave. As we remember Luna Kaufman, let us carry forward her legacy of love, compassion, and advocacy, ensuring that her work continues to resonate within our community.