CLEM BRINGS HIS FAMILY TO THE UNITED STATES
CLEMENT SOFFER
THIS IS THE SIXTH AND FINAL INSTALLMENT OF MY FAMILY’S EXODUS FROM EGYPT, CLEMENT SOFFER’S LIFE STORY. IN THE LAST INSTALLMENT, CLEM LEFT NY. HE TOOK A BUS TO MYRTLE BEACH, WHERE HE IMMEDIATELY SEARCHED FOR A JOB. IN A VERY SHORT TIME HE WAS THE MANAGER OF A STORE. SOON HE WAS MAKING ENOUGH MONEY TO BRING HIS FAMILY TO AMERICA. HERE ARE CLEM’S WORDS.
One day I found out that one of my benefactors, Senator Jacob Javits, had passed a law to accept 5,000 Jewish Egyptian refugees and provide them with a green card allowing them to stay in this blessed country. That same week a man came into the store and asked me a lot of questions. When he left, I forgot about him.
I was eager to take advantage of the new law, so I arranged to leave for New York the following day. I flew to NY and went to the government office where I completed all my documents. Finally after several lines and interviews, I received my green card and my new social security card.
I was told that I would receive a work permit which would allow me to work legally for the first time. I was even looking forward to paying my fair taxes so I would be a contributing member of this wonderful country at last.
The best part of the trip was that I was able to place the names of all my family members on the list to be assigned visas as Egyptian Jewish refugees. I signed an affidavit that I would provide support for my family if the US government would allow them to come. I certified that I had saved in the bank $40,000, which at that time was like $200,000 today.
I guaranteed that I would have an apartment for them, and that I had a good job earning enough money that they would not be a burden on the US government. At last I received approval to bring my family to the US. My spine tingled with happiness.
I praised the Almighty for this enormous gift. I could not believe that I finally would be reunited with my family after being separated for such a long time. Plus, I would be bringing them to a fabulous country of freedom and comfort.
After corresponding with my family, I was not far from the bench I had slept on in the dead of winter with no food or money. I went to that wooden bench, and I carved my name on it. I promised myself that whenever I felt arrogant and very proud of myself, I would come back to remember my tough beginnings in the greatest country in the world. I thought about all the wonderful people who had helped me along the way. Then I returned to Myrtle Beach.
Shortly after my return, the same man who had asked me a lot of questions before I left, returned. This time he was accompanied by a sheriff and two police officers. He was an immigration officer and he was sure I was in the US illegally. He asked for my green card, which I happily handed to him along with my new social security card. Once again, Hashem saved me. Had the man asked me for those documents the first time he came into the store, I would not have had them, and I probably would have been arrested or deported. Egypt would not have taken me back. I would have been a man without a country. Instead, I showed the shocked immigration officer my documents and he welcomed me to the US.
Sometime in August I received notification that my family was approved to immigrate to the US. I cannot describe in words the happiness I felt. Tears rushed down my cheeks. My dream was becoming a reality. I read that notice maybe 100 times. I missed them so much. I could not wait to hug them and kiss them. It seemed like an eternity since I left them, but only three years had passed.
I continued to work as hard as I could, but I have to admit — I heard people my age at the beach and on the streets laughing and having fun — and part of me really wanted to join them. I missed the fun I used to have with my friends in Egypt, but I had to wipe from my mind all these frivolous thoughts and follow my father’s example — be dependable and shoulder my responsibility.
My family finally arrived in 1958. I rented a large three bedroom apartment in a two family house on 71st Street in Brooklyn, down the block from Ahi Ezer Congregation. I introduced my family to the wonderful people that had made me feel at home and were there for me in a foreign country.
The summer was coming to an end, and since Myrtle Beach was a summer resort, I decided to return to NYC and build a great future for myself and my family. On the flight back to NY I vowed to myself that one day I would pay back Rabbi Abraham Kalmanowitz zt’l for the great miracle of bringing me to my dream country. I vowed also to pay back all the good people who helped me, starting with the good hearted Mrs. Sophie Maslaton, Mr. Noury Dayan, and my wonderful adopted parents, Ruben and Esther Bibi, and Mr. Edward Massry zt’l.
I wondered how I could pay back people who had everything. Hashem rewarded me again, later in my life I was actually able to pay back my benefactors.
The grandson of Rabbi Abraham Kalmanowitz, Rabbi Chizkiya Kalmanowitz President of Asra Kadisha organization, asked me to help him and his organization save Jewish cemeteries all over the world that were being slated for destruction. I have been working with him, as a volunteer, saving Jewish cemeteries for the last 33 years. We have saved Jewish cemeteries in Egypt, Ukraine, India, Portugal, Germany, Belarus, Yemen and Lebanon.
Thank you Rabbi Abraham Kalmanowitz zt’l.
I didn’t know how to respect the memories of Mrs. Sophie Maslaton, Noury Dayan and his family, Reuben and Esther Bibi, Edward Massry and his family and the many other wonderful people who helped me. Then Hashem rewarded me by bringing to my attention the Council for the Rescue of the Syrian Jews, and I worked tirelessly for many years as their Executive Vice President along with their President, Alice Sardell, Marcos Zalta and Jack Mann, all great caring dedicated volunteers. With the tremendous help of Mr. Edmond Safra and his wife Lily and the power of Hashem, we were able to save the lives of 4,500 Syrian Jews. We brought them to safety in the USA from 1992 to 1995.
During that same time, Hashem gave me the opportunity to save the life of a Yemenite Rabbi, Rabbi Moshe Harrir of Chasdey Moshe. He was condemned to death in Yemen after being accused of being a spy for Israel. Thank you Hashem for always protecting and caring for me, for giving me the opportunity to fulfill my wishes to honor some of the greatest people in our community, may they rest in peace.
Thank you Mrs. Sophie Maslaton, thank you Mr. Noury Dayan and family! Thank You Mr. Rubin and Esther Bibi and family. Thank you Mr. Edward Massry and his entire family for your Hakarat Halev towards me.
And thank you, Clem Soffer for sharing your family’s history with our readers.
After his family’s expulsion from Egypt when he was 16, Clement Soffer came to the US and went to Mirrer Yeshiva. He founded Ahava ve Ahva Congregation and Chabad of Port Washington. He helped rescue Syrian Jews and saved hundreds of Jewish cemeteries. He received a congressional award in 1993 and was honored by Yeshiva University. He founded Beit Edmond Safra Synagogue of Aventura and Chabad of West Boynton Beach.
