Kristallnacht & Israel Solidarity Event

Monday , November 3 | Clifton Park–Halfmoon Library
Hosted by Clifton Park Chabad

Join us for a powerful evening of remembrance and resilience as we mark Kristallnacht, the “Night of Broken Glass,” and stand together in solidarity with Israel.

Our featured speaker, Ivan Vamos, was born in March 1938 in Budapest, Hungary, to an established Jewish family. That same month, Hitler’s troops marched into Austria — and as Ivan recalls, “The world was coming apart, and it was right next door.”

When the Nazis came for Hungary’s Jews, Ivan’s father was conscripted into a slave labor battalion, where he perished like so many others. Then, as mother and child were being herded toward a boxcar, Ivan’s mother made a fateful decision — she grabbed his hand and ran.

For months, the two hid in the smoldering ruins of Budapest, surviving on scraps of food and their will to live.

“As time passes, fewer Holocaust survivors remain to share their experiences,” Vamos reflects. “Hearing their stories now ensures they are preserved and passed on to future generations.”

After the war, Ivan and his mother immigrated to the United States. He went on to attend New York City public schools, become a U.S. citizen, and build a distinguished career in public service. A Columbia University graduate with degrees in engineering geology, geophysics, and urban planning, Ivan retired as Deputy Commissioner for Planning and Development at New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

Now, more than eight decades later, Ivan shares his story — a story of courage, survival, and rebuilding — reminding us of the enduring strength of the Jewish people.

Ivan Vamos

Vamos was born in March 1938 in Budapest, Hungary, to an established Jewish family. At the same time, Adolph Hitler’s troops marched to take over Austria. The Vamos family assumed that their long established status in the community would keep them safe — but that was not to be.

“The world was coming apart,” Vamos said, “and it was right next door.”

Several members of his mother’s family fled Europe. Ivan’s father, however, was conscripted into a slave labor battalion. Like most of these Jewish men, Ivan’s father died.

“After being rounded up to be boarded onto a boxcar, Ivan’s mother made a crucial decision, She grabbed his hand and ran.”

Surviving on scraps of food, Ivan and his mother evaded authorities by hiding in the smoldering ruins of the city for months.

“As time passes, fewer Holocaust survivors remain to share their experiences. Hearing their stories now ensures that their stories are documented and passed onto future generations.”

Vamos and his mother eventually immigrated to the United States, where he attended New York public schools. Vamos became a U.S. citizen in 1953.

Vamos graduated as an engineering geologist and geophysicist from Columbia College, has an master’s in urban planning from Columbia University School of Architecture, and completed the course-work for a doctorate in public administration at SUNY Albany.

Vamos retired from NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, where he was the deputy commissioner for Planning and Development — responsible for land and water resource management, development, planning, engineering, construction, land acquisition, and environmental issues. He worked for parks, conservation, transportation agencies, the military and private firms for 52 years.

He and his wife of 53 years have three children and five grandchildren.