CHES Newsletter – Fall 2017
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Centre for Holocaust Education and Scholarship Words from the Director cational projects. We were also delighted at Bad Orelson, Germany, will guarantee to partner with the National Holocaust more exposure for our films, and more Monument Council on a special event to educational opportunities. Thus, CHES honour the launch of the monument. The survivors’ testimonials will be available to National Holocaust Monument’s inaugu- millions more people. ration on September 27 was a momentous CHES committee members have also occasion for Canada and especially for been busy developing stimulating and Ottawa; we congratulate everyone who meaningful programs for Holocaust was involved in making it a reality! To Education Month (HEM). I invite you all further emphasize this milestone, CHES to check out the upcoming events and join believed it was fitting to hold a special us in November. evening program with speakers from the As we turn our thoughts to HEM, we Monument’s Council. You can read more are reminded of the sad passing this past Mina Cohn about it in this newsletter. spring of a dear friend, Holocaust survi- We are also very excited that our vor and educator, David Shentow. David ur spring and summer turned out to Survivors’ Testimonial Project videos, devoted a great deal of his time sharing Obe very productive, full of activities which were completed last fall, were added his painful memories with the young gen- in pursuit of new ideas, new contacts, and in August to the online main collection eration. His gentle humanity touched us a vision for the future. There is so much catalog of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial all. His message: “though we might never to report it is hard to know where to start. Museum (USHMM). Increased searches truly understand the Holocaust, we must We welcome the opportunity to cooperate of the museum’s collection over the past 10 teach it to make sure it is never forgotten” with the Azrieli Foundation on future edu- years and USHMM access to the archives inspires us all. We will greatly miss David. Powerful Lineup of Holocaust Education Month Events By Toby Herscovitch to bring their level of influence up a the Azrieli Foundation Elin Beaumont; notch. Titled “Descendants of Holocaust Defence Attorney Lawrence Greenspon; he upcoming programs of the Survivors Speak Out: Memory, Identity and University of Ottawa Professor TCentre for Holocaust Education and Emerging Narratives”, the focus will of History Jan Grabowski. Canada’s and Scholarship (CHES) during 2017 be on identifying and strengthening the Ambassador to Norway and Canada’s rep- Holocaust Education Month (HEM) voice, narrative and role of descendants resentative on the International Holocaust this November focus on the theme in carrying on the legacy of the Holocaust. Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), Artur Immigration and Refugees: Then and Understanding that the story of the Wilczynski will transmit opening re- Now, which is more meaningful than ever Holocaust did not end with their parents/ marks by video. Descendants of Survivors in the aftermath of growing anti-Semitism relatives, many descendants believe they Forum, will be on November 14 7:00 pm, and racism in North America and beyond. have a moral obligation to share these Kehillat Beth Israel, 1400 Coldrey Avenue. Following is an overview of the flagship stories in new ways, to prevent hate crimes This event is for descendants of HEM programs and additional special and work towards achieving greater hu- survivors. events. man harmony. In the words of Rabbi A. Sponsors of this event are KBI, CHES, Holocaust Education Month will be I. Kook: “I don’t speak because I have the and the Azrieli Foundation. RSVP re- launched Nov 9 with a presentation by Dr. power to speak; I speak because I cannot quired: [email protected] Avinoam Patt (see full article p. 12) remain silent.” The event will feature a As part of our theme this November we Following the success of last year’s 2nd panel of prominent descendants of sur- are Remembering John Hirsch in rec- Generation Symposium for descend- vivors. They include Israel’s Ambassador ognition of his contributions to Canadian ants of survivors, where they expressed to Canada Nimrod Barkan; Education Theatre on the 70th anniversary of his ar- a strong desire to reconnect and share Outreach and Program Facilitator, rival to Canada as one of 1123 Holocaust or- their experiences, this year’s event aims Holocaust Survivor Memoir Program of phan refugees. This special program with 10 Newsletter of the Zelikovitz Centre for Jewish Studies Centre for Holocaust Education and Scholarship actor Alon Nashman, who will perform We Learn?” Keynote speaker Robbie was born in Czechoslovakia. He survived excerpts from Hirsch, Peter Herrndorf, Waisman, one of those orphans now living Bunalager (Buna) slave labor camp (a sub- CEO of the National Arts Centre, actor in Vancouver, will share his dramatic story camp of Auschwitz) and Buchenwald con- Marilyn Lightstone, and others, is a tribute and the importance of community involve- centration camp. The public is welcome. to the life of John Hirsch. John Hirsch was ment in his absorption into Canada. This conversation will take place at the born in Hungary and survived the war in Similarly, CBC journalist Judy Trinh, University of Ottawa; Simard Hall, room Budapest. Hirsch arrived to Canada at the who arrived in Canada as a refugee with 506, 60 University Private, in cooperation age of 17 in 1947 through the War Orphans the Vietnamese “Boat People,” will de- with the Vered Jewish Canadian Studies Project of the Canadian Jewish Congress. scribe her journey to Canada and how the Program, University of Ottawa. Hirsch was adopted by Alex and Pauline local community made her family feel wel- On November 20, 10:00 – 11:30 am, Dr. Shack of Winnipeg. It was in Winnipeg come in their new country. Elin Beaumont Pamela Walker will host a conversation that Hirsch started his theater career. His of the Holocaust Survivor Memoirs with survivor Judy Young Drache in love for the arts and his creativity as a Program at the Azrieli Foundation will her Women’s History Class. Judy was born director quickly won him recognition in reflect on a new online interactive expe- in Budapest, Hungary. While her parents Canada and beyond. rience that invites users to explore the were sent to Auschwitz, she survived as This program takes place, November 16 firsthand accounts of Holocaust survi- a hidden baby. Students will watch the 7:00 p.m., National Arts Centre, O’Born vors published in the Azrieli Series of survivor’s testimonial beforehand. This Room. Holocaust Survivor Memoirs. conversation will take place at Carleton Remembering John Hirsh is co-spon- This program is co-sponsored by Temple University, University Centre Room 182, sored by NAC, and CHES. Israel, Zelikovitz Centre for Jewish in cooperation with the Department of Teachers’ Workshop Studies, Azrieli Foundation, and CHES. History, Carleton University. Temple Israel 1301 Prince of Wales Dr Registration is required, contact: chesat- On November 28, 11:35-12:55, Dr. November 23, 2017 4:30 – 8:30 pm [email protected] Deidre Butler will host a conversation The Teachers’ Workshop is one of the HEM: In Conversation with a with survivor Kati Morrison and screen linchpins of our Holocaust education plat- Survivor Series her testimonial in her “Introduction form, given that educators can carry our Two professors from Carleton University to Judaism” class. Kati was born in vital mission and messages farther and and one from the University of Ottawa Budapest, Hungary. She survived with the faster than one organization can do alone. will be welcoming a survivor to their help of her grandmother in a safe house This year will mark 70 years since the ar- classroom. With each survivor, the CHES’ and in the Budapest Ghetto. The public is rival of 1,123 Holocaust orphans to Canada survivors’ testimonials will also debut as welcome but please RSVP: chesatcarle- (from 1947 to 1949), after the closed doors educational tools for classroom use. [email protected] policy of the Canadian Government that On November 7, 3:30 – 5:00 pm, Dr. This conversation will take place at existed between 1933 -1947 was lifted. Our Rebecca Margolis will host a conversa- Carleton University, Canal Building, room speakers will reflect on: “Immigration tion with survivor David Moskovic and 2202, in cooperation with the Department and Refugees Then and Now: What Can screen his testimonial. David Moskovic of Religion, Carleton University. Holocaust Education Month Launch Event in Memory of Kristallnacht. November 9, 7:00 pm. the Museum of Jewish Civilization in Kehillat Beth Israel Synagogue, Hartford. 1400 Coldrey Avenue His topic “From Destruction to Rebirth: The Return of Life in the Jewish DP nder the theme of Immigration and Camps” will highlight the revival of survi- URefugees, Then and Now, CHES will vors lives after the Holocaust’s devastation, launch HEM in memory of Kristallnacht, and reflect on the potential power of refu- with a fascinating and timely presenta- gees, given the right conditions to recreate tion by the eminent Dr. Avinoam Patt, themselves. Philip D. Feltman Professor of Modern This event is in cooperation with Kehillat Jewish History and Associate Director Beth Israel Synagogue, the Zelikovitz at the Maurice Greenberg Centre for Centre for Jewish Studies, the Embassy of Judaic Studies, University of Hartford, Connecticut. Dr Patt is also Director of Continued on next page Dr. Avinoam Patt Newsletter of the Zelikovitz Centre for Jewish Studies 11 Centre for Holocaust Education and Scholarship the United States of America, Saint Paul Warsaw Ghetto Uprising,” to Professor Jan This lecture is hosted by Professor Yvan University, and the University of Ottawa.