Dentist Provides Skills to Assist Holocaust Survivors

POSTED: JANUARY 2012

By Lorraine Thomas Sherman

Often finding themselves alone and destitute, Holocaust survivors in The United States, unable to cope with overwhelming medical expenses as they age, turn to The Blue Card organization. Established in Germany in the 1930’s to aid persecuted Jews, reorganized in the U.S., they provide financial assistance to needy refugees.

One essential and unaffordable expense is dental care, uninsured under most plans. Retired dentist, Lewis Reznik (left), Holocaust survivor from Janow, Poland, and long-time Chappaqua resident, serves on the organization’s dental panel. Volunteering his expertise, analyzing procedures recommended by dentists, he vets necessity and cost. Remembering his own experiences, Dr. Reznik empathized when learning of the need for dentists in this capacity.

There is no personal contact with patients. “Mostly, I review dental claims... prepare a consultant treatment plan for individual patients. Blue Card, providing assistance to Holocaust survivors--dental care is very much a need, and very few can afford the care--examines the plan to see if it’s appropriate and that fees are in line.”

Fees must be “usual and customary,” he explained. Blue Card can reduce an amount deemed excessive. “In most cases, knowing what the patient has gone through I think the dentist will accept it.”

Having relocated from White Plains to Chappaqua in 1973, Dr. Reznik. joined Bet Torah Synagogue. He affiliated with Mt. Kisco Hebrew Congregation in 1990, where he volunteers, helping prepare boys for Bar Mitzvahs. In recognition of his volunteer work, he received an award from the Westchester Jewish Council. Active and involved. he recently published his memoirs, is president of Sons of Israel Anshe Janow (his home town) and lectures in schools, colleges, synagogues in Westchester and elsewhere.

“I am quite humble. I feel I am doing something that is right and don’t want any reward. It makes me feel good.”

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