♪ CRAIG: I AM CRAIG.

TONIGHT ON GREATER BOSTON, SUPPORT FOR MIGRANTS IS GOING DOWN.

HOW IS THAT AFFECTING EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE AT THE STATEHOUSE?

DID YOU GET YOUR TAXES IN?

EDGAR IS HERE TO GIVE YOU SOME TAX INFORMATION.

AND THEN SHE TELLS THE NAME OF THE JEWISH NAME SHE RECLAIMED.

AS THE INFLUX OF MIGRANTS COLLIDES WITH THE HOUSING CRISIS, THE OF ORDER IS DROPPING.

ONLY 45 PERCENT SUPPORT EMERGENCY SHELTER ACCORDING TO A NEW POLL WITH COMMONWEALTH BEACON.

THAT IS DOWN FROM 55%, SO HOW HAS PUBLIC PERCEPTION TAKEN SUCH A HIT?

I’M HERE WITH SARAH ALONG WITH STATE SENATOR PETER DURRANT AND ROBIN NICE.

SARAH, TELL US ABOUT THIS POLL.

WHAT DID IT SAY ABOUT THE MIGRANT SITUATION?

IT SOUNDS CONCERNING, BUT FEWER PEOPLE THINK EMERGENCY SHELTER SHOULD BE PROVIDED.

SARAH: THE FIRST QUESTION REALLY LOOKED AT HOW PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THE RIGHT TO SHELTER LAW IN THE 1980’S.

PEOPLE WERE OVERWHELMINGLY IN SUPPORT OF THAT, BUT THE SECOND QUESTION LOOK TOWARD MIGRANTS AND THEY COMPRISE 49 OR 50% OF PEOPLE IN SHELTERS.

THE POLL TELLS US THE SITUATION, NOT WHERE PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HUMANITARIAN RELIEF AND WANT TO SEE MORE OF IT.

THERE ARE THOSE WHO GIVE US A SENSE OF HOW THIS WILL PLAY OUT IN TERMS OF DOLLARS.

CRAIG: ROBIN, YOUR ORGANIZATION WORKS WITH MIGRANT FAMILIES.

WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE POLL AND THAT 50% OF PEOPLE DO NOT BELIEVE IN EMERGENCY HOUSING FOR MIGRANTS?

ROBIN: IT’S AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A WIDER CONVERSATION.

MOST RESPONDENTS I WOULD BE SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT THEY ARE LAWFULLY PRESENT, IT IS ONLY FOR PREGNANT WOMEN OR KIDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS.

THIS IS NOT FOR GRANDMAS, GRANDPAS, ANTS AND UNCLES.

I THINK IF PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD, I WOULD EXPECT IT TO BE HIGHER.

IT IS DISCOURAGING TO SEE ONLY HALF OF US SUPPORT THE MOST VULNERABLE, BUT IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AND MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT.

IT IS CRITICAL AND THERE IS NOT A GOOD ALTERNATIVE.

PEOPLE NEED A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS.

CRAIG: DO YOU THINK PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT THESE ARE FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN?

ROBIN: I HOPE THAT IS THE CASE.

I HAVE A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING OR EXCEPTING THAT SOMEONE IF YOU ASKED DO YOU BELIEVE A FIVE-YEAR-OLD KID SHOULD BE HOMELESS, I THINK YOU WOULD SEE A 0% RATE.

PEOPLE SUPPORT THE MOST VULNERABLE, KIDS AND THEIR MOMS AND DADS WHO TAKE CARE OF THEM HAVING A SHELTER, EVEN IF IT HAS CERTAIN LIMITATIONS OR A TIMELINE OF NINE MONTHS.

THAT IS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT THAT I WOULD HOPE PEOPLE WOULD SUPPORT, BUT IF NOT, WE NEED A PUBLIC CAMPAIGN.

CRAIG: SENATOR, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS BEHIND THIS CONCERN OVER HOUSING FOR MIGRANTS?

>> WHEN I LOOKED AT THE POLL, I SAW PEOPLE OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT THE RIGHT TO SHELTER LAW AND THAT IS NATURAL IN THE U.S. AND IN MASSACHUSETTS.

WE ARE A GIVING POPULATION, WE HAVE CHARITABLE FEELINGS.

BUT WHEN YOU START TO BREAK THAT DOWN AND SAY HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT HOUSING THOSE WHO ARE JUST COMING INTO OUR COUNTRY, THAT IS WHERE YOU ARE STARTING TO SEE A SLIP AND IT TELLS ME THERE IS THIS INHERENT FEELING OF THIS IS UNFAIR THAT PEOPLE GET TO HAVE A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD.

AND WE SAW FROM THE CHAIRMAN IN THE SENATE, SAYING THIS IS A PRICE TAG OF $10,000 PER MONTH PER FAMILY.

WHEN YOU EXTRAPOLATE THAT, THAT IS $100,000 A YEAR AND THE MEDIAN IS ONLY 95,000 A YEAR.

PEOPLE SEE THAT AND THERE IS A VISCERAL REACTION THAT SAYS THIS IS UNFAIR THAT SOME SHOULD GET THIS WHO ARE COMING INTO THE COUNTRY.

WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER IT IS ILLEGAL OR ILLEGAL.

TECHNICALLY THEY ARE ALL COMING IN ILLEGALLY, BUT PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THIS IS INHERENTLY UNFAIR, SO THAT IS WHAT YOU’RE SEEING.

CRAIG: WHAT IS YOUR REACTION?

ROBIN: THAT IS A BIG PART OF THE PERCEPTION.

IF WE LOOK UPSTREAM, WHAT THE BILL CRISIS IS IS WHAT THESE PEOPLE ARE FLEEING.

NO ONE LIKES MOVING UNDER THE BEST OF CIRCUMSTANCES.

IT IS NOT FUN TO LEAVE YOUR FAMILY BEHIND.

BUT THEY HAVE MADE THE IMPOSSIBLE DECISION THAT THEY HAVE TO EITHER STAY IN THEIR HOME COUNTRY, RISKED THEIR LIVES OR TRAVEL THROUGH DANGEROUS SITUATIONS.

TO COME TO THE UNITED STATES AND BUILD A LIFE.

THAT IS WHAT IS UNFAIR.

I TOTALLY -- IT RESONATES WITH ME THAT PEOPLE FEEL LIKE WHY ARE THEY GETTING SERVICES WHEN I CANNOT PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY BUT IT CREATES A FALSE SENSE OF US VERSUS THEM.

WE ARE ALL SUBJECT TO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A VERY LOW UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, A VERY LOW FREE HOUSING RATE AND HOUSES ARE UP TO 900,000 AS THE MEDIUM PRICE.

SO I THINK WE HAVE TO FRAME THESE AS PEOPLE PROBLEMS.

THEY NEED STATE RECOGNITION.

THEY ARE NOT IMMIGRANT PROBLEMS AND THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE.

>> THERE ARE TWO SIDES OF THIS AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, YOU LOOK AT ANY HUMANITARIAN ISSUE AND SEE A PERSON THERE.

FROM OUR SIDE IN STATE GOVERNMENT, WE HAVE A BUDGET AND THE OLD SAYING WAS WE ARE A NATION OF LAWS AND WE HAVE TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET MEANING RESOURCES ARE BEING PULLED AWAY.

WHEN YOU SPOKE ABOUT IF THEY FRAME THIS AS WOULD YOU WANT TO SEE A CHILD ON THE STREET AND QUESTIONING WORDS IS VERY KEY BECAUSE IF YOU SAID DO YOU BELIEVE TAXPAYER MONEY SHOULD GO TOWARD THOSE WHO COME INTO THE COUNTRY ACROSS THE BORDER, YOU MIGHT SEE A DIFFERENT RESULT.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE TRY TO SEPARATE THIS AND IT IS NOT EASY BECAUSE WE HAVE A HUMANITARIAN ISSUE, BUT WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THINGS.

CRAIG: I WONDER WHAT THE ALTERNATIVE IS.

YOU PROVIDE HOUSING OR SHELTER OR THEY ARE ON THE STREET.

HOW DO WE DEAL WITH THAT, FAMILIES THAT DO NOT HAVE ANYWHERE TO GO, OR THEY COULD THROW THEIR HANDS UP AND LET FAMILIES BE ON THE STREET.

>> THAT IS THE BILLION DOLLAR QUESTION.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO GO FORWARD IS TRYING TO MAKE MASSACHUSETTS LESS ATTRACTIVE FOR PEOPLE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF SERVICES AND BENEFITS, BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT AS A FINANCIAL ISSUE AND WHEN WE DO THAT, WE HAVE TO SAY WHAT ARE WE GOING TO CUT AND THAT KIND OF MAKES IT REAL.

I WANT A NEW CAR, BUT I CANNOT AFFORD ONE, SO WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO DO TO GET THAT?

THERE IS NOT AN EASY ANSWER AND WE LOOK TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BUT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT HERE.

CRAIG: SARAH MENTIONED SUPPORT FOR THE RIGHT TO SHELTER LAW, BUT NOT FOR MIGRANTS.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?

THE FACT THAT THERE IS A DICHOTOMY.

ROBIN: THERE IS SUPPORT, LESS THAN HALF THE RESPONDENTS SAID THEY SUPPORT IT, BUT I THINK AGAIN, IT COMES BACK TO UNDERSTANDING WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE, WHAT THE POPULATION IS AND TO THE SENATOR’S POINT, THERE IS A COST, ABSOLUTELY.

BUT WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE IT IS NOT A SUNK COST, IT IS AN INVESTMENT WHEN YOU INVEST IN PEOPLE, THE COMMONWEALTH AND THE COUNTRY.

THERE IS A WIDE MISCONCEPTION THAT IMMIGRANTS DO NOT PAY TAXES.

THEY CONTRIBUTE 20% TO THE REGIONAL GDP.

20% IMMIGRANTS IN THE REGION ARE PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE AND THESE ARE PEOPLE DESPERATE TO WORK WHO ARE DESPERATE TO BECOME PERMANENT RESIDENTS OR U.S. CITIZENS, SO IT IS HARD TO UNPACK.

I LIKE TO GIVE THEM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT AND THINK THAT IF THEY REALLY UNDERSTOOD SORT OF THE BACKGROUND I WOULD HOPE THERE WOULD BE MORE SUPPORT.

I UNDERSTAND FINANCIAL CHALLENGES BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IN TERMS OF FINANCES, WHERE DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO SPEND MONEY.

NEW YORK IS LOOKING AT PROVIDING LONG-TERM HOUSING AND HELPING PEOPLE GET ON THEIR FEET SO THINKING ABOUT THE SHORT-TERM AND THE LONG-TERM, IT IS HARD TO CAPTURE THAT IN A POLL AND THAT’S WHAT WE ARE SEEING.

CRAIG: SENATOR, ARE YOU SEEING ANY ACTION ON THE LEGISLATURE?

>> UNFORTUNATELY, WE KICKED THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD AS THE SPEAKER SAID, WE WILL FUND THIS IN THE BUDGET THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR AND THEN SEE WHAT HAPPENS, WHETHER WE WILL GET FEDERAL MONEY AND IF WE DO NOT, WE WILL HAVE TO COME UP WITH THIS ON OUR OWN.

WE ARE DOING STOPGAP MEASURES.

CRAIG: WHAT CAN YOU ADD TO THIS IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU ARE SEEING AND YOUR REPORTING WITH MIGRANT FAMILIES AND WHAT WE CAN EXPECT?

SARAH: THERE ARE 7500 FAMILIES AND EVEN MORE IN OVERFLOW SHELTERS, HALF ARE MIGRANTS AND A HUGE PART IS GETTING PEOPLE TO WORK.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY HAVE GOTTEN OVER 1000 PEOPLE WORK PERMITS, BUT IT TAKES TIME.

I THINK ROBIN RAISED AN INTERESTING POINT, THIS COULD BE CONSIDERED AN INVESTMENT.

THERE WAS A BUDGET OFFICE REPORT THAT SAID MIGRANTS ARE PROJECTED TO BOOST THE ECONOMY BY $7 TRILLION OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME THAT IS OVER AN EXTENDED TIME, SO I UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY COME FROM, BUT IT IS HARD TO SEE THE WHOLE PICTURE AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL SEE THAT IN THE COMING MONTHS.

CRAIG: SARAH, PETER DURRANT AND ROBIN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

NEXT, IT IS TAX DAY IN MASSACHUSETTS.

EVEN THOUGH MUCH OF THE COUNTRY HAD TO HAVE THEIR RETURNS IN DAYS AGO.

WHO BETTER TO TURN TO THAN EDGAR HERWICK III WHO CLAIMS TO FIND A WAY TO HAVE FUN.

TELL US, WHY TODAY?

TEXT DATE IS THE 15TH, WE ARE TWO DAYS LATER.

EDGAR: IT IS BECAUSE OF BACK-TO-BACK HOLIDAYS.

THE FIRST WAS PATRIOTS’ DAY WHICH WAS MORE THAN JUST A MARATHON EVEN THOUGH WE RUN THE MARATHON IN BOSTON ON PATRIOTS’ DAY.

IT IS LOOKING BACK TO LEXINGTON AND CONCORDE IN 1775 AND THERE ARE A BUNCH OF STATES THAT MARK PATRIOTS’ DAY.

US AND MAINE ARE THE ONLY TWO WHERE WE GET A DAY OF REPRIEVE FOR TAXES, BUT THERE ARE OTHERS INCLUDING NORTH DAKOTA WHO RECENTLY ADAPTED IT AS WE ARE GOING TO CELEBRATE PATRIOTS’ DAY.

THEY CELEBRATE IT.

BUT FOR MAINE AND US BECAUSE OFFICES ARE CLOSED ESSENTIALLY BECAUSE IT IS A STATE HOLIDAY WE DID NOT HAVE TO FILE TAXES.

ON THE 16TH, TUESDAY IS A HOLIDAY IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

ON THE 16TH EACH YEAR SINCE 2012 THEY CELEBRATED EMANCIPATION DAY.

CRAIG: WHAT IS THAT?

EDGAR: IN 1860 TWO, CONGRESS EMANCIPATED ENSLAVED PEOPLE IN D.C..

THIS WAS LEGISLATION PUT FORWARD BY A MASSACHUSETTS SENATOR WHICH GOT PAST BEFORE THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.

SO 3000 PEOPLE WERE EMANCIPATED AND THEY CELEBRATE APRIL 16 IS THE DAY THAT THAT HAPPENED.

SO ON THE 16TH, OFFICES IN D.C.

WERE CLOSED WHICH MEANS WE HAVE TO GET IT IN TODAY BY MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.

CRAIG: OK, SO YOU BROUGHT US SOME TRIVIA.

EDGAR: IF THERE’S ANYWAY TO HAVE FUN WITH TAXES IT IS TRIVIA QUESTIONS, LET’S DO IT.

YOUR FIRST ONE IS MULTIPLE-CHOICE SO YOU’VE GOT A ONE THIRD SHOT OF GETTING THIS RIGHT.

WHAT CONFLICT BROUGHT US THE FIRST EVER FEDERAL INCOME TAX, THE CIVIL WAR, SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR OR WORLD WAR I?

WHICH ONE BROUGHT US AMERICA’S FIRST INCOME TAX?

CRAIG: I’M GOING TO GO WITH THE CIVIL WAR.

EDGAR: YOU ARE CORRECT.

THE FIRST TIME WE HAD INCOME TAX IT WAS A LACK TAX OF 3% FOR EVERYONE WHO MADE OVER $800.

SO IT LASTED A COUPLE OF YEARS, THEN IT WENT AWAY, THEN CONGRESS TRIED TO DO ANOTHER ONE AND THE SUPREME COURT SAID YOU CANNOT DO THAT.

WHAT HAPPENED WAS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT RATIFIED THE 16TH AMENDMENT.

SINCE THEN WE HAVE HAD IT.

NUMBER TWO IS TWO OR FALSE.

FROM THE 1940’S TO THE 1970’S, 40,000 AMERICANS CLAIMED 078 ONE 12 ZERO TO BE THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.

DID 40,000 AMERICANS USE THE SAME NUMBER OVER 30 YEARS?

TRUE OR FALSE?

CRAIG: I WANT TO SAY FALSE, BUT I FEEL LIKE IT IS TRUE BECAUSE OTHERWISE WHY WOULD YOU BRING ME THIS FACT?

EDGAR: IT IS TRUE.

A WALLET WAS SOLD ALL OVER AMERICA, ESPECIALLY IN WOOLWORTHS.

THEY DECIDED TO PUT A FAKE SECURITY CARD, IN FAIRNESS TO PEOPLE, THIS IS RIGHT WHEN SECURITY NUMBERS STARTED, SO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FOR YEARS BELIEVED THIS WAS THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.

THEY KIND OF WHERE CRANKING THE SYSTEM BECAUSE THE BOSS WAS LIKE LET’S USE MY SECRETARIES SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, SO SHE HAD A HEADACHE, BUT IT ALL GOT TIRED OUT.

YOU GOT TIME FOR ONE MORE?

THIS ONE YOU WILL HAVE TO GUESS BUT I FEEL CONFIDENT YOU CAN GO 343.

THE SUPREME COURT DECIDED THAT FOR THE PURPOSE OF TAXATION, THIS FOOD IS DEFINITIVELY A VEGETABLE AND NOT A FRUIT?

CRAIG: I’M GOING TO SAY TOMATO.

BECAUSE IT IS LIKE THE CLASSIC.

IT IS A VEGETABLE BUT YOU HEAR IT IS A FRUIT.

EDGAR: BUT AT LEAST FOR THE PURPOSE OF TAX IN THE U.S.

DEFINITIVELY.

WHAT HAPPEN WAS IN 1893 THERE HAD BEEN A TAX PAST THAT VEGETABLES THAT WERE IMPORTED WERE TAXED, BUT FRUITS IMPORTED WERE NOT TAXED.

SO THERE WAS A GUY IN NEW YORK WHO HAD AN IMPORTING BUSINESS AND HE WAS LIKE I DON’T HAVE TO PAY TAXES ON THESE TOMATOES BECAUSE THEY ARE A FRUIT AND THE TAX COLLECTOR WAS LIKE NO, THOSE ARE A VEGETABLE.

THEY WENT TO COURT AND IT WENT UP TO THE SUPREME COURT WHERE IN FACT THE SUPREME COURT HEARD ARGUMENTS ABOUT WHETHER THIS WAS A FRUIT OR A VEGETABLE.

IT WAS A MASSACHUSETTS MAN WHO WROTE THE OPINION ON THE SUPREME COURT THAT CLEARLY SAID THAT BASICALLY, YES, YOU COULD BE CORRECT, IT IS A FRUIT, BUT THE WAY PEOPLE USE IT AND IN COMMON TONGUE IT IS A VEGETABLE SO FOR TAXES IT IS A VEGETABLE.

CRAIG: THERE IS SOME TAX DAY TRIVIA.

EDGAR, THANK YOU FOR SHARING THEM WITH US.

IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAD FUN.

EDGAR: HAPPY TAX DAY.

CRAIG: FINALLY, SHE WENT BY SUSAN FOR THE FIRST 16 YEARS OF HER LIFE AND THEN A TRIP TO CITY HALL REVEALED HER REAL FIRST NAME AND OPENED A WINDOW INTO HER JEWISH HISTORY.

SZIFRA BIRKE SHARED HER STORY WITH STORIES OF THE STAGE, A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THAT SHOW AND THIS ONE.

>> I’M AT CITY HALL WITH MY YOUNGER SISTER AND I’M THEREFORE BY BIRTH CERTIFICATE SO I CAN GET MY DRIVERS PERMIT AND I AM PSYCHED.

I AM EXCITED ABOUT DRIVING SO I TELL THE WOMAN BEHIND THE COUNTER SUSAN AND BEFORE I COULD TELL HER MY BIRTHDATE SHE SAYS OH HONEY, I KNOW YOUR FAMILY AND THAT IS NOT YOUR NAME.

AND I THINK I AM 16, I THINK I KNOW IT IS MY NAME.

SHE SAYS IT HAS AC IN IT.

AND I THINK WELL, MAYBE THEY SPELLED SUSAN WITH AC BECAUSE MY PARENTS ARE HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS, ENGLISH WAS THEIR FOURTH ANGUISH AND THEY SPELLED CREATIVELY.

SO SHE HANDS ME BACK A PIECE OF PAPER AND SHE IS RIGHT, IT HAS AC ON IT, IT SAYS SZIFRA BIRKE.

WE ARE THE ONLY BRIKES IN LOWELL , BUT THIS WAS A ME I HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

WALKING BACK TO MY PARENTS CLOTHING STORE, MY SISTER AND I TRIED TO PRONOUNCE IT.

UNINTELLIGIBLE.

UNTIL MY SISTER BREAKS OUT IN LAUGHTER AND SAYS OH MY GOSH, THEY NAMED YOU SZIFRA BIRKE.

I AM 16, I AM A CHEERLEADER, I JUST WANT TO BE NORMAL.

I WANT TO BE SUSAN.

IT WAS NOT A GREAT NAME, BUT IT WORKED JUST FINE.

NOW I FIND OUT THAT I AM GOING TO BE SZIFRA BIRKE, THAT IS MY HEBREW NAME.

WHEN YOU ARE A JEW, YOU GET A HEBREW NAME.

YOU DO NOT DO ANYTHING WITH YOUR HEBREW NAME, YOU JUST HAVE IT.

WE GET BACK TO MY PARENTS STORE, I SHOW THEM THIS PIECE OF PAPER, MELTING DOWN AT NEAR TEARS.

THEY IGNORE ME.

THEY START THIS VOLLEY BACK AND FORTH OR AS MY DAD WOULD SAY, FORTH AND BACK.

SO, STELLA -- I THOUGHT WE NAMED HER SZIFRA LEIA.

I THINK I FIGURED IT OUT, I THINK WE NAMED HER -- WHAT DOES THAT SOUND LIKE?

VOMIT, RIGHT?

25 MINUTES AGO I’M SUSAN, NO MIDDLE INITIAL, NOTHING.

NOW 20 FIVE MINUTES LATER, I’M 16 YEARS OLD AND IN LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS AND I AM SZIFRA BIRKE.

[LAUGHTER] >> THAT NIGHT I AM LIKE WHERE DID SUSAN COME FROM ALL THESE YEARS?

WELL, A CUSTOMER.

WE WERE CALLING YOU SZIFRA BIRKE , A CUSTOMER TOLD US IT IS NOT A GOOD NAME IN AMERICA.

WE SAY WHAT SHOULD WE CALL HER?

THEY SAY A GOOD AMERICAN NAME IS SUSAN, SO WE CALLED YOU SUSAN.

I GUESS WE FORGOT.

BETWEEN THAT MOMENT AND GOING TO BU, TO COLLEGE, I AM BACK AND FORTH OR FORTH AND BACK AND I DECIDE TO TAKE THE PLUNGE AND GO TO COLLEGE AS SZIFRA BIRKE.

THEY CALL ME SZIFRA BIRKE BECAUSE I TOLD THEM THAT WAS MY NAME.

ON THE HOME FRONT, MY EIGHT-YEAR-OLD BROTHER IS DECIDING TO BE AN ALLY AND HE TELLS MY FRIENDS, WE DO NOT HAVE A SOUP OR A SUSAN, BUT WE DO HAVE A SZIFRA BIRKE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WITH HER.

I’M 30 LIVING IN INDIANA, A COUPLE OF SONS, PEOPLE ASKED ME ABOUT MY NAME, I TELL THEM THE TRUTH, I TELL THEM THE HALF-TRUTH, BUT I DO NOT TELL THEM THE JEWISH PART OF THE STORY.

I’M 50 YEARS OLD WITH MY MOM, SITTING AT HER TABLE AND MY VERY STOIC MOM IS STARING AT ME VERY INTENTLY WITH TEARS IN HER EYES.

MY MOTHER DOES NOT HAVE TEARS IN HER EYES VERY OFTEN.

I ASK IS EVERYTHING OK?

YES, EVERYTHING IS OK.

IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE EVERYTHING IS OK.

I AM JUST THINKING LOOKING AT YOU, YOU LOOK JUST LIKE MY MOTHER.

WELL, I DO NOT KNOW IF THAT IS A GOOD THING OR A BAD THING BECAUSE MY MOTHER’S MOTHER AND HER FATHER AND HER BROTHERS AND HER SISTER AND THE REST OF THE FAMILY WERE EXTERMINATED IN THE HOLOCAUST LIKE MY DAD’S FAMILY.

SO I DECIDED TO ASK HER IS THIS HARD?

AND SHE SAYS WELL, YES, IT IS HARD BUT IT IS A GOOD HARD, BECAUSE I LOVED MY MOTHER.

I LOVED HER SO MUCH AND THEN I’M THE GUY DUE, -- I LOOK AT YOU AND I GET TO SEE MY MOTHER.

I AM SO GLAD WE NAMED YOU SZIFRA BIRKE.

AND I’M SO GLAD YOU NAMED ME SZIFRA BIRKE TOO.

IT HAS BEEN 50 YEARS SINCE THAT MOMENT WHEN I WOULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING TO BE THE CHEERLEADER SUSAN BURKE.

TODAY, WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME ABOUT MY NAME, WHICH YOU CAN IMAGINE HAPPENS REGULARLY.

I TELL THEM THE WHOLE STORY.

I TELL THEM THAT SZIFRA WAS A BRAVE NURSEMAID WHO REFUSED TO OBEY THE ORDERS TO KILL THE JEWISH BOYS.

THE JEWISH BOY INFANTS.

THAT IT WAS MY GRANDMOTHER’S NAME AND SHE WAS KILLED IN THE HOLOCAUST.

I TELL THEM ALL SORTS OF THINGS ABOUT MY NAME, INCLUDING THE JEWISH PART OF THE STORY.

I WAS TOO NERVOUS AT 30 TWO TELL THE JEWISH PART OF THE STORY AND TALK ABOUT MY NAME.

TODAY, I COULD NOT BE MORE PROUD, MORE HONORED TO BE ABLE TO SHARE MY NAME AND SHARE THIS STORY FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO COULD NOT TELL THEIR OWN STORY BECAUSE THEY DID NOT SURVIVE TO TELL IT.

THANK YOU.

CRAIG: THAT IS IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT COME BACK TOMORROW AND I WILL TALK TO THE HEAD OF ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTION ABOUT HOW THEY ARE PRIORITIZING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND HOW MASSACHUSETTS PLANS TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE.

THAT AND MORE TOMORROW AT 7:00, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

IM CRAIG.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪