I will always love you, now and forever

Love

Katy Haber

Dearest Ela.  To live  in the hearts of those that love us is not to die.
I will always carry you in my heart and with my arms around you.

With all my love always

Katy Haber

Ms. Weissberger's messsage and recordings touched my heart when recording a rendition of Brundibar, the children's opera she was a part of in Terezín. I wish her family the best, I know she is in a beautiful place now with all of Brundibar's original performers taken from us too soon

This note of condolence is being written on December 17, 2018 having just found out about the passing of Ela Weissberger.  First, if any members of her family reads this note we pass on our condolences.

Ela's memory is immortalized in so many ways by the journey she shared over the years in many ways with the world, as she always said "to remember".

As producers of the documentary "The Journey of Butterfly" filmed in 1991  along with  the sequel " The Journey of Butterfly: The Legacy" filmed in 2001, both feature Ela and her story told through her experiences.

Our condolences to not only her family, but  the multitudes of friends and those she encountered over the years  around the world.

We miss Ela and her spirit, but her memory and legacy remains for all time.


Robert E. Frye and Marcy Lefkovitz


I am very sorry to learn of the passing of wonderful Ela, who spent a week with us in Fairbanks, Alaska, when Opera Fairbanks presented Brundibar.  I was very involved with the production and spent lots of time with Ela, talking and learning about her extraordinary story, which she shared with many schoolchildren and others while she was here.  We were all amazed by her energy and the love she showed for other people, in spite of her sad history as a child, when she and her mother were imprisoned in Terezin.  She inspired many people and will be much missed.

My heart is broken! I just heard tonight of Ela’s passing. She was the brightest light in the darkest night of our world’s history, and she continued to shine her light for all to see. We were all warmed by her light, and her brightness, like the stars of heaven, will never dim. 

My heart is sad hearing that my dear Ela has passed away. Her photo hangs in my room to remind me to have resilience and hope in all I do. I met Ela at Ashley Hall in 6th grade, in 2007 when I played the role of the cat in Brundibar. Her and I have a picture together. She had so much joy and left an incredible legacy. Her love of butterflies is with me always. I sense their happiness and freedom whenever I see one, and think of her. 

Dear Weissberger Family:

We are so sad to hear of Ela's passing.  We met and spent time with her when my 2 son's performed in Brundibar here in Park Ridge IL with Petite Opera. 
She was an incredible inspiration with the stories of her life that she shared with all thje kids in the Show.  2 of our teachers from our school attended the  one of the performances and were able to talk to her after the show.  I will never forget her and the boys will treasure the show shirt that she signed "Ela the Cat"  
We will send prayers her way. 

Alvin, Jennifer, Blake and Landon Barnickel. 

Oh my heart is saddened at Ela’s passing.  I first met her at the LA Opera Summer Camp when I was 13 years old.  I played the role of the Cat in Brundibar—the same role she played only 70 + years earlier  in a Nazi concentration  camp not summer camp.  If anyone had a reason to be bitter and angry, it would’ve been her. Instead she was filled with joy and life and a desire to teach us all about what she went through. Her life has inspired me to understand that music has the power to change hearts, encourage people and bring a message when words cannot.

No words can describe what I felt knowing that Ela sang the same songs and could have been killed at any moment doing so—it is her courage, strength and light that I carry with me always. Her life brings perspective and reminds me to be grateful and take all experiences, good or bad, in stride and learn from them.  

I first met Ela  in 2006 at the Simon Weisenthal Center at a book signing of  her book The Cat with the Yellow Star.  When I introduced  myself to her as Frant Zelenka's niece, she cried tears of joy and hugged me and told me what an inspiration he was for her and all the cast of BRUNDIBAR.  She signed my copy of her book "Franta's moustach - because "Zelenka painted whiskers on her cat- face using tubes of makeup and a little box of shoe polish" for every one of the 50 performances in Terezin.  That night I gave her Zelenka's passport photograph  which she kept in her wallet till this very day.  I love you Ela with all my heart and will treasure our friendship forever.  For to live in the hearts for those we love is not to die.  Katy Haber

To Ela’s dear family,

Ela was a life force like no one else, and since meeting her and sharing her experience with thousands of young people and their families, I’ve thought of her almost every day since 1998 when we did Brundibár in Kansas City. Pillows and placemats and napkins she lovingly sewed and gifted to me grace our home. She was an artist and a true friend. She loved her children, David and Tammy, and spoke of you often. She was dear to many and will be missed by all. We shared much laughter, many beautifully encouraging talks, and even a fun night on the town in NYC many years ago, dancing and laughing at the Supper Club. I hope our fond memories of this remarkable person and what she meant to us will bring you comfort. Sending you sympathy and prayers and much love,
Paula Winans

Ela has been my friend for over 25 years.  I met Ela when she spoke at Vernon Twp High School and I had the privilege of traveling with Ela when she was a guest of honor at performances of Brundibar. I will always remember her, the life she lived and shared with so many, and her desire for us to remember her friends. 

Ela was one of the greatest inspirational individuals that I have known. I had the privilege and pleasure to meet with her, spend many hours talking. She attended several of my performances over the years and generously shared her knowledge and experience with the public.  I will miss her very much, but her memory will live on. 

I had the honor to write the libretto for a short opera - FRIEDL - in which Ella as a 13 year old girl, was a leading character.  Ella shared with me memories of her childhood friends and her teacher at Terezin - that were integral to the story.  She read drafts I sent her and made insightful but gentle suggestions- which I incorporated gratefully.  She generously expressed her enthusiasm when she felt the story was right.  
To me, she is and will always be a poet,  story-teller,  singer, and 
warrior for Goodness, Music, Friendship and Truth.  
I am a better person because I knew her.
I felt she entrusted me with those sacred stories along with her charge and permission to serve them well.  
Thank you Ella with all my heart.
Leslie Stevens


To Ela's beloved family,

LA Opera joins you in mourning dear wonderful Ela.  How she transformed the lives of every person she met!   She bore witness for all her friends, all those great artists, teachers and children who were murdered by Nazis. Then she carried out her life-long mission of connecting with thousands of 21st century children to tell her truth, hug each one, and join with them to sing the final victory march. Thank you for sharing her with us!

I had the great privilege of knowing Ela for the last few years of her life. We met when she was being included in a documentary film on which I had been invited to work by Cheryl Rattner Price. She had me at "hello" -- a smiling, glowing lady with an irrepressible spirit. We filmed together in San Diego and later, and most memorably, in the former concentration camp Terezin in the Czech Republic. Despite the sadness that hangs in the air at such places, I have so many delightful memories with Ela. Every conversation with her made me smile and many made me laugh out loud. Inevitably when I was trying to direct her in a scene for the film she would get an idea or be reminded of something... she would interrupt what I was telling her, the cameraman and the sound man about what I wanted us to shoot by saying, "But Joe, let me just tell you..." Everyone who knew her would recognize that prelude to some fascinating thought or story that might go on for many minutes before we could return to the work at hand. I think my favorite memory in Prague (where we were staying) was the night she insisted that we all go to her favorite restaurant and beer hall U Kalicha. That's her singing with the strolling accordionist - moments before she persuaded me to polka with her! Bless you, Ela - and thanks for the memories. 

OBITUARY

Ela Weissberger

June 30, 1930 – March 30, 2018

Brown-Wynne Funeral Home

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