HOLOCAUST REMEMBERED:

witness and legacy

 

            This is the third series of lectures and activities to focus on

             a topic pertinent to today’s society

 

            ALL LECTURES/ACTIVITIES ARE FREE TO THE PUBLIC

 

         SPONSORED BY

         West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts

         West Virginia Division of Culture and History

         CAMC Health System, Inc.

         The Bernard H. and Blanche E. Jacobson Foundation

         Federated Jewish Charities of Charleston

        Kanawha County Schools

 

         ADDITIONAL SUPPORT BY

         Dr. Steven J. Jubelirer

         Millie Snyder

         Dr. and Mrs. William and Ann Harris

         Betty Schoenbaum

         Dwight Foley

         Helen Lodge

 

         IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS 

         Baptist Temple

         Charleston Civic Center

         Clay Center of the Arts and Sciences of West Virginia

         University of Charleston

         B’nai Jacob Ladies Auxiliary

         Temple Israel Sisterhood

         Other generous individuals and businesses

 

         SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

         West Virginia Youth Symphony

         Appalachian Children’s Chorus

         St. Albans School of Dance

      New River City Youth Ballet Ensemble

 

The purpose of the series is to educate the public as to the actual happenings during that horrendous period in our history and to impart the importance of tolerance, hope, acceptance and respect – not to stereotype individuals based on religious belief, color of skin or national origin.  The series stresses the importance of positive thinking, as well as creativity and inner strength to overcome adversity.  The lectures give creditably to the cord that binds us as human beings.

 

The series is

co-chaired by Dr. Steven Jubelirer and Helen Lodge

with

Natalie Hoblitzell, Brian O’Connell and Andrea Williams

George Washington High School

Travis Baldwin

Sissonville High School and University of Charleston

Jack Lyons 

St. Albans High School

Carma Peters

WV University Institute of Technology and WV State University

Robert “Joey” Wiseman

WV Dept. of Education – Office of Secondary Learning

Consultants

Rabbi Victor Urecki – B’nai Jacob Synagogue

Rabbi James Cohn – Temple Israel

 

ALL LECTURES BEGIN AT 7:00 P.M.

Mon. Oct. 13^th – Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences of WV – One Leon Sullivan Way – Returning for the third series is renown writer and lecturer, Dr. Michael Berenbaum.  He will open the series with “Remembering the Holocaust in the Age of GenocideolHo”.  Survivors took two vows in the aftermath of the Holocaust: Remember Do Not Let the World Forget and Never Again, never again for the Jewish people and never again for all of humanity.  Yet the specter of Genocide has raised its head again and again In our world and inour time; so how do we remember the past in the shadows of recurring genocide? And how to remember in such a way as to fulfill their vow: Never Again!  ADMISSION FREE – Pick up tickets at the Clay Center box office prior to the event or that evening.  The Lovely Ladies String Quartet from the West Virginia Youth Symphony will open the Holocaust Remembered series and activities.

 

Thurs. Oct. 23^rd – University of Charleston – Riggleman Hall Auditorium,   2900 MacCorkle Avenue – U.S. Holocaust Museum’s Senior Advisor on Archives, Henry Mayer, will present compelling evidence of the planning of the Holocaust – “It only took 17 years – the search for the Alfred Rosenberg Diary”.  UC’s President Dr. Edwin Welch will engage Mayer in a conversational interview about the search for and contents of the diary.   Rosenberg, the chief theoretician for the Nazi party and state oversaw the slaughter of millions of people through firing squads, starvation and forced and slave labor.   He also oversaw the organization that plundered literally millions of pieces of art, furnishings and of other cultural treasures from individuals and from national cultural and historical  institutions from almost the entire European Continent.  West Virginia Youth Symphony harpist, Chance Messer, will perform prior to the lecture.

 

Sat. Oct. 25^th – B’nai Jacob Synagogue-1599 Virginia Avenue – “Understanding Jewish Worship” 10:45 a.m. – Rabbi Victor Urecki will follow the (8:45 a.m. – 10:45.a.m.) Jewish Sabbath Morning service with an interactive explanation of the structure, customs and traditions of the sacred liturgy of Judaism.  This provides the community with the opportunity to discover and understand Jewish worship.  A luncheon will follow the service.

 

Mon. Oct. 27^th – The WV Culture Center, State Capitol Complex – Fred Mayer – “The Real and Inglorious Bastards” – Fred fled Germany for New York City in 1938.   He joined the U.S. Army, becoming a secret agent with the OSS (precursor to the CIA).  Leading one of the most daring spy missions of World War II, Fred parachuted into Austria where he collected valuable information for the Allies.  He was later caught, beaten for days and finally released with the aid of a sympathetic doctor.  He went on to single-handedly negotiate the surrender of Innsbruck, saving thousands of lives.  Fred, 93, lives in Charlestown, WV.  Following  a showing of “The Real and Glorious Bastards”, Fred will be interviewed by Wes Holden, with questions from the audience.   Preceding the program, St. Albans Studio of Dance will perform to the “Theme from Schindler’s List”.  A reception will follow Mr. Mayer’s presentation and during the viewings of the photographs of James H. Hall.

 

Mon. Nov. 17^th – Baptist Temple, 209 Morris Street – Philip Bialowitz – “Bearing  Witness – A Promise to Sobibor” – Philip was 14 when he arrived at the  Sobibor death camp.  It was to become the scene of a famous prisoners’ revolt, one of the rare successful concentration camp uprising. In 1943, 600 prisoners overran Nazi staff and guards. 300 escaped the camp, 50 made it to the end of the war and 7 survive today.  Bialowitz will  recount some of this period and suggest other resource material.  His talk will be preceded by  a presentation of Hebrew songs by the Appalachian Children’s Chorus.  His talk will  be  preceded by a presentation of Hebrew songs by the Appalachian Children’s Chorus.

 

Tues. Dec. 2^nd – Charleston WV Civic Center – Little Theater – 200 Civic Center Drive – Marion Blumenthal Lazan – “Four Perfect Pebbles – A Holocaust Story” recounts Marion’s imprisonment at age 7.  Surviving several refugee, transit and concentration camps, that included the notorious Bergen-Belsen in Germany.  Her story is one of horror and hardship, but it is also a story of courage, hope and the will to survive.  She stresses tolerance and respect of others and the importance of positive thinking as well as creativity and inner strength to overcome adversity.  Her presentation will be preceded by a short performance by students of the River City Youth Ballet Ensemble.  Ms. Lazan will speak to approximately 1200 students, grades 5 to 12, the following day.

 

Other activities planned include:

Park Place Stadium Cinema – 600 Washington Street, East – “THE BOOK THIEF” –- Oct. 17 – 23 (Fri. – Thurs) – Show times: 1:00, 4:00, 7:00 and 9:40 p.m. Compliments of Park Place Cinemas.  The Book Thief is an American German World War II drama about a young girl whose mother had to flee because she was a Communist who is raised by foster parents who teach her to read.  As the war progresses and the situation of Jews becomes ever more precarious her foster parents shelter a Jewish boy whose dangerous and lonely existence is migrated by the books that are read to him.  Events of the Nazi in power from the Bookburnings to Kristallnacht and the unfolding of the Holocaust and the deportation of Jews to death camps serve as a background that adds power and poignancy to a story that is deeply personal.  Directed by Brian Percival, the film stars Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson and Sophie Nelisse and was nominated for an Academy Awards and a Golden Globe.

 

Starting October 20^th – October 28^th – “How Could It Happen – through the eyes of a West Virginian” – the photographs of the late James H. Hall of Mink Shoals, will be on display at the WV Culture Center.  Mr. Hall was one of the first Allied soldiers to enter the Dachau concentration camp at the liberation of its prisoners.  His job was to photograph to document the misery of Dachau and to track down those who created it.  He carried a U. S. Army Investigator’s pass, signed by General Patton in seven languages.  The photographs track the liberation through the war crimes tribunal, with riveting written comments by Mr. Hall.

 

A Holocaust education workshop for teachers of five counties will be held at the Culture Center on Saturday, October 18^th.  Teachers will learn the timeline of the Holocaust, learn how to present the sensitive materials in the classroom, become familiar with resource materials and tour both the photographs of the late James H. Hall, and the Division of Culture and History’s World War II Museum. To register e-mail: boconnell@kcs.kana.k12.wv.us

A literature writing contest in Kanawha County Schools for grades 6 to 12.  The contest provides enriching academic and community opportunities meant to broaden the student’s understanding of social injustices. An awards ceremony and film presentation will be held at The Culture Center on October 21^st for parents, students and guest – 6:00 P.M.  Student Holocaust art work will also be on display.  For information, contact: awilliams@mail.kana.k12.wv.usor nhoblitzell@mail.kana.k12.wv.us .

 

For additional information, call Helen Lodge:  304-925-8828.