Nikita Pokrovsky: “Lying and Deception in the System of Mass Extermination During World War II”

2006-2007

Strassler Family Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies

The people, programs, and events advancing scholarship in the field of Holocaust and genocide studies

YEAR END ACTIVITIES AND 2006 GIFT REPORT June 2006 through May 2007 Whoever fails to increase knowledge, decreases knowledge

—The Ethics of the Fathers LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR 1

Letter from the Director

August 2007

Dear Friends: “Human history becomes more and more on either side of the Polish-Soviet border a race between education and catastrophe,” lays bare multi-levels of ethnic conflict. H.G. Wells wrote in 1920. As Nazi Dottie Stone’s work on Jewish refugees Germany stomped across Europe in 1941, in South Africa foregrounds the issue of Wells reminded readers of his prediction. race — how white are Jews? — and the “Is there anything to add? Nothing except: ever-changing politics of race. The sub- . . . ‘I told you so. You damned fools.’” jects these students probe — immigration, And he added: “(The italics are mine.)” gender and violence, tools of genocide, ethnic conflict, race — elucidate the past, The aim of the Strassler Center is to shape and illuminate patterns, possibilities, and human history by increasing the odds of options for the future. And these are but a education over catastrophe. And our doc- few of the topics our students tackle. toral students lead the way. “Your book should be required reading for social Every facet of our mandate — research, workers who deal with immigration,” teaching, and public service — increases Jonathan Sarna, Braun Professor of Ameri- the odds of education over catastrophe. Debórah Dwork can Jewish History and Director of the Our public lecture series shone bright Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership Rose Professor of Holocaust with thoughtful perspectives on compelling History Program at Brandeis University, wrote to problems. Contrary to New York Times Director, Strassler Center Beth Cohen about Case Closed. Based on columnist David Brooks’s worry that “peo- for Holocaust and Genocide her dissertation, Case Closed investigates ple are quick to decide that longstanding Studies the lives of Holocaust survivors upon their problems are intractable and not really arrival in America. Identifying the chal- worth taking on,” stood Elizabeth English lenges they faced and the help they on the subject of Hurricane Katrina, received, Cohen trains our eye on the Edward Kissi on the parameters of geno- dilemmas of immigrants in America today. cide, and Joanna Michlic on the memory of the Holocaust in Poland today. Each student’s work provides a lens on the world in which we live — and the world we “The great aim of education is not seek to create. Through Sarah Cushman’s knowledge but action,” British social analysis of women perpetrators at Ausch- philosopher Herbert Spencer asserted. witz-Birkenau we understand the rise of We at the Center would correct him: The Pauline Nyiramasuhuko, accused of crimes great aim of education is knowledge and against humanity during the Rwandan action. (This time, the italics are mine.) genocide. Tiberiu Galis’s study of transitional justice casts light on the social We look to you for support, as we move dynamics of post-totalitarian regimes. Jeff forward together. Koerber’s comparative study of two towns

STRASSLER FAMILY CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES 2 VISITING PROFESSOR PROFILE

Dr. Robert Melson: Cathy Cohen Lasry Distinguished Professor

Robert Melson has been a longtime gen- Setting his students the task of examining erous friend to the Center, sharing his three cases—the Holocaust, the Armenian “Churchill saw the war knowledge, expertise, and enthusiasm Genocide, and Rwanda—Melson aimed coming, and no one with graduate and undergraduate students to develop their understanding of each believed him...I’m interest- and with audiences who have traveled to case and uncover possible explanations ed in how Churchill was so perceptive. And how Clark to hear his public lectures. A distin- for these atrocities by exploring similari- was it that others who guished Holocaust and genocide scholar ties and differences. were equally smart and and author, Melson first visited the Center perceptive didn’t recognize in 2001 to participate in the international “Many students at first think that each what he recognized?” symposium on “Genocide in the 20th case is completely different, but they get —Robert Melson, Century.” In spring 2003, he spent a week excited by seeing the similarities and Cathy Cohen Lasry as a Distinguished Visiting Scholar, guest getting closer to the underlying reasons Distinguished Professor lecturing in undergraduate courses, meet- why these things occur,” he says. ing with graduate students and delivering a public lecture. In spring 2004, he served In addition to teaching, Melson continued as the Robert Weil Distinguished Visiting his research into prediction and prevention Professor. of the Holocaust. He is particularly interested in the role of Winston Churchill dur- The Center community proudly welcomed ing World War II. Melson back to Clark in fall 2006, as he is now the Cathy Cohen Lasry Distinguished “Churchill saw the war coming, and no Professor, once again teaching and mentor- one believed him,” Melson explains. “I’m ing the next generation of genocide studies interested in how Churchill was so percep- scholars. tive. And how was it that others who were equally smart and perceptive didn’t recog- A founding member and president of the nize what he recognized?” Robert Melson International Association of Genocide Scholars, Melson’s major area of teaching Melson’s point: “If the second World War and research has been ethnic conflict and could have been prevented, there would genocide, to which he brings his perspec- have been no Holocaust.” tive as a child survivor of the Holocaust. In his most recent book, False Papers: Melson takes special pleasure in exploring Deception and Survival in the Holocaust these questions at the Center, where he (2000), Melson explores his family’s history finds a community of top-notch scholars and how they survived the Holocaust in and bright, dedicated graduate students “The faculty and graduate Poland by using false identification papers. who share his intellectual passion. students are focused on the His path-breaking book Revolution and same problem I am—the Genocide: On the Origins of the Armenian “The faculty and graduate students are Holocaust and genocide.” Genocide and the Holocaust (1992) earned focused on the same problem I am—the the international PIOOM Award in Human Holocaust and genocide,” he says. “The —Robert Melson, Cathy Cohen Lasry Rights for 1993. graduate students are young people Distinguished Professor beginning their career on this issue. Melson teaches a joint undergraduate That makes the Center unique.” and graduate seminar, “Holocaust and ■ Judith Jaeger Genocide in Comparative Perspective.”

STRASSLER FAMILY CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES EVENTS 3

Film: Fateless

Audiences flocked to Clark’s Jefferson raderie. He is taken under the protection Academic Center for screenings of the of an older prisoner, who gives him prac- award-winning film adaptation of Imre tical advice to preserve his dignity and Kertesz’s novel “Fateless” on 12, 14, 16, safety. The viewer perceives the complexity and 17 September 2006. The Strassler of György’s survival, involving self- Center cosponsored the screenings with reliance, interdependence, detachment, the local film series Cinema 320. Kertesz, humor, reminiscence, persistence, and the 2002 Nobel Laureate in literature, first luck. published (1975) his novel about a teenage Jewish boy’s experience in German con- György falls ill and, on the brink of death, centration camps to a cool reception in is returned to Buchenwald. Most unusually, Communist Hungary. Its 1992 English he receives care in a hospital ward with language translation, Fateless (now titled Waffen SS bedding, a scene baffling in its Fatelessness), received wide critical shift of atmosphere. What is significant, acclaim. A Hungarian Jew who shares however, is not that György is placed in a many experiences with his fictional coun- hospital ward with SS bedding; it is that Molly Brennan ’09 and terpart, Kertesz wrote the screenplay for he remembers it that way. Arianna Schudrich ’09 this adaptation directed by Lajos Koltai. found the film “Fateless” After the liberation of Buchenwald, György to be a powerful portrayal of a young person’s The film opens in late spring, 1944 in returns to Budapest and meets former perspective. Budapest with 14-year-old György Köves neighbors—Jews who escaped deportation wearing a yellow star, a regulation that the and the camps. They tell him that his German occupation authorities imposed experience was terrible, and that he upon Hungary’s Jews that April. His father should put it behind him. But in his final is about to be sent to a forced labor camp. monologue György places more importance György prays with his grandfather, yet on experiencing “happiness in those displays a detachment that continues camps,” since this had more to do with his throughout the film, and perhaps in part remembrance of events and his survival, explains his survival. Caught by Hungar- than the terrors everyone imagines. ian policemen, György is forced upon a dark odyssey that takes him to Auschwitz, Sociology professor and Holocaust and Buchenwald, and the Buchenwald subcamp genocide studies program faculty member of Zeitz. Eric Gordy led the audience of Clark students and greater Worcester community György is one in a group of adults and members in a discussion of the film after children faced with “selection” at the second screening. Like many others Auschwitz: those pushed to one side live, in the audience that night, Molly Brennan Eric Gordy, Clark sociology professor and HGS faculty the others are marched to the gas cham- ’09 and Arianna Schudrich ’09 found member, led a discussion bers. The boy lives only because, prompted “Fateless” to be a powerful portrayal of about “Fateless” after its by others, he lies about his age. a young person’s perspective. second screening. ■ Jeffrey Koerber Shipped on to Buchenwald and then the subcamp of Zeitz, György finds cruelty, suffering, and illness, as well as cama-

STRASSLER FAMILY CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES 4 EVENTS

Joanna Michlic: “The Past and the Future of the Memory of the Holocaust in Poland”

“Professor Michlic’s lecture The Center was delighted to welcome Deeply attentive to her presentation, the was extremely interesting Joanna Michlic’s return to Clark for a audience explored a range of related and offered me the opportu- discussion of her recently published book, issues in the question and answer period nity to learn more about The Past and the Future of the Memory that followed. Asked about current these controversial aspects of Polish history. I’m glad of the Holocaust in Poland, which took Holocaust education in Poland, Michlic Professor Michlic was invit- place in the Rose Library at Cohen-Lasry noted that the Holocaust and Polish- ed to speak—and that I House on 20 September 2006. Michlic, Jewish relations during World War II are came to hear her!” who earned her Ph.D. from Brandeis present in new textbooks but not always University, is currently the Apter Professor analyzed in detail. Several people —Elizabeth Popken ’10 of Holocaust Studies at Lehigh University addressed the controversial Jedwabne in Pennsylvania, and served as a visiting debate, specifically the responses from professor at the Center in 2003-04. gentile inhabitants and in the Polish Introducing Michlic, Clark sociology pro- national press. Michlic observed that the fessor Eric Gordy drew attention to the community of Jedwabne took an extremely profound moral dimension of her research, defensive stand, with the former mayor a which lies at the border between history notable exception. The community of and sociology, in the tradition inaugurated Jedwabne, today inhabited by poor people by Max Weber. afraid that “the Jews” will come back and reclaim their property, was influenced by Elaborating how the Holocaust has been a local priest who was at the head of this understood by Poles, Michlic focused on “self defensive” position. She added that the debate over revelations that Polish the responses of Polish society varied, Joanna Michlic, Apter neighbors were responsible for the mas- from shame, to facing the dark past, to Professor of Holocaust sacre of Jews in the town of Jedwabne. She rejection of Polish responsibility for the Studies at Lehigh University addressed the evolution of Polish historical Holocaust. memory and amnesia about problematic ■ Stefan Cristian Ionescu aspects of World War II. In Poland, the process of coming to terms with the dark past is mingled with issues of national Center in the Mail 2006–2007 “I was impressed by identity, which is characteristic of other Michlic’s synthetic and Central and East European countries. “I attended the 2007 Winter Seminar of the relevant presentation of AHO [Association of Holocaust Organiza- contemporary debates in tions] which was held at the USHMM. The Polish society, especially Michlic presented a complex situation. presenters were mostly young scholars who of the Jedwabne While radical nationalist historians remain were doing research at the museum. Included controversy. I was also active in Poland, a new school of historical among the presenters was Sarah Cushman interested in the evolution research that accepts negative aspects of from Clark. You should be so proud—Sarah of Holocaust education in was outstanding: one of the best lecturers of today’s Poland.” the past has emerged. And while nostalgia for a multi-ethnic Polish past, now gone, led the three-day program. She spoke on her —Clark University to a “boom” in Holocaust commemoration, research about the woman guards at Birkenau. Her presentation and her delivery graduate student an opposite trend, fueled by historians, were excellent.” politicians, and journalists championing a —Stanlee Stahl, Executive Vice President, Polish ethno-nationalist “heroic” history, Jewish Foundation for the Righteous, to Center opposes remembering the Holocaust, and Director and Rose Professor Debórah Dwork rejects Polish responsibility. This battle regarding Center graduate student Sarah Cushman

over the memory of Polish history continues continued on page 8 in politics, historical writing, and the media.

STRASSLER FAMILY CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES EVENTS 5

Elizabeth English: “Hurricane Katrina and the Destruction of a Culture”

The audience in Tilton Hall on the evening The Lower 9th Ward enjoyed 60 percent of 5 October 2006 surely knew already owner occupancy before the 2005 flood. of Hurricane Katrina’s impact on New Orleans. Elizabeth English, associate Working with others, English has uncov- professor at the Louisana State University ered a systematic disenfranchisement of Hurricane Center, came to Clark to shed working class owners in the city inspection Elizabeth English, associate a lesser known perspective. As Strassler of their flood-damaged homes. Her com- professor at Louisiana Center Director Debórah Dwork explained parison of house evaluations by city inspec- State University Hurricane in her introductory remarks, English is as tors in middle- and upper-income areas Center and the School of concerned with equal rights, opportunities, with those in lower-income neighborhoods Architecture, University of Waterloo, Canada and protections as she is with her studies revealed that a significantly higher per- of wind effects on buildings and post- centage failed to pass inspection in the hurricane damage assessment. English Lower 9th Ward despite comparable dam- presented research findings about the dev- age. She noted, too, that the current prac- astated Lower 9th Ward in New Orleans, tice of demolishing flooded yet structurally What Glen Liasson ’08 concluding that systematic social and cul- sound shotgun homes is illogical, as the found most compelling was English’s discussion of tural devastation is occurring on a citywide cost of demolition and replacement is skewed property damage scale. Her lecture revealed a powerful much higher than repair. These data sug- assessments and the similarity between the aftermath of this gest at the least a lack of political will to potential for permanent natural disaster and that attendant upon return residents to their homes in the displacement of large genocide: the loss of culture as a result Lower 9th Ward and perhaps even a policy portions of New Orleans’s of deliberate government action. of resident removal. Should that occur, she residents. warned, the cultural heart of New Orleans English began onsite research in New is at risk of being destroyed forever. Orleans in early September 2005, little more than a week after the flood. Using Addressing the question of what is to stunning images of the deluged city, she be done, English turned to her recent described how the urban residential archi- research on ways to mitigate damage from tecture relates to its distinctive culture. floods. She has investigated the use of Because of the value of land frontage along buoyant foundation systems, typically the Mississippi River, New Orleans has made from big foam blocks, in use in the long, narrow land parcels. The resulting Netherlands and other flood-prone regions narrow rectangular building is known as that enable homes to float atop floodwaters. the shotgun house, comprising a series of Her research, conducted with engineering adjacent rooms so called from the saying students from Louisiana State University, that one could “fire a shotgun through the focuses on the retrofitting of buoyant foun- front door all the way out the back door.” dation systems to New Orleans’s shotgun

The lack of privacy within the house and houses. And, she concluded with relish, IDCE Director William Fisher the close spacing between houses encour- such systems are affordable. (left), Strassler Professor ages a unique social interaction that ■ Jeffrey Koerber Thomas Kühne, IDCE profes- inspires much of the city’s music and sor Heidi Larson, Elizabeth English, Center graduate culture. student Jeffrey Koerber, Debórah Dwork, Kaloosdian/ The city’s small shotgun houses are also Mugar Professor Simon Payaslian, and Clark relatively affordable, encouraging home professor Robert Goble ownership among lower income families. at Cohen-Lasry House

STRASSLER FAMILY CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES 6 EVENTS

JulieAnne Mercier-Foint: “Mass Rape and Genocide”

A form of violence, rape attacks an indi- Traditionally, the topic of rape is studied vidual physically and psychologically, and from the perspective of the female (and in assaults her character, identity, and honor. smaller numbers, male) experience of vic- When perpetrated widely and systemati- timization. Rarely, the audience learned, cally, this violence is called mass rape. does a scholar attempt to understand the JulieAnne Mercier-Foint, a third-year doc- meaning and symbolism attached to rape toral student at the Strassler Center, pre- by the male perpetrator. Yet, as Mercier- sented her doctoral research on this topic Foint explained persuasively, since men to the Clark community as a speaker for and women are defined in relation to one the Modern History Colloquium on 18 another, the only way to understand rape October 2006. The Center was proud to as a tool of genocide is to examine gender showcase the work of one of its graduate relations between the two groups. Focusing students. on the mass rape of women and girls in Armenia, Bosnia, and Rwanda, she will Mercier-Foint’s presentation on “Mass explore the phenomenon from the perspec- Rape and Genocide: Armenia, Bosnia, tive of the male perpetrator, and attempt Germany, and Rwanda” drew a diverse to understand the role of gender norms in and engaged crowd of Clark students and the atrocities. faculty, community members, and visiting scholar Dr. Thomas Brudholm. Strassler This presentation ended not with conclu- Professor Thomas Kühne, who serves as sive answers, but rather an onslaught “I never realized how Mercier-Foint’s academic advisor, opened of questions: Who issues the command significant a role rape with high praise for Mercier-Foint and her to commit mass rape in genocide? Does played in genocide, and research. rape exist within the framework of an offi- thank you, JulieAnne, cial state policy, or is it an independent for bringing this issue to our attention.” With the complete attention of the room, decision made by soldiers? What is the Mercier-Foint described the progress of link between a social analysis of cultural, —Liz Chase, her research in comparative genocide. economic, and political power and mass Clark University graduate “Rape,” she argued, “has proven through- rape? Do all men, given the opportunity to student in history out history to be an efficient tool of war- rape in genocide, act on that opportunity? fare, manipulated by perpetrators in the attempt to demoralize and humiliate Mercier-Foint’s presentation was thought- women, girls, and the communities in provoking and left the crowd eager to which they live.” In the recent genocides learn more about this challenging and oft- in Bosnia and Rwanda in the 1990s, and ignored component of genocide studies. nearly one century ago in Armenia, mass The Clark community awaits Mercier- “JulieAnne makes a strong rape developed into an independent form Foint’s research findings as she continues case for the argument of of genocide, symbolically and literally preparing for her dissertation. rape as a tool of genocide.” destroying populations independent of tra- ■ Adara Goldberg —Robert Melson, ditional warfare. For comparative purpos- Cathy Cohen Lasry es, Mercier-Foint includes the Holocaust Distinguished Professor in her research as a case in which mass rape was not used as a genocidal weapon.

STRASSLER FAMILY CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES EVENTS 7

David Marwell: “Search for Mengele”

David Marwell, director of the Museum of gation, for the first time, professional his- Jewish Heritage—A Living Memorial to torians “were employed in the service of the Holocaust, presented a fascinating lec- law in the courtroom in federal prosecu- ture at Tilton Hall on 19 October 2006, tions.” Thus the field of forensic history, as about the discovery of the body of Josef Marwell calls it, was established. Mengele, the infamous Nazi doctor of Auschwitz. Marwell’s lecture honored the Marwell detailed how he and his col- memory of Simon Wiesenthal (1908-2005), leagues, beginning in late 1984, began to a survivor of the Nazi death camps who investigate what had happened to Mengele dedicated his life to documenting the after he left Auschwitz. Marwell “visited crimes of the Holocaust and hunting down [Mengele’s] hometown and hideout, inter- Nazi war criminals still at large. Wiesen- viewed his family, friends, colleagues, and thal was an inspiration, mentor, and friend victims, inspected the scenes of his to Marwell. Focusing on the case of crimes, spoke with his physicians and

Mengele, Marwell’s lecture led the audience dentists, read his private correspondence David Marwell, director of to consider the problem—and process—of [and] in the end…held his bones in my the Museum of Jewish prosecution of perpetrators of genocide. hands.” He investigated primary docu- Heritage—A Living Memorial ments to untangle Mengele’s actions in the to the Holocaust In the 1980s, Marwell served as chief of immediate post-war period and to probe Investigative Research in the Office of how one of the most notorious Nazis Special Investigations at the U.S. escaped capture. Marwell and his col- Department of Justice, where he was a key leagues worked alongside the U.S. investigator in the hunt for Nazi war crimi- Marshall Service, which had been tasked nals Klaus Barbie and Mengele. Marwell with finding Mengele. The Office of then served, from 1988 to 1994, as direc- Special Investigations and the U.S. tor of the Berlin Document Center, a Marshall Service joined in the investiga- “David Marwell’s lecture repository for over 25 million Nazi-era per- tion, which eventually led to the disinter- was truly fascinating. I sonnel files. Executive director of the John ment of Mengele’s body. It was, as Marwell enjoyed learning about the F. Kennedy Assassination Records Review illustrated, one of the most complex histor- search for Josef Mengele Board of the National Archives from 1994 ical mysteries ever to be solved. via a forensic analysis, to 1997, Marwell went on to work at the rather than a typical medical/historical analysis.” United States Holocaust Memorial The audience was mesmerized by Marwell’s Museum prior to becoming the director of work. His responses to questions illumi- —Clark University the Museum of Jewish Heritage. nated his expertise as well as his passion undergraduate student for following in the footsteps of Simon concentrating in Holocaust and Genocide Studies Marwell described the search for Mengele Wiesenthal. as “an investigation that was unlike any ■ JulieAnne Mercier-Foint other carried out by the U.S. federal government.” It held importance for understanding how Mengele had escaped justice in the immediate post-war period and how David Marwell (left) with David Strassler, Clark later efforts were mounted to University Trustee and long- find him for prosecution. He time, ardent supporter noted that with this investi-

STRASSLER FAMILY CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES 8 EVENTS

Liliana Picciotto: “The Anti-Jewish Policy of the Fascist Regime”

The Center welcomed Liliana Picciotto, new information comes to light. In an a well-respected historian and chief attempt to educate the Italian and interna- archivist at the Contemporary Jewish tional communities, Picciotto served as an Documentation Center in Milan, Italy. In educational advisor for “Memoria,” an the United States to present a series award-winning documentary about Italian of lectures to academic institutions Jews who survived the Shoah. The audi- on Italian Jews and the Holocaust, ence was fortunate to view a segment of the Picciotto presented her talk on 26 film and discuss critically what it means October 2006 to a receptive audience to be a survivor today. of Clark students and faculty, as well as members of the greater Worcester More recently, Picciotto has been involved community. in the documentation of the Righteous

Liliana Picciotto, chief Among the Nations and rescue and resist- archivist at the Contempo- An expert on the history of the Holocaust ance by Jews in Italy. She seeks to estab- rary Jewish Documentation in her native Italy, Picciotto described lish a separate division within Yad Vashem Center in Milan, Italy Italian Jews as an ancient community to honor Jewish rescuers who assisted and dating back to the time of Caesar. Never protected fellow Jews during the Holocaust. exceeding 30,000 to 40,000 people, Jews accounted for no more than 0.1 percent of Picciotto concluded her lecture by declar- Italy’s population. A well-integrated group, ing her personal mission: “Never to allow they embraced both Judaism and Italian Italy to forget about the Shoah or the lives heritage and their religion was not a that were lost as a result of Nazi occupa- fraught issue in modern Italian history. tion and at the hands of eager officers in the Italian police, who were responsible Picciotto’s expertise centers on the Jews for more than half of the arrests of Jews in of Milan and Rome during the deportations the final two years of war.” One audience from 1943-1945. She has spent many member stood to applaud Picciotto’s effort Liliana Picciotto (standing), years searching for private and public to bring awareness to both the Jewish and chief archivist at the Contemporary Jewish documents that pertain to individual Jews Italian communities about this history. Documentation Center in and communities of Jews in Italy who died ■ Adara Goldberg Milan, Italy, with German in the Shoah (the term preferred by most Consul General Wolfgang Vorwerk and Debórah Dwork European historians for describing the Holocaust). As one audience member sug- continued from page 4 gested, and Picciotto affirmed, research Center in the Mail 2006–2007 is necessary not only in remembering the “The [Strassler] Center matters a lot both victims, but also in understanding the to specific peoples that have undergone and genocidal process and its perpetrators. sometimes survived genocide, and to the task of having epistemic spaces where a variety Picciotto authored the critically acclaimed of disciplinary perspectives can work together “It is about time somebody Memory Book for Italian Jews, (Il libro to give us a more rounded view of genocide.” cared about our lost brothers della memoria), which includes the rather —Professor Khachig Tololyan, College of and sisters of the South.” neglected Jewish community of Rhodes, Letters and the Department of English, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn.; —Worcester community the Italian-held island in the Aegean. This editor of Diaspora: A Journal of Transnational member landmark text includes information about Studies approximately 8,000 murdered Italian continued on page 10 Jews; it will be updated periodically as

STRASSLER FAMILY CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES EVENTS 9

U.S. Representative James P. McGovern: “Stop the Darfur Genocide!”

The Strassler Center was honored to host ery; establish and enforce a no-fly zone U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern (D-MA), a over Darfur so that government forces and McGovern asserted that we friend of Worcester and Clark University militias cannot bomb and attack civilians; repeatedly see, hear, and and an outspoken critic of the internation- raise awareness around the world, and voice the phrase “Never al community’s lack of action against the shame the Sudanese government and its Again.” Yet, he observed, “It has happened several genocide in Darfur, Sudan. A large crowd allies into taking action; reappoint a U.S. times and it is happening of Clark students, faculty, and staff, and Special Envoy to Sudan who can call now.” members of the greater Worcester commu- attention to the situation in Darfur and nity, packed Tilton Hall on 30 October lead the way to ending the genocide. 2006 to hear McGovern’s talk, “Stop the Darfur Genocide!” For his part, McGovern has spoken on the House floor, attended all briefings McGovern has served as U.S. representa- about the Darfur Genocide, and held his “Not since the Rwandan tive for the Massachusetts Third own briefings. He has sent countless Genocide of 1994 has Congressional District, since he was elect- letters to national and international lead- the world seen such a ed as Regional Whip in 1997. He is the ers, embassies, and companies around calculated campaign of second-ranking democrat on the House the world. Outraged that more hadn’t displacement, starvation, rape, and mass slaughter.” Rules Committee, which sets the terms for been done, McGovern organized a protest debate and amendments on most legisla- and was arrested, along with four House —U.S. Rep. James P. tion. McGovern successfully nominated colleagues and five religious and student McGovern (D-MA) the Coalition to Ban Land Mines for the leaders, on 28 April 2006 for demonstrat- Nobel Peace Prize. He is the only member ing in front of the Sudanese Embassy in of the entire House with a 100 percent rat- Washington, D.C. He had protested against ing from the League of Conservation Voters apartheid in front of the South African over the last 10 years. He is currently a Embassy and felt that the regular arrest of member of the House Sudan Caucus and demonstrators “helped mightily in creating co-chair of the Congressional House international pressure to end apartheid.” Hunger Caucus. He called on people from all professions to follow in his footsteps. Over the past three years, McGovern said, more than 400,000 people have been McGovern also offered the audience killed and 2 million people displaced in suggestions on how to help stop the Darfur, resulting in 3.5 million people genocide: get organized and stay completely dependent on international aid organized; connect with organizations for survival. “Not since the Rwandan and networks, such as STAND, Save Genocide of 1994 has the world seen such Darfur Coalition, and Genocide a calculated campaign of displacement, Intervention Network; educate the starvation, rape, and mass slaughter,” he Worcester community; raise aware- said. ness and funds for the victims.

McGovern presented ways for governments McGovern believes that the American U.S. Rep James P. McGovern (D-MA) (left) with Everett and international organizations to respond public can shame the civilized world Fox, Clark’s Allen M. Glick to the Darfur Genocide: strengthen the into action, and his position is clear and Professor of Judaic and African Union force in Darfur; insist on unequivocal: “We have a moral obligation Biblical Studies deploying a peacekeeping force; increase to stop the Darfur Genocide.” humanitarian aid and ensure its safe deliv- ■ JulieAnne Mercier-Foint

STRASSLER FAMILY CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES 10 EVENTS

Milton Shain: “From ‘Jewish Question’ to ‘Israel Question’”

Eminent historian Milton Shain framed charged, and hospitable political atmos- his lecture “From ‘Jewish Question’ to phere underpins anti-Zionism. ‘Israel Question’: The Changing Nature of Hostility toward Jews in Twentieth Century The “Israel Question” took decades to South Africa” in the context of racism in become a public issue. A special antipathy South African society. Director of the Isaac to Zionism seems to go beyond the bounds and Jessie Kaplan Center for Jewish of normal conflicts, with several strands Studies and Research, the only institute existing within the South African Muslim of its kind on the African continent, and community. One emphasizes Islamic professor of modern Jewish history at the humanism and universalism while the University of Cape Town, Shain was a most other, influenced by more radical schools welcome guest speaker at the Center on of Islamic thought, is conservative or 8 November 2006. Islamist and at odds with religious plural- ism and ecumenism. Both strands rely on Shain began his talk by relating events classic antisemitic notions about interna- surrounding the United Nations World Con- tional Jewish finance and imperialism to ference against Racism, Racial Discrimina- foster a hostile critique of Zionism. These tion, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerances ideas increasingly resonate among non- held in Durban South Africa, 31 August– Muslims, especially the black population, 7 September 2001. In connection with the and have placed the “Israel Question” conference, local Muslim groups initiated firmly on the public agenda. In the end, anti-Zionist activities to protest what they South Africans understand the matter called Israeli atrocities against Palestinians. through the prism of their own national The irony of an international gathering history. A common question asked by South meant to combat racism and prejudice Africans is “Why can’t the Israelis and turning into a “hate-fest” was not lost. Palestinians resolve their problems in the Still, Shain argued, South Africa should same way we solved ours?” not be seen as a hotbed of antisemitism. ■ Lotta Stone Milton Shain, director of the Isaac and Jessie Kaplan Center for Jewish Studies Shain drew parallels between the “Jewish and Research and professor Question” of the 1930s and early 1940s continued from page 8 of modern Jewish history Center in the Mail 2006–2007 at the University of Cape and the “Israel Question” of the late 20th Town, South Africa century. Both cases were informed by ideas “I would like to take this opportunity to from beyond the nation’s borders. European express our appreciation...for the amazing fascism influenced the South African radi- exhibit ‘Neighbors Who Disappeared’ at the cal right of the 1930s and early 1940s, Strassler Center...We were very impressed while global Islamic literature affects Mus- by the involvement of your undergraduate lim anti-Zionism today. The target—Jew or and Ph.D. program students, and inspired Zionist—is identified as responsible for the by the wonderful hospitality and professionalism of Dr. Tatyana Macaulay. Dr. A common question evils of the day: threatening to dominate Macaulay and the group of students put asked by South Africans and control society in the 1930s, and is “Why can’t the Israelis together an unforgettable event.” malevolently orchestrating global affairs and Palestinians resolve —Regina Szwadzka, Director, American Red their problems in the same and oppressing Palestinians later in the Cross International Services and Holocaust way we solved ours?” 20th century. Political, economic, and Tracing Program; and Dr. Naomi Leavitt, Chair, social upheaval underpinned the “Jewish American Red Cross Holocaust Tracing Program Question,” while a volatile, highly continued on page 15

STRASSLER FAMILY CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES EVENTS 11

Edward Kissi: “Revolution and Genocide in Ethiopia and Cambodia”

Former Clark faculty member Edward Kissi returned to the Center on 8 November 2006 to deliver a compelling public lecture in the Rose Library. Clark students, faculty, and residents of the Worcester area gathered to welcome Kissi back to Clark and to celebrate the publication of his book Revolution and Genocide in Ethiopia and Cambodia—the first com- He explained that the degree to which Edward Kissi, professor of parative study of the Ethiopian and social revolutions descend into targeted Africana Studies at the University of South Florida Cambodian revolutions of the early 1970s. killing of ethnic and racial groups depends Kissi is currently professor of Africana upon the ways in which agents of revolu- Studies at the University of South Florida. tion acquire power and the domestic opposition they encounter. “Genocide depends Born in Ghana, Kissi graduated from the on societal acquiescence,” he observed. In University of Ghana in 1987 and earned a the case of Ethiopia, nine armed political M.A. in history at Wilfrid Laurier Univer- groups opposed the government. This sity in Canada and a Ph.D. in history at domestic opposition caused Dergue to nar- Concordia University in Montreal. He was row his targets, which limited the ideologi- awarded a year-long postdoctoral fellow- cal goals of the Ethiopian government. In ship in the Genocides Studies Program at Cambodia, on the other hand, there was no Yale University at the conclusion of which such opposition to the ideological desire to he came to Clark. In 2004, he joined the create an agricultural, utopian society. “Genocide depends on faculty of the University of South Florida. societal acquiescence.” Kissi concluded by discussing whether the —Professor Edward Kissi Analyzing traditional genocide scholar- intentional destruction of groups on the ship, Kissi pointed out an emphasis on grounds of political beliefs and actions commonalities among genocides. He sug- should be considered genocide. He called gested another approach, and urged his for a redefinition of “political groups” in audience not to neglect “what is different” the study of genocide and encouraged when comparing and analyzing genocides. scholars to take into account the many For example, Kissi noted that the guises in which political groups appear in Kissi urged his audience Cambodian Genocide and the atrocities in transitional societies. not to neglect “what is Ethiopia had very different motives. The different” when comparing genocide in Cambodia, he said, was a tac- While offering a clear exploration of how and analyzing genocides. tic specifically chosen by the Khmer and to what extent revolutionary states Rouge to intentionally and systematically turn to policies of genocide, Kissi’s lecture annihilate certain ethnic and religious also persuasively challenged conventional- groups, while Ethiopia’s Dergue resorted to ly held views on comparative genocide. terror and political killing in an effort to The audience was riveted by his ideas and retain power. opinions, questioning him closely about the differences between pre-1991 and Kissi discussed how two societies engaged post-1991 Ethiopia and his views on the in revolution, such as Cambodia and current conflict in Darfur. Ethiopia, can experience different results. ■ JulieAnne Mercier-Foint

STRASSLER FAMILY CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES 12 EVENTS

Piotr Wrobel: “The Holocaust, Communism, and the Jews of Warsaw”

Piotr Wrobel, the Konstanty Reynart Pro- Leftist Jewish parties in Poland helped fessor of Polish Studies at the University develop underground movements after the of Toronto, delivered a compelling lecture German invasion in September 1939. on Jewish communists involved in under- When the ghetto was sealed in November ground activities in the Warsaw ghetto on 1940, it provided cover for these move- 30 November 2006 in the Center’s Rose ments. Polish Jewish Communists had Library. Robert Melson, Cathy Cohen gained ample experience in covert activity Lasry Distinguished Professor, introduced before the war, and these organized and Wrobel, highlighting his colleague’s able left-wing party members remained Wrobel’s research reveals the organized resistance numerous publications on Polish history, among the Jews in the ghetto. activities of Jewish commu- Polish Jews, and Jewish-gentile relations nists in the Warsaw Ghetto in interwar and postwar Poland. With the German invasion of the Soviet and how Stalin came to Union in June 1941, leftist groups joined rely on Jewish communists Wrobel’s current research project was a new anti-fascist block to fight the Nazis. in this unusual “refuge” prompted by intriguing references in docu- The Soviets saw leftist groups as potential for leftist resistance. ments and testimonies to the operation of hubs for fighting and espionage organiza- the NKVD (the Soviet secret police) in the tions. Jewish communists in the ghetto Warsaw ghetto. While the NKVD bureau offered the Comintern exceptional ideolog- and its activities were minor compared to ical commitment. the operations of other factions of the polit- The Soviets saw leftist groups as potential ical left in the ghetto, the existence of a To rebuild the Communist Party in Poland, hubs of fighting and Soviet enclave in the heart of the besieged the Comintern formed a so-called “initia- espionage organizations. Jewish community raises new questions tive group,” reinforced by the Soviets with about Soviet-Jewish and Soviet-Polish agents dropped behind enemy lines by relations and the Soviet authorities’ knowl- parachute. Members of the initiative group edge about Nazi persecutions. formed the new “Polish Workers’ Party,” which had about 500 members inside the The Communist International (Comintern) ghetto, and 400 members in “Aryan” War- and Jewish communists in Warsaw had a saw. In early 1942, emissaries from the new complex relationship before the war. In the party went into the ghetto to build a coali- Soviet Union, Stalin’s attitudes toward Jews tion of leftist groups for resistance against deteriorated as his grip on power increased. the Germans. The mass deportations to the The Evsektsii, the Jewish Section of the Treblinka annihilation camp, beginning in Piotr Wrobel, Konstanty Soviet Communist Party, was dissolved in the summer of 1942, devastated the ghetto Reynart Professor of Polish Studies at the 1930, and Jewish leftist parties in interwar population and diminished communist University of Toronto Poland were not accepted by the Comin- resistance activity. Wrobel suggested that tern. Some 40 percent of the members of German knowledge of communist resist- the Comintern-authorized Polish Commu- ance may have partially influenced their nist Party (PCP) were Jewish. Indeed, the decision to liquidate the ghetto population. PCP was so popular among Jews that the party established a separate section in Wrobel’s research reveals the organized the largely Jewish Muranow district of resistance activities of Jewish communists Warsaw—later chosen by the Germans for in the Warsaw Ghetto and how Stalin came the ghetto. This section persisted after the to rely on Jewish communists in this Comintern dissolved the Polish Communist unusual “refuge” for leftist resistance. Party in 1937. ■ Jeffrey Koerber

STRASSLER FAMILY CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES EVENTS 13

Exhibit: “Neighbors Who Disappeared”

The Strassler Center hosted the exhibition Since 2006 the exhibition has been on “Neighbors Who Disappeared” between loan to many U.S. institutions. Dr. Tatyana Spearheaded by the Jewish 15 March and 31 May 2007, in conjunc- Macaulay, the Center’s program manager, Museum, in conjunction tion with its Prague-Terezín Program. had a personal interest in the exhibition with individuals and Czech Comprised of banners which present pho- and, with the support of a grant from the and Moravian schools, the project sought to explore tographs, archival information, drawings, Vilcek Foundation, brought it to Cohen- the tragic fate of Jewish and text, the exhibition was conceived by Lasry House, home of the Strassler Center. people and communities a group of pedagogues at the Jewish Undergraduate and graduate students in the Czech Lands. Museum of Prague in the mid-1990s when, served as docents leading school groups after the Velvet Revolution in 1989, inter- and individuals through the est in the Holocaust grew exponentially. displays. Spearheaded by the Jewish Museum, in conjunction with individuals and Czech The exhibition opening was and Moravian schools, the project sought celebrated on 1 April 2007 to explore the tragic fate of Jewish people with a public reception made and communities in the Czech Lands. It possible through the generosity reflects a conscious effort on the part of of the Czech Cultural Center the Czech people to explore and evaluate of NYC. Author and journalist Judaism and the Holocaust and how both Helen Epstein spoke to a changed Czech history. large gathering of Clark and Worcester community mem- Individual students and entire classrooms bers. The daughter of Czech under the leadership of their social studies Jews, Epstein told the story teachers took to the countryside and of her parents’ pre-war life archives to seek evidence and trace the in then Czechoslovakia. Her fate of their Jewish neighbors lost in the mother was a fashion designer, Holocaust. They found a wealth of sources: her father an Olympic water survivors who valued the young people’s polo player who participated interest in this epoch of their lives; news- in the infamous 1936 Nazi papers from the Nazi occupation period; Olympic Games, defying the former synagogues; and gravestones etched Nazi stereotype of Jews. with Hebrew inscriptions. One high school student investigated the history of a Jewish The lecture was followed by a book signing The “Neighbors Who college preparatory school in his city, by Epstein and dinner for local Czech Disappeared” exhibit at Cohen-Lasry House while a group of girls explored a lost survivors of the Holocaust. The Center Jewish neighborhood in their own village. community was honored to welcome Under the auspices of then Czech presi- Michael Gruenbaum, Hana Krasa and dent Vaclav Havel, hundreds of schools Edgar Krasa, and other dear friends from joined these endeavors. The Jewish the Boston area, among them Lillian Museum in Prague selected the best Freedman. Freedman is a sponsor of the research projects and created “Neighbors Prague-Terezin-Auschwitz 2007 under- Who Disappeared,” which traveled the graduate program in honor of her late hus- Czech Lands inspiring even more schools band, Harry Freedman, and his relatives along the way. The project continues to who perished in the Holocaust in Poland. this day. ■ Dan Roberts ’07 and Tatyana Macaulay

STRASSLER FAMILY CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES 14 EVENTS

Raffi Hovannisian: “Between Civilization and Statecraft”

“The overview The Center was proud to host Raffi Raffi Hovannisian, Hovannisian gave about Hovannisian for a lecture titled “Between former Armenian Minister of Foreign the challenges of the Civilization and Statecraft: Armenia at Armenian state was Affairs and the Crossroads” on 15 March 2007. founding director of impressive, especially when the Armenian Center he addressed the issue of Hovannisian, former Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and founding director for National and corruption. Hovannisian International Affairs transmitted an important of the Armenian Center for National and in Yerevan message that we have to International Affairs, in Yerevan, electri- respect justice at home in fied his audience at Jefferson Academic tic problems. The transition to democracy Armenia, as well as to Center. In his introduction, Simon has not been easy. The Armenian Republic work for the democratic building of the country.” Payaslian, Kaloosdian/Mugar Professor of must maintain a civil democracy, based on Armenian Genocide Studies and Modern respect for human rights, rule of law, an —Khatchig Mouradian, Armenian History, emphasized independent judiciary, and transparent Editor, The Armenian Weekly Hovannisian’s achievements and contribu- public policy. Despite economic, social, (MA) tion to the development of the independent and political problems, Armenia has great Armenian Republic. potential for becoming a well-regarded member of the international community Hovannisian began by saluting the Armen- capable of significant contributions to “Raffi Hovannisian is a ian Diaspora community and paying hom- world culture. great speaker. He touched age to Worcester, one of the first and most important issues, and I was welcoming homes for survivors of the In response to audience questions, Hovan- particularly interested in Armenian genocide. After a brief overview nisian discussed the economic and social how he answered questions of Armenian history, he discussed the con- polarization found in Yerevan and surround- regarding rebuilding contemporary Armenia. He tribution of Armenian culture and religion ing areas. Questions about politics and the gave a fair and balanced to the development of Western civilization. judiciary brought out the difficulties faced evaluation of the situation Emphasizing the Armenian struggle for by diaspora Armenians wishing to obtain in the Republic of Armenia.” international recognition, Hovannisian Armenian citizenship. Hovannisian —Raffi Der Simonian ’03 addressed current regional challenges due, described his struggle to gain citizenship, in large part, to the geopolitical location even while serving as Foreign Minister. of Armenia. Besides the need to normalize Addressing the Turkish position on the relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan, Armenian genocide, Hovannisian noted Armenia faces serious challenges in its recent changes regarding “traditional” relations with Russia, especially in the genocide denial. He acknowledged that economic sphere. Even more problematic Turkish nationalism remains powerful Robert Aram Kaloosdian ’52 is the lack of diplomatic relations between and recently led to the death of Armenian (left) and Bill Huasrath ’53, Armenia and Turkey. On a hopeful note, journalist, Hrant Dink, who wrote about great friends of the Center, Raffi Hovannisian, Debórah Hovannisian suggested that their shared the genocide. Hovannisian entertained Dwork, and Simon Payaslian aspiration to join the European Union a final remark from Pamela Steiner, great might provide granddaughter of Ambassador Henry the opportunity Mogranthau who is remembered for bring- for resolving past ing world attention to the plight of the problems. Armenian people at the time of the genocide. Hovannisian said he was honored Hovannisian also to have her in the audience. described some ■ Stefan Cristian Ionescu intractable domes-

STRASSLER FAMILY CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES EVENTS 15

Debórah Dwork and Robert Jan van Pelt: “Flight from the Reich”

As host to Clark’s Modern History who fled Nazi Europe Colloquium, the Center was privileged promises to be equally to have its own Debórah Dwork and her significant. Based on longtime coauthor, Robert Jan van Pelt, 15 years of research, Distinguished University Professor at the their study ranges from University of Waterloo, discuss their new Europe around the book project, Flight From the Reich. globe. Using individ- Dwork and van Pelt have previously col- ual stories culled from archives, letters, Coauthors Debórah Dwork laborated on Holocaust: A History and diaries, and oral histories as points of and Robert Jan van Pelt discussing their new Auschwitz. Students and faculty gathered departure for an analytical narrative, book project, Flight from in the Center’s Kent Seminar Room on 4 Dwork and van Pelt elucidate the social the Reich April 2007 for Dwork and van Pelt’s work- and political history of “the refugee prob- in-progress seminar on the process of writ- lem” and of the refugees themselves. ing Flight from the Reich—alternatively titled, Dwork quipped, Run for Your Life! Surrounded by mountains of archive photo- copies (did anyone see the move “Brazil?” Dwork’s and van Pelt’s previous books Dwork asked, “particularly the scene have proved landmarks in the field of that shows someone literally swamped by Holocaust history, and their new book paper?”), Dwork and van Pelt found them- about the experiences of Jewish refugees selves stumped as to how best to convey the story they wished to tell. The so-called “grand narrative”—to start at the “begin- continued from page 10 ning” and finish at the “end”—they had Center in the Mail 2006–2007 employed in their previous books would not work for Flight From the Reich. With Dwork’s and van Pelt’s “I just read the year end report of the Center’s no clear linear trajectory to this history, ambition and passion for activities for 2005-2006. What the Center their work sparked a lively they focused on specific historical has accomplished leaves me shaking in awe.” discussion among students moments: 1933; 1938/9; 1942; 1946. —Albert M. Tapper, long-time friend to the and faculty, who eagerly Center and donor of the Tapper Fellowship They explore each of these turning points await its publication now for Graduate Studies in Holocaust History through the prism of individual people, scheduled for fall 2008. particular places, official or personal “It is my pleasure to thank you for your papers, and a crucial contemporary prob- informative and highly educational presen- lem. “This project calls for writerly skills tation on ‘Family Life in the Lodz Ghetto.’... that are new to us,” van Pelt explained. As you could tell, the students were deeply “We did not know if our approach would interested in your presentation. work—and now it seems to move the story Dwork’s and van Pelt’s “I was so impressed by the manner in which forward even more successfully than we previous books have proved you presented the material colloquially without had imagined.” landmarks in the field of compromising the academic integrity of your Holocaust history, and knowledge or research. You immediately formed Dwork’s and van Pelt’s ambition and their new book about the experiences of Jewish a bond with your audience and kept their passion for their work sparked a lively refugees who fled Nazi attention throughout...You have the rare skill discussion among students and faculty, of being both an academic and an educator.” Europe promises to be who eagerly await its publication now equally significant. —Jack Lipinsky, Ph.D., Instructor of Jewish History, United Synagogue Day School in Toronto, scheduled for fall 2008. to Center graduate student Rachel Iskov ■ Joshua Franklin ’06, M.A. ’07 continued on page 22

STRASSLER FAMILY CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES 16 EVENTS

Beth Cohen Ph.D. ’03: “Case Closed”

Between 1946 and 1954, approximately vivors dispersed in various regions of the 140,000 survivors of the Holocaust arrived country, often contrary to the wishes of in the United States. Filled with hope for a both refugee and local community. Many new beginning, many of the refugees were American relatives and Jewish communi-

Shelly Tenenbaum (left), shocked by the greeting they received. ties lacked the knowledge, resources, or sociology professor and Rather than a warm welcome, the refugees desire to provide ongoing support to the director of the Holocaust heard a cruel message: “Forget about the refugees and soon abandoned them. and Genocide Studies past. Keep quiet. No time for education or Refugees sponsored by aunts and uncles, concentration, Beth Cohen Ph.D. ’03 and author of Case training. Move forward.” for example, reported that their relatives Closed: Holocaust Survivors showed little interest in what they had in Postwar America, and The Center was proud to host Dr. Beth endured, discouraging them from talking Debórah Dwork Cohen for the Asher Family Lecture, about their experiences. Other relatives “Case Closed: Holocaust Survivors in provided an affidavit to bring a family Postwar America,” on 18 April 2007. Rose member to the United States but offered Professor Debórah Dwork beamed as she no support when their kin arrived. introduced Cohen on this landmark occa- sion. A member of the Center’s first class Both USNA and NYANA valued jobs over “Dr. Cohen is an inspira- of doctoral students, Cohen is the first of education and training, and encouraged tion for the graduate the Center’s graduates to publish a book “Americanization.” Pushed to become students at the Strassler based on her dissertation research. financially independent, no matter the Center. In less than a Currently a lecturer at the University of long-term cost, survivors were offered decade, she began her California, Northridge, Cohen gladly cele- assistance for one year. Case closed. doctoral studies, completed brated her book launch with the Clark Cohen described agency workers as often her dissertation, and transformed her doctoral and greater Worcester community. apathetic and unsupportive. They could be research into a overtly critical of their clients’ appearance well-received book.” The right of entry for some 140,000 and “foreign tendencies,” and lacked Jewish displaced persons from Europe interest in the refugees’ horrific experi- —Jeffrey Koerber, Center graduate student was secured by the Truman Directive and ences during the war. Medical ailments American Jewish organizations. With the frequently were labeled psychosomatic, guarantee of assistance from the United while suicide attempts were not uncommon. Service for New Americans (USNA) or, after 1946, the New York Association for Many survivors, Cohen concluded, wished New Americans (NYANA), Jewish organi- to speak of their experiences, but their zations established to help the refugees, American co-religionists urged them to survivors had reason to believe that life remain silent, ignoring and undermining “I hope that we, would get better. Few were prepared for their pain. At the same time, Cohen as Americans, have learned from our pitiful the ambivalence and resistance they observed, the aid organizations and social past, and our country can encountered. workers faced an overwhelming problem one day become the safe for which they had neither sufficient expe- haven for refugees once The first challenge USNA faced was to rience nor resources. imagined by survivors.” obtain the cooperation of Jewish communi- ■ Adara Goldberg —Holocaust survivor from ties across the country to accept survivor the Worcester community placements. Nearly 60 percent settled in New York City, with the remaining sur-

STRASSLER FAMILY CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES EVENTS 17

Nikita Pokrovsky: “Lying and Deception in the System of Mass Extermination During World War II”

Students and faculty from the Center and rationalized system “allowed people to Clark’s Frances L. Hiatt School of subordinate themselves to this system. It Psychology filled the Kent Seminar Room was not the chaos of the battlefield.” for an interdisciplinary colloquium with Nikita Pokrovsky, professor of sociology Pokrovsky found the Nazis’ use of “sugar and chair of the Sociology Department at coating” especially intriguing. To facilitate the Higher School of Economics and State deportation, the Germans told Jews that University in Moscow, on 23 April 2007. they were being “relocated” and to pack Clark psychology professor Jaan Valsiner only the essentials for starting their new introduced Pokrovsky as the “most lives. The deception continued to the gas renowned sociologist in Russia,” well chambers, where prisoners were told they Pokrovsky argued that the visual evidence of a well- regarded for his research on the history of were going to have showers and were even structured and rationalized sociology, social theory, and cultural stud- instructed to hang their garments on num- system “allowed people to ies. His talk on “Lying and Deception in bered pegs so that they could retrieve their subordinate themselves to the System of Mass Extermination During own clothes afterward. this system. It was not the World War II: A Sociologist’s Reflections chaos of the battlefield.” on Visiting Auschwitz Today” was part of Pokrovsky contrasted this with the Soviet a growing collaboration between Clark Union’s Gulag system, in which prisoners and the Higher School of Economics and were told they were enemies of the state, State University in Moscow, and between and the motto shared among the prisoners the Center and Clark’s Department of was: “You’re dying today, and I am likely Psychology. In fall 2006, Pokrovsky and to die tomorrow.” Valsiner co-taught a course, using video conferencing, on Cultural Psychology and Sociology of Urban Living. The course will be repeated in fall 2007.

Pokrovsky began by discussing different Nikita Pokrovsky, professor tools of lying and deception: simulation, of sociology and chair of the Sociology Department fabrication, self-deception, camouflage, at the Higher School mimicry, and attraction or “sugar coating,” of Economics and State among others. Each, he explained, con- University in Moscow ceals part or all of the truth in different ways. Camouflage, for example, helps people hide their true intentions. Mimicry allows a person or government to pretend The question of which was the more to act as someone or something else. humane approach to inhumane acts can be debated, Pokrovsky said, but the lessons On his first visit to the Auschwitz- are clear: Rationalization does not neces- Birkenau Memorial and State Museum in sarily go together with humanism; lying Poland a few years ago, Pokrovsky was and deception by the state are indicators struck by evidence of lying and deception. of dangers to come; and citizens should He noted the “hyper-rationality” of the be on guard whenever they see evidence camps, in the size and placement of the of lying and deception from their govern- buildings. Pokrovsky argued that the visu- ments. al evidence of a well-structured and ■ Judith Jaeger

STRASSLER FAMILY CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES 18 LINKAGES

Linkages

The Center enjoys mutually beneficial chair, and Dwork developed this partner- relationships with other institutions ship agreement, ratified by their respective “She challenged us to throughout the country and around the institutions, which allows NEJS students to think out of the box and world which promote its mission of teach- take courses at the Center, and vice versa. examine the future of ing, research, and public service. These The Center looks forward to welcoming Holocaust education...We linkages foster fruitful intellectual NEJS students. learned how to help our exchange among faculty and students, students become better while extending the Center’s reach near Danish Institute of human beings.” and far. The Center community collaborat- International Studies — Rosemarie Wilkinson, ed with the following institutions this year. Thanks to a gift from Howard and Hanne a teacher at Raritan High Kulin which supports academic collab- School in Hazlet, N.J., American Jewish Committee oration between the Danish Institute for regarding her experience in the JFR’s Advanced Seminar, The Center and the AJC share key aims, International Studies (DIIS) and the taught by Debórah Dwork which Center Director and Rose Professor Strassler Center, Dwork had the opportu- Debórah Dwork promotes by serving on its nity to visit the Center’s colleagues in Anti-Semitism Task Force. The AJC has a Copenhagen and to meet their students. As robust antisemitism program that is inter- good luck would have it, a member of the national in scope, examines the ideologies DIIS faculty, Dr. Cecilie Stokholm Banke, behind antisemitism, and guards against is currently working on Danish immigra- antisemitism on college and university tion policy during the 1930s and 1940s. campuses around the world. The AJC’s Her research intersects with the project on Stop Hate campaign is aimed at fighting refugee Jews that Dwork and Robert Jan antisemitism and other forms of bigotry, van Pelt have undertaken. At Banke’s and has played a key role in stopping request, Dwork delivered a public lecture, anti-Israel boycotts. A guiding principle “Anywhere, 1938-9: A Chapter in the His- of the AJC’s work on antisemitism is that it tory of Refugee Jews,” based on their new is never only about Jews. The AJC recog- book manuscript, Flight from the Reich. nizes rightly that the very fabric of democratic societies is threatened by those who Strassler Professor Thomas Kühne visited promote hate. The Center stands firm on DIIS in early May, again thanks to the this principle, holding that education is Kulin gift. He spent three days at the the best defense against not only anti- Department of Holocaust and Genocide Center intern and HGS alumna Ashley Borell ’06 semitism, but all forms of hatred. Studies to meet with senior and junior (left), Center graduate colleagues and to discuss a broad range student JulieAnne Mercier- Brandeis University— of opportunities for future cooperation. Foint (right), and Jody Manning ’06 with Martin Near Eastern and Judaic Studies Kühne also delivered a talk on “Hitler’s Mennecke (second from Claims Conference Fellow Jeffrey Koerber Community: Belonging and Genocide, left) with other students continues to make excellent use of the 1918-1945,” in which he explored major who took Mennecke's partnership agreement between NEJS and questions about the Holocaust: What main course at the DIIS. the Center. Through this agreement, and causes made it possible? What made thanks to the generosity of Professor Ellen Germans hold onto their idea of national Kellman, Koerber continued his Yiddish community until 1945 despite catastrophic language study, which is crucially impor- total warfare? Kühne argued that it was tant to his dissertation research on the neither the Hitler Myth, nor eliminationist experience of Jews in the Vilna District. antisemitism, nor just group pressure, but Professor Marc Brettler, NEJS department group pleasure. Germans suffering from

STRASSLER FAMILY CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES LINKAGES 19

mass death, as well as Germans perpetrat- citizens. The Center takes pride in HGS ing mass murder, mutually reinforced alumnus Claude Kaitare ’05 and his work each other and intensified togetherness: with Facing History. Kaitare has served as Physical death served as the basis of a guest speaker for Facing History for sev- social life. eral years, sharing his story as a survivor of the Rwandan genocide, and continues Dwork’s and Kühne’s visits took to the next his work with the organization today. level the previous year’s efforts to lay the groundwork for a program of faculty and Genocide Education Project student exchanges between the Center and Kaloosdian/Mugar Professor the Danish Institute. During summer 2006, Simon Payaslian continues to several Clark undergraduate and graduate serve on the Advisory Board for students took a course taught by Martin the Genocide Education Project. Mennecke from the Institute’s Department This San Francisco-based of Holocaust and Genocide Studies. nonprofit organization assists Mennecke, a lawyer, focuses on peace educators in teaching about keeping, intervention, and transitional human rights and genocide, par- justice. He is heavily involved with the ticularly the Armenian Genocide, Danish National Day of Remembrance by developing and distributing educational outreach program. The Center instructional materials, providing looks forward to future mutually beneficial access to teaching resources and organiz- Debórah Dwork (second faculty and student exchanges with the ing educational workshops. The Center from right) with the staff of the JFR, including Danish Institute. and the Genocide Education Project share the JFR’s new Director a commitment to helping to prevent future of Education Christine Facing History and Ourselves atrocities by educating the next generation Schmidt Ph.D. ’03 (right). To the left of Dwork: The Center’s longstanding connection to of scholars, teachers, and responsible citi- Stanlee Stahl, Executive Brookline, Mass.-based Facing History zens. Vice President; far left, and Ourselves continued this year, as Rebecca Baer, Program Associate Dwork served on Facing History’s aca- Genocide Intervention Network demic board. Facing History shares the After hearing a talk at the Center last year Center’s firm belief that history is never by Mark Hanis, cofounder of the Genocide just about the past, but about who we Intervention Network, a group of Clark may be and how we may act in the future. students established a chapter of STAND: Facing History does this by challenging A Student Anti-Genocide Coalition, the Clark’s dedicated STAND primary and secondary school teachers student arm of the GI-Net. These students students mobilize efforts and students to study the historical devel- went to work immediately to educate the to call local and national opment and lessons of the Holocaust and Clark and Worcester communities about attention to the genocide other genocides, and then make essential the atrocities in Darfur. With the support in Darfur. connections between history and the and direction of their faculty advisor, choices they confront in their own lives. Professor Shelly Tenenbaum, these dedi- The Center and Facing History also share cated student leaders continued to mobi- a commitment to providing teachers with lize efforts to call local and national atten- the necessary professional development tion to the genocide in Darfur (see page opportunities, resources, publications, and 41). The Center community is proud of partnerships to enable teachers to help these and other undergraduate students educate future generations of responsible who so readily transform their learning

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about the Holocaust and sionals on the frontlines of educating genocide into action to cre- young people about the Holocaust and ate positive change around genocide. And the entire Center communi- David Marwell, director of the world. ty was thrilled with the news that Christine the MJH, talks with guests (van der Zanden) Schmidt Ph.D. ’03 had in the Rose Library at a reception following his Jewish Foundation for the Righteous been named Director of Education at public lecture at Clark The bond between the Center and the JFR the JFR. With Schmidt at the helm of has never been stronger. The mission of this important program, the Center looks the JFR is to provide financial support for forward to ever tighter collaboration with elderly, impoverished, and infirm non-Jews the JFR. who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust, and to perpetuate their Keene State College legacy of moral courage through education Payaslian was pleased to serve as a guest about the Holocaust that foregrounds res- speaker for a workshop on genocide at cue in its historical context. Appreciating Keene State College in Keene, N.H., in the synergies between them, the Center March 2007. His lecture, “The Armenian and the JFR partnered in the development Genocide in Comparative Perspective,” of the Foundation’s national education and participation in the workshop builds program, Teaching the Holocaust: History, on a foundation for collaboration laid last Perspectives, and Choices. The core text is year by Strassler Professor Thomas Kühne Dwork’s Voices and Views: A History of the between the Strassler Center and Keene Holocaust. The purpose of this 10-chapter State’s Cohen Center for Holocaust and edited and annotated collection of essays Genocide Studies. Faculty and students at is to introduce educators to key historical Clark and Keene State welcome future events and central issues as explained and opportunities to share their knowledge and understood by eminent scholars. The focus research. on moral courage and rescue efforts during the Holocaust provides important ethical Museum of Jewish Heritage—A Living With the support of models for teachers to bring into their Memorial to the Holocaust the Vilcek Foundation, classes. The Center maintains a strong connection “Neighbors Who Disappeared” was on to the MJH, and was honored to welcome display at Cohen-Lasry Dwork is now honored to serve as vice- David Marwell, director of the museum, to House from 15 March 2007 chair of the Foundation, and she chairs present a lecture in its free public lecture through 31 May 2007. two board committees as well. In addition, series. Marwell captivated the audience of Kühne and Beth Cohen Ph.D. ’03 taught in Clark and Worcester community members the JFR Summer Institute for Teachers at with his talk detailing the search for the Columbia University, attended by 34 edu- body of Josef Mengele, the infamous Nazi Dwork’s and Kühne’s visits cators from across the United States and doctor of Auschwitz (see page 7). The took to the next level the five participants from Eastern Europe. lecture was a fitting tribute to Marwell’s previous year’s efforts to Dwork presented at the Advanced friend and mentor, Simon Wiesenthal lay the groundwork for a Seminar, held during Martin Luther King (1908-2005), a survivor of the Nazi death program of faculty and student exchanges between weekend for “graduates” of the Summer camps who dedicated his life to document- the Center and the Danish Institute. Kühne, Cohen, and Dwork enjoy ing the crimes of the Holocaust and hunt- Institute. sharing their knowledge and expertise with ing down Nazi war criminals still at large. secondary school teachers, those profes-

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Jewish Museum of Prague kNOw GENOCIDE: The bond between the The Center’s ongoing relationship with the United Against Denial Center and the JFR has Jewish Museum of Prague, tended with The Center joined kNOw GENOCIDE: never been stronger. care by the Center’s Program Manager Dr. United Against Denial in April 2006, Tatyana Macaulay, resulted in yet another when this organization was launched on compelling exhibit at Cohen-Lasry House. the steps of the Massachusetts State “Neighbors Who Disappeared,” a visual House. This multi-ethnic, non-partisan The Center’s ongoing rela- representation of Czech children’s investi- coalition was founded to counter the ongo- tionship with the Jewish gation of the lives of Jews who vanished ing denial of known cases of genocide, Museum of Prague, tended from their cities and towns during the such as the Darfur, Cambodian, Jewish, with care by the Center’s Holocaust, brought visitors from near and Rwandan, and Armenian genocides, Program Manager Dr. Tatyana Macaulay, resulted far to the Center this spring (see page 13). among others. The Center and this coali- in yet another compelling The Center is grateful to the Vilcek tion share an understanding that denial of exhibit at Cohen-Lasry Foundation of New York for sponsoring the genocide is the final phase of that crime. House. Center’s display of the exhibition, in con- Indeed, silence in the face of ethnic mur- junction with Clark’s Prague-Terezín Prog- ders serves to embolden future perpetra- ram. The Center community looks forward tors to carry out these same crimes. kNOw to future collaborations with the Jewish GENOCIDE has done much work this year Museum of Prague, whose exhibits breathe to call attention to the Darfur genocide, life into the history of the Holocaust. and the Center is proud to be associated with these initiatives. The Center and kNOw Jewish Women’s Archive GENOCIDE share an Shelly Tenenbaum, sociology professor and Office of the German Consul understanding that denial director of the Holocaust and Genocide The Center was pleased to host German of genocide is the final Studies concentration, serves on the Consul General Wolfgang Vorwerk for two phase of that crime. Academic Advisory Board of the JWA, visits to Clark this year. Strassler Professor which seeks to make known the contribu- Thomas Kühne invited Vorwerk to the tions of outstanding Jewish women of University in the fall to introduce him to achievement as well as the profound, but the Center and Clark. During this visit, often unacknowledged impact Jewish Vorwerk met with the Center’s students women have had within their local commu- and faculty, as well as University Provost nities. A national, non-profit organization David Angel. In the spring, Kühne invited headquartered in Brookline, Mass., JWA is Vorwerk back to the Center as a guest entering its second decade of changing the speaker for his course on “Authority and way history is researched, recorded, and Democracy: The History of Modern taught. Working from the firm belief that Central Europe.” Vorwerk offered fascinat- everyone with a stake in history is a keeping insights into the history and develop- er of it and a partner in its transmission, ment of the European Union (EU) and the the JWA serves scholars, researchers, his- EU’s current work with Turkey, which is German Consul General torians, activists, and the general public. seeking EU membership. Kühne welcomed Wolfgang Vorwerk (right) The Center is pleased to be represented by Ulrike Brisson, a professor at WPI, and with Clark’s Provost David Angel Tenenbaum in this important organization her students to this interesting session. for the preservation and dissemination of The Center looks forward to continuing its history. relationship with the Office of the German Consul General.

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continued from page 15 Center in the Mail 2006–2007

United States Holocaust “Many congratulations on your presentation yesterday. It was very impressive and you Memorial Museum really captivated your audience...I thought The USHMM stimulates leaders and citi- that you took special care not only to develop zens to confront hatred, prevent genocide, your own research strategies and focus on promote human dignity, and strengthen aspects of the topic previously neglected, but democracy. The Center community stands you gave considerable attention to the best proud that several graduate students have way of presenting the material.” received fellowships from the USHMM, —Martin Dean, Ph.D., Applied Research Scholar, where they have pursued research, shared Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies at the USHMM, to Ilana Offenberger regarding a pres- scholarship, delivered presentations, and entation she gave at the USHMM contributed to the body of knowledge about the Holocaust. Most recently, gradu- “Dan [Roberts ’07] fit here as if he were ate student Ilana Offenberger completed a one of us, and everybody related to him as if fellowship at the USHMM’s Center for he were one of us. Always pleasant, polite, Advanced Holocaust Studies, where she appropriate, willing to help, and obviously also a very humble person. I thank you very The Center community conducted research in the archives of the much for such an intern...and if you have a stands proud that several Jewish Community of Vienna (see page graduate students have chance and interest in the future to place 33). In the past, Schmidt served as a received fellowships from another intern with us, our door is wide open. the USHMM. Bader Foundation Researcher, and Beth Hopefully [Dan] was at least a bit satisfied Cohen Ph.D. ’03, Rachel Iskov, and Sarah with us.” Cushman remain proud to have held —Dr. Cervencl, Director of the Lidice Memorial, USHMM fellowships as well. Czech Republic, regarding HGS student Daniel Roberts ’07, who served as an intern at the Lidice Memorial last summer Universität Dortmund Kühne initiated a new collaboration “I want to express my deep admiration for with a colleague at the Institut für Kunst your program, for everything you do at Clark. und Materialle Kultur at the Universität I know one of your students (Lotta Stone) Dortmund in northwest Germany. Anthro- and I wish I could do what she has done, go pology Professor Gudrun Marlene König to Clark to get a Ph.D. I wish I could take advantage of your wonderful lecture series. and Kühne are investigating barbed wire If I lived closer I would be there for each as a symbol of the Holocaust and eventual- and every one of your programs.” ly other political repressions. König is —Dr. Selden K. Smith, Professor Emeritus in Kühne initiated a new a scholar of material anthropology who History at Columbia College, Columbia, S.C. collaboration with a will contribute her unique perspective on colleague at the Institut für artifacts and visual representation to the “I’m really grateful that I took your course. Kunst und Materialle historical insights provided by Kühne in a Your passion for teaching is evident and I Kultur at the Universität joint study that examines symbolism and looked forward to every class. The readings Dortmund in northwest the memory of the Holocaust. What does were rich in variety and each class addressed Germany. a different topic which all tied into Holocaust it mean to the memory of the Holocaust perpetrators. that barbed wired is increasingly used to symbolize any kind of torture, terror, and “Above all, I really enjoyed you as a teacher. Among my three years at Clark University, restrictions on freedom and civil liberties? you have been one of my favorite and most Furthermore, what does it mean when the respected teachers.” symbol is employed in popular culture and —Maayan Carmi, Clark undergraduate student, becomes an object of consumerism? to Strassler Professor Thomas Kühne ■ Judith Jaeger continued on page 39

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A Valued Member of the Community: Ashley Borell ’06

The Center’s many events and programs and wrote about them for the Center’s received a helping hand from intern archives. Borell also assisted with the Ashley Borell ’06 this year. Borell was a growing collection in the Rose Library dedicated member of the Center community and helped with general office duties throughout her four years as a Clark under- that keep the Center running every day. graduate student. Her continued presence Borell’s work did not cease with the close during her post-graduate year was a great of the academic year. She traveled with boon to Center faculty, staff, and students. Macaulay to Europe in May to assist with the Prague-Terezín Program, a course When Borell discovered the Center during organized by Macaulay that takes place her first year at Clark, she felt an immedi- every other year. ate connection. This connection runs deep: Borell’s grandparents lived through the “The tasks I do may seem small and unim- Center intern Holocaust. They survived the Kraków portant, but they become part of the force Ashley Borell ’06 ghetto and five concentration camps, and of the whole Center,” she says. “Coming they endured two displaced persons camps. here every day, I feel that the Center is where I should be.” “I fell in love with the Center,” Borell says. “It’s a great symbol of hope for me.” Macaulay agrees. “Ashley always will be a part of the Center,” Macaulay says. “She A sociology major with a concentration in has been my Rock of Gibraltar this past Holocaust and genocide studies and a year, always arriving in a cheerful mood minor in piano performance, Borell credits and executing her many tasks efficiently Dr. Tatyana Macaulay, the Center’s pro- and with great attention to detail. It makes gram manager, as a valued mentor. With me smile when Ashley uses ‘we’ and ‘us’ Macaulay’s encouragement, Borell spent when talking about our Center.” two weeks near Kraków, Poland, in May “The Center is a sacred place to me.” 2004, helping to reclaim a Jewish ceme- Borell has continued her study of the tery at the site of the Plaszów labor camp— Holocaust and genocide since her grad- —Ashley Borell ’06, a place of great significance to her. While uation from Clark. During summer 2006, 2006-07 Strassler Center inmates of Plaszów, Borell’s grandmother she attended the Danish Institute of Inter- intern and grandaunt had been ordered to smash national Studies, with which the Center Jewish headstones. Borell also visited what has a growing partnership, to take the had been her family’s home in Kraków. course “Genocide: Never Again? Bosnia, Upon her return, she shared her experi- Rwanda, Darfur.” In January 2007, Borell ences with the Center community through traveled to Rwanda to conduct public- a powerful display at Cohen-Lasry House opinion research on the court systems of photographs from Plaszów and descrip- there after the genocide. She is interested tions of her experiences there. in the problem of justice after genocide and hopes to pursue a graduate degree. In In her role as intern, Borell’s attachment to addition to interning at the Center, Borell the Center has grown deeper. She assisted also worked at Lutheran Social Services Macaulay with many aspects of program- of New England. She counseled refugees ming—from help with planning, to greet- and taught civics to them. ing guests and taking coats. Always a ■ Judith Jaeger gracious presence, she attended all events

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Faculty Notes

The Center’s intellectual reach is extended Now a few years beyond the award of their each year by its faculty, who travel the degree (September 2003), the first gradu- world to pursue teaching, research, and ates of the program reached new mile- public service opportunities. Their work stones. When Rutgers University Press brings new knowledge and deeper under- published Beth Cohen’s first book, Case standing of the Holocaust and genocide, in Closed, based on her dissertation by the the hope of shaping a less violent future. same name, Dwork reveled in her success—and reveled too in the Center’s first “What a terrific year!” Rose Professor of “grandchild.” “This is precisely what we Holocaust History Debórah Dwork aimed to achieve: to grow independent Debórah Dwork (right) with exclaimed at the Center staff meeting in scholars whose work takes the field in new Professor Franz A.J. Szabo, May, as students left campus. At Clark for directions.” She was equally delighted director of the Wirth Institute for Austrian and a full decade when the fall term began, when Christine Schmidt accepted an offer Central European Studies at she started the new phase of her director- from the Jewish Foundation for the the University of Alberta, ship delighted by the Center’s growth to Righteous to take the position of Director where Dwork delivered the date, and buoyed by optimism for what lay of Education, and six months later, Beth Reichert Lecture ahead. Events more than fulfilled her Lilach (the third member of that first class expectations—for the Center, and for her of graduate students) became Director of own sense of professional productivity. Education at the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center (HMTC) in Glen Cove, Dwork started the year by teaching her N.Y. “This, too, is precisely what we aimed entry-level, gateway course, “Holocaust: to achieve: to train scholars committed to Agency and Action.” Taken aback by the public education. Our students have the crowd that crammed the Rose Library for historical training and expertise to run the their first class, Dwork was pleased to hear programs that teach teachers all over the the seniors’ explanation for their presence country. Those programs have to be top- in an introductory course. “I wouldn’t notch to ensure the quality of Holocaust leave Clark without taking advantage of education in schools.” Schmidt will take this opportunity. Everybody knows about the JFR’s superior teacher education pro- the Strassler Center.” Praise indeed! The gram to yet a new level, as Lilach assumes “This is precisely what we aimed to achieve: to grow Center had become an institution in just responsibility for the HMTC’s outreach independent scholars 10 years. programs across Long Island. whose work takes the field in new directions.” This is due in no small measure to the Dwork surveys with satisfaction the doctor-

—Debórah Dwork, regarding doctoral program offered by the Center. al students now taking courses, writing the accomplishments Graduate student mentoring allows Dwork thesis proposals, and researching and writ- of the Center’s first class to scrutinize a whole spectrum of scholarly ing their dissertations. She reports a of doctoral students problems. “The material our students healthy stream with talent and promise. Beth Cohen, Christine uncover and the conclusions they draw “People often ask me if am biased. Of Schmidt, and Beth Lilach never fail to amaze me,” she reflected. “I course I am biased. But look at our stu- appreciate the questions they ask and I dents’ achievements: the fellowships admire the work they do.” Dwork currently they’ve been awarded, the papers they’ve serves as dissertation director for eight had accepted to present at international doctoral students, and she takes great meetings. Fellowships from the Claims pride in their achievements as they move Conference, Fulbright, Shoah Foundation, through—and forward from—the program. Tauber Institute, Na’amat (Canada), the

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U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum—it’s an type events in Auschwitz (“yes, they did”), impressive array!” to Holocaust role playing in the classroom (“bad idea: don’t even think about it”). This year, as always, Dwork reaches out beyond the Clark campus to teach teach- Dwork’s teaching and public service flows ers, junior high and high school students, from her research and writing; these sit at and the public. She happily participated in the core of her identity as a historian of the JFR Summer Institute for Teachers at the Holocaust. She eagerly awaits publica- Columbia University and the Advanced tion of The Terezín Album of Mariánka Seminar, held over the Martin Luther King Zadikow in October by the University weekend. Often, Dwork’s scholarly expert- of Chicago Press. An annotated, edited, ise prompts invitations from universities facsimile edition, this “poesie album” that seek to reach out to the community in (similar to an autograph album) was col- which they are located. A staunch advo- lected by a young Jewish woman inmate, cate of such efforts, Dwork accepts with Mariánka Zadikow, as the Nazis pressed pleasure. This year she criss-crossed forward with mass deportations from North America, delivering the Badzin Terezín. Her album includes entries by Lecture at the University of Minnesota, the well-known and illustrious people from Visiting Scholar Lecture at Manhattan many walks of life (artists, musicians, reli- College, and the Reichert Lecture at the gious leaders) as well as young children University of Alberta in Edmonton, whose promise would never be actualized. The Center’s faculty Canada. A special pleasure greeted her Dwork’s introduction presents the history and students are especially when she spoke at St Cloud State: four of the Terezín camp and how Mariánka grateful for Gordy’s participation in the teachers from the JFR teacher education fared while imprisoned there; her annota- Prague-Terezín Program. program who had studied with her in New tions tell of the fates of those whose words York and who work in that area of and sketches fill the pages. Minnesota sat in the audience. Senator Sununu sat in the front row during her While Dwork reviewed copyedited drafts keynote address at the annual University of The Terezín Album, she and her coauthor of New Hampshire community commemo- Robert Jan van Pelt (Distinguished ration of Yom Hashoah—but, Dwork notes, University Professor at the University of she’s never met him. Waterloo) pursued their new project, Flight From the Reich, a history of refugee Public service takes many forms. As in Jews. As she had a no-teaching term in past years, Dwork served on the American the spring and van Pelt was blessed with Jewish Committee’s Anti-Semitism Task a sabbatical, the two worked assiduously Force and on the board of the Jewish on their book, due to W.W. Norton in Cultural Heritage Foundation. She chaired November. Dwork consistently maintains two board committees for the Jewish that she does not know what she thinks Foundation for the Righteous and was hon- until she sets herself the discipline of ored to take up the position of Vice-Chair fashioning thoughts into prose. “The bot- of the Foundation. She served, too, on the tom line of spring term: I finally learned academic boards of the International what I thought!” If writing is one route to Research Institute on Jewish Women at clarification, presenting to others takes Brandeis University and of Facing History that process another step. Dwork and van and Ourselves. And she worked with jour- Pelt profited greatly from Strassler nalists on a range of issues from denial of Professor Thomas Kühne’s invitation to the Holocaust in Iran (President discuss their new work and the scholarly Ahmadinejad is welcome to enroll as a and narrative challenges it poses in the student at the Center, she said), to the colloquium series he runs at the Center Nazis’ use of Jews to mount “gladiator”- each month. “Professors rarely have the

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opportunity to share their work with their Holocaust and genocide. In addition to students and colleagues while it is still in his teaching responsibilities, Gordy is progress,” Dwork observed. “I loved it!” generous with his time, serving as the dis- She was glad, too, of the opportunity to sertation committee cochair, with Dwork, present a talk based on a chapter they had for Tiberiu Galis. finished at the Danish Institute for International Studies (see page 18). A sought-after scholar, Gordy has published many articles, book chapters As they look forward to completing their and other papers this year. His article manuscript, Dwork and van Pelt take “Reflecting on The Culture of Power, Ten pleasure in the publication of the Hugo Years On,” about the ideas presented in Valentin Lecture, based on their work on his book The Culture of Power, was pub- Auschwitz and the Holocaust, that Dwork lished in Facta Universitatis. His book presented at the invitation of the Uppsala chapter on “Destruction of the Yugoslav Programme for Holocaust and Genocide Federation: Policy or Confluence of Studies (Sweden) in 2005. Beautifully pre- Tactic?” was published in State Collapse pared as a monograph by Per Jegebäck in Southeast Europe: New Perspectives on and Professor Paul Levine, director of the Yugoslavia’s Disintegration; his chapter Programme, the Valentin Lecture now on “Postwar Guilt and Responsibility in reaches a new audience. And that Dwork Serbia: The Effort to Confront It and the says, is the aim of research and writing! Effort to Avoid It” was published in Serbia Since 1989: Politics and Society Under Eric Gordy, associate professor of sociol- Milosevic and After; and his chapter on ogy, plays an integral role in the Center’s “Ugliness and Distance” is forthcoming graduate program and the undergraduate in Evoking Genocide: Researchers and concentration in Holocaust and Genocide Activists Describe the Works of Art that Studies (HGS), and he serves on the Shaped Them. His articles “Serbia’s Center’s Steering Committee. The Center’s Elections: Less of the Same” and “The faculty and students are especially grateful Milosevic Account” were published in Eric Gordy for Gordy’s participation in the Prague- Open Democracy. Gordy also published Terezín Program. Through this distinctive working papers on “Informal Economies course, undergraduate students learn of St. Petersburg,” coauthored with Irina about the Holocaust where it happened. Olipieva and Oleg Pachenkov, and “The Participants spend a week studying in International Criminal Tribunal for the Worcester. The course continues in Former Yugoslavia,” coauthored with Europe, principally in Prague and Terezín, John Allcock, Vojin Dimitrijevic and where they visit sites of historical signifi- Julie Mertus. cance to the Holocaust. Dr. Tatyana Macaulay, the Center’s program manager Gordy’s research into Serbia’s political who also coordinates the Prague-Terezín landscape, society, and culture captures Program, values Gordy’s participation in the interest of his colleagues, who invite teaching and assisting with this remark- him to speak and comment at many con- able learning opportunity. ferences. Gordy presented “Where East Meets West, What are Those Two Things?: Gordy brings to the Center his research Receptions of International Influence in and expertise in sociological theory, sociol- Serbian Politics” at the Association for the ogy of culture, media and communication, Study of Nationalities conference in New political and historical sociology, and York in 2007, where he was also chair of Balkan societies. Through this interdisci- the panel “Fieldwork After Fire.” He was plinary lens, he researches and teaches a discussant for presentations at the AFP- many topics that relate to examining the HESP annual conference in Kiev, Ukraine

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and at the American Association for the Thomas Kühne, the Strassler Family Advancement of Slavic Studies confer- Chair in the Study of Holocaust History, ence, held in Washington, D.C., in 2006. continues to expand the Center’s reach, Gordy coauthored, with Aleksandra with a full schedule of teaching and advis- Milisevic and Tiberiu Galis, “Public ing, research, and public service. Kühne Memory, Reconciliation and Trivialization” is an internationally respected historian of for the Association for the Study of modern Germany and the Holocaust whose Nationalities and Forum for Ethnic insight and probing research sheds new Relations in Belgrade in 2006, where light. This year, he published “Honor and he was also a panelist for “Rethinking Violence” in The History Workshop Social Distance and Intimacy in Divided Journal. This critical review of Absolute Towns of Former Yugoslavia.” Finally, Destruction: Military Culture and the Gordy facilitated a panel on “Sociology Practices of War in Imperial Germany Strassler Professor and Cultural Studies” at the AFP-HESP challenges author Isabel Hull’s thesis that Thomas Kühne’s book on annual conference in Tbilisi, Georgia. a specific military organizational structure Comradeship garnered In addition, Gordy spoke at colleges and was responsible for the early period of admiration and praise. “An universities throughout Europe and North Germany’s genocidal tradition, namely the important contribution... Kühne is particularly America, including the University of Nis Herero genocide and World War I. Rather, original in two regards...” in Serbia, Institut für den Donauraum Kühne stresses the impact of racism and “Outstanding book... und Mitteleuropa in Vienna, Wilfrid an ideology of martial masculinities which Kühne stakes out new Laurier University in Waterloo, Canada, also can be found outside of the military. interpretive ground.” and Colgate University. His article “From Electoral Campaigning to the Politics of Togetherness: Localism Providing ever more service to his pro- and Democracy in Imperial Germany” is fession, Gordy is a referee for numerous forthcoming in Localism, Landscape, and journals and publishers. And he served the Ambiguities of Place: German-Speaking on the Fellowships Committee for the Central Europe, 1860-1930, edited by American Councils for International David Blackbourn and James Retallack. Education in 2006. In this essay, Kühne explores different and even contradictory paths of democrati- Of particular note, Gordy continued work zation in Imperial Germany which could this year with colleagues in Nis, Serbia, on have led to a parliamentary democracy or the production of a new reader in sociology to a fascist dictatorship. Kühne also pub- of culture. This team of scholars has lished reviews in H-German, The Journal selected 33 texts for inclusion in this read- of Modern History, Central European er, for which the translation and editing History, H-Soz-u-Kult, and Neue Politische are under way. Gordy has high hopes that Literatur. the reader will be ready for publication by the end of 2007. It will be the first new The publication of his seminal book instructional text to be published since Kameradschaft: Die Soldaten des national- 1986 in the field in any of the countries— sozialistischen Krieges und das 20. Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Hercegovina, and Jahrhundert (Comradeship: The Soldier of Montenegro—that use the language in the Nazi War and the 20th Century) last which the book will be published. year prompted a bouquet of excellent criti- Thomas Kühne cal reviews. “Thomas Kühne makes an The Center community also looks forward important contribution to the growing body to the publication of Gordy’s next book, of literature...that tries to illuminate the Postwar Guilt and Responsibility, which is moral world of Nazi Germany on its own expected to be released by the University terms, a world in which most Germans of Pennsylvania Press in 2008. acted as they did not because they were forced to do so but because they thought it

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was right,” Christopher Browning, Frank participating in the Center’s public lecture Porter Graham Professor of History at the series and organizes the Modern History University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Colloquium. This lecture series brings declared in a review in Neue Politische together faculty and graduate students in Literature. “In doing so, Kühne is particu- Holocaust and genocide studies, history larly original in two regards. First, he and other disciplines to discuss ongoing applies gender analysis in novel ways.” research of mutual interest with invited And second he “places the greatest speakers from inside and outside of the emphasis on a paradigmatic shift from a University. He is committed to fostering culture of guilt to a culture of shame that the highest intellectual quality through made conformity a lethal virtue.” Dirk the colloquium series. Bonker of Duke University expressed his esteem in a review posted on H-Net Recognizing the importance of a first-rate (H-German): “In this outstanding library to a high quality Ph.D. program, book...Thomas Kühne stakes out new Kühne continues to oversee the develop- interpretive ground...[In short]: a superb ment of the Rose Library. He happily book.” passed ongoing responsibility of the library collection to the Center’s new librarian, Kühne’s attention is now focused on his Betty Jean Perkins, whom Kühne brought new book project, Belonging and to this crucial position through leadership Genocide: A German Story, 1918-1945. of the search process. Indeed, the collec- He is well on his way to completing this tion in the Rose Library continues to grow innovative work, and the Center commu- thanks to Kühne’s sustained collaboration nity eagerly awaits its publication. with Diana Bartley, a great friend of the Center who continues to fill the library Thomas Kühne introducing David Marwell’s Teaching and mentoring graduate and shelves with urgently needed books and public lecture undergraduate students are central to resources. Kühne’s work at the Center. He serves as the thesis advisor for graduate students In his role as an ambassador for the Center Robin Krause and JulieAnne Mercier- and for Clark, Kühne assists with the eval- Foint and gives generously of his time to uation of applicants to the graduate pro- graduate students Rachel Iskov, Sarah grams in Holocaust history and genocide Cushman, Jeffrey Koerber, and Adara studies, including meeting with prospec- Goldberg. He also advised Jody Manning tive students on campus to introduce them ’07, who undertook an internship at the to the Center and to Clark. Representing Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and State the Center within the Clark community, Museum, was the honors thesis advisor for Kühne serves on the Steering Committee Nick Reynolds ’06 and Forrest Wright ’07, for the University’s Difficult Dialogues and led three undergraduates and three program. Supported by the Ford graduate students in directed readings. Foundation, this program is run by Clark’s Students enjoyed his stimulating courses: Higgins School of Humanities and “Europe in the Age of Extremes: The 20th International Development, Community Century”; “Gender, War, and Genocide in and Environment Department to encourage 20th Century Europe”; “Authority and discourse across difference. Kühne suc- Democracy: The History of Modern cessfully advocated for a symposium on Central Europe”; and “The Holocaust “Dialogue Between Former Enemies.” Perpetrators.” Planned for November 2007, this symposium will enhance the Center’s program- Kühne contributes greatly to the intellec- ming, while enriching the broader campus tual life of the Center. A member of the community’s discussion and understanding Center’s Steering Committee, he enjoys of the Holocaust and genocide.

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Recognizing the Center’s crucial mission fully attending, usually with his wife, in public service, Kühne also welcomes Professor Gail Melson, scholar of psychol- opportunities to share his research and ogy, all Center lectures and events. His expertise. Kühne delivered an invited lec- keen intelligence and profound insight are ture on “From the Hottentotten-Venus to deeply valued by students, faculty, and Arnold Schwarzenegger: Beauty in Modern visitors. As a mentor and dissertation advi- History” on 10 May 2006 at the Technical sor, his deep knowledge of genocide stud- University of Braunschweig, Germany. He ies makes an enormous contribution to the presented “Male Bonding and Genocidal Center’s intellectual life. War: Germany, 1918-1945” as part of the Triangle Seminar in the History of the An active scholar and lecturer, Melson Military, War and Society on 17 November writes about a spectrum of topics that grow 2006 at the National Humanities Center, the field of comparative genocide. These Research Triangle Park, in North Carolina. range from an essay, “Responses to the Like Dwork, Kühne, too, enjoyed sharing Armenian Genocide: America, The Yishuv, his work with their colleagues at the Israel,” published in Holocaust and Danish Institute for International Studies Genocide Studies, to a review of Maud S. in Copenhagen. He presented a talk titled Mandel’s In the Aftermath of Genocide: “Hitler’s Community: Belonging and Armenians and Jews in Twentieth Century Genocide, 1918-1945” to an appreciative France for the journal Shofar, a review audience on 9 May 2007 (see page 18). of Howard Reich’s The First and Final Nightmare of Sonia Reich: A Son’s Memoir, Robert Melson returned to the Strassler and a review of The Great Game of Geno- Center in fall, 2006, as the Cathy Cohen cide: Imperialism, Nationalism, and the Lasry Distinguished Professor. A leader in Destruction of the Ottoman Empire, by establishing genocide studies as a distinct Donald Bloxham for the American Histor- field of academic inquiry, Melson is a ical Review. founder and past president of the Interna- tional Association of Genocide Scholars Melson’s 2005 book False Papers, his fam- (IAGS). A professor emeritus at Purdue ily’s story of survival during the Holocaust, University, where he taught political sci- continues to fascinate audiences. In this ence, Melson has published extensively on book he recounts how his mother obtained the Holocaust, the Armenian Genocide, false papers so that the family might hide and comparative study of the factors that in plain sight as Polish Catholics of distin- underlie genocides. guished lineage; in this way they ultimately survived the war. In a public lecture at the In spring 2004 Melson served as the State University of New York, Binghamton, Center’s Robert Weil Distinguished Melson presented “False Papers: The Visiting Professor. During that extended Tension between Testimony and Story in visit he was able to renew relationships a Holocaust Memoir.” first undertaken when he spent a week as Distinguished Visiting Scholar in spring Finally, Melson continued to offer service 2003. During the fall semester his to the academic community by chairing Robert Melson “Holocaust and Genocide in Comparative a panel on Comparative Genocide for the Perspective” seminar gave students the conference Lessons and Legacies of the opportunity to learn about comparative Holocaust held at Claremont-McKenna approaches to studying genocide from a College. scholar who has long been at the forefront in this area. In addition, Melson contributed to the life of the Center by faith-

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Simon Payaslian, Kaloosdian/Mugar was translated into Chinese and released Chair of Armenian Genocide Studies and by Peking University Press this year. Modern Armenian History, enjoyed another fruitful year at the Center. After publi- In the classroom, Payaslian shared his cation of his book, United States Policy research and expertise with students in Toward the Armenian Genocide, last year, courses on “History of Armenia,” “Armen- Payaslian produced a remarkable number ian Genocide,” “European Roots” and of articles, book chapters, and other schol- “History of Nationalism,” as well as a arly publications. His article “Hovannes history seminar on the Middle East. Shiraz, Paruir Sevak, and the Memory of the Armenian Genocide” was accepted by The Center benefited greatly from the Journal of the Society for Armenian Payaslian’s dedication to bringing Raffi Studies, and “The Destruction of the Hovannisian, former foreign minister of Armenian Church during the Genocide” the Republic of Armenia and current Kaloosdian/Mugar was published in the fall 2006 issue of director of the Armenian Center for Professor Simon Payaslian Genocide Studies and Prevention, the offi- National and International Studies in takes seriously the cial journal of the International Association Yerevan, Republic of Armenia, to Clark Center’s public service of Genocide Scholars. He wrote a chapter to deliver a public lecture. Students, mission, presenting lectures throughout the country on “Anatomy of Post-Genocide Reconcilia- faculty, and community members thor- and becoming involved tion” for The Armenian Genocide: Cultural oughly enjoyed Hovannisian’s thought- with organizations related and Ethical Legacies, and a chapter on provoking lecture on “Ancient Civilization to genocide prevention “The Armenian Genocide in Diarbekir, and Modern Statecraft: Armenia at the and education. 1915,” for Armenian Tigranakert/Diarbekir, Crossroads” (see page 14). both books edited by Richard Hovannisian. Payaslian’s articles “Genocide and Women” Payaslian takes seriously the Center’s pub- and “Diaspora and Women” were accepted lic service mission, presenting lectures for the Encyclopedia of Women in World throughout the country and becoming History, published by Oxford University involved with organizations related to Press, with an expected release in early genocide prevention and education. 2008. In addition, Payaslian’s review of Payaslian presented “The Armenian Genocide Perspectives II: Essays on the Genocide in Comparative Perspective” on Holocaust and Genocide, edited by Colin 23 March 2007 at a workshop on genocide Tatz, Peter Arnold, and Sandra Tatz, was at Keene State College in Keene, N.H. published in the Journal of the Society for Continuing to build on the Center’s rela- Armenian Studies. His review of Elizabeth tionship with the Knights of Vartan, he Borgwardt’s A New Deal for the World: spoke on “History of the United States America’s Vision for Human Rights was Policy Toward the Armenian Question” published in the Journal of American on 12 September 2006 at the Knights of History. Vartan in Cambridge, Mass. Ever generous to the Clark community, Payaslian present- The Center community awaits the publica- ed a history education workshop for gradu- tion of Payaslian’s next book, History of the ate students in Clark’s Jacob Hiatt Center Armenians: From the Origins to the for Urban Education on 28 and 29 June Simon Payaslian Present, which Palgrave Macmillan 2006. Payaslian also continues to serve on expects to release later this year. the Advisory Board for the Genocide Meanwhile, in a testament to the global Education Project, based in San Francisco. reach of the Center’s faculty, Payaslian’s book, International Political Economy: The undergraduate concentration in Conflict and Cooperation in the Global Holocaust and Genocide Studies (HGS) is System, coauthored by Frederic Pearson, integral to the Center’s mission to educate

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the next generation of Holocaust and geno- appear in Jewish Women: A Comprehensive cide scholars and responsible citizens. Encyclopedia. The Center is fortunate to have Shelly Tenenbaum at the helm of this important In sharing best practices with her col- program. A professor of sociology who leagues, Tenenbaum contributed a syllabus served as Chair of the Sociology Depart- and class assignment to The Sociology of ment last year, Tenenbaum brings to the American Jewry: Syllabus and Instructional HGS concentration her outstanding work as Materials, edited by Paul Burstein and a scholar and teacher, as well as an inter- published by ASA Teaching Resources disciplinary perspective that continues to Center in 2007. be critical to the success of the Center and This year, she also its undergraduate and graduate programs. presented “Social Science and Tenenbaum, who also serves on the Center’s Teaching about Steering Committee, takes special pride in American Jewry” guiding undergraduates in pursuing their and chaired the intellectual passions. This year, she taught session on “Jewish courses on “Genocide,” “Class, Status, Identity and the Power,” and “American Jewish Life.” Culture of Celebrity” Tenenbaum also advised an impressive Shelly Tenenbaum at the Association 31 sociology majors, as well as sociology for Jewish Studies minors, HGS students, and students in the meeting in San Diego in December 2006. Jewish Studies and the Race and Ethnic In addition, Tenenbaum serves on the Relations concentrations. In addition, she Advisory Board for the Jewish Women’s directed a student working on a senior Archive (see page 21) and on the Editorial honors thesis and served on the senior Board for AJS Perspectives. She serves as Professor of Sociology honors thesis committee for another stu- a referee for The Sociological Quarterly Shelly Tenenbaum brings dent. Tenenbaum remains the faculty and Teaching Sociology. to the HGS concentration advisor for Clark’s chapter of STAND: A ■ Judith Jaeger and Mary Jane Rein her outstanding work as a scholar and teacher, as Student Anti-Genocide Coalition, which well as an interdisciplinary she helped initiate last year (see page 41). perspective that continues to be critical to the In addition to the significant contributions success of the Center and she makes to the Center, Tenenbaum is a its undergraduate and dedicated scholar who contributes to the graduate programs. wider academic community. Her article “Who Rules America?” coauthored with Clark sociologist Robert Ross, was published in the October 2006 issue of Teaching Sociology, and her article “It’s in My Genes: Biological Discourse and Essentialist Views of Identity Among Contemporary American Jews,” coauthored with Lynn Davidman, is forthcoming in The Sociological Quarterly. Updated versions of her chapters on “Contemporary Jewish Migrations” and “Minnie Low”

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Graduate student news

Graduate students stand at the heart of the women perpetrators at the conference for Center. Ten dedicated scholars contributed the Association of Holocaust Organizations The Center is proud to intellectual rigor, excellence, and enthusi- in January. And she gave a talk on female count Sarah Cushman asm to the Center’s activities this year. camp guards with Monika Flaschka, who among its several graduate Through their research, teaching, and spoke about race and rape during the Holo- students who have been scholarship, they advance the Center’s caust, at a local gathering for Generations honored with the award mission and reputation in their field and of the Shoah International in Bethesda, Md. of fellowships at the United States Holocaust around the world. Memorial Museum. In preparation for her life after the Center, This year, Sarah Cushman and Rachel Cushman has spent a significant amount Iskov continued their focus on writing of time searching and applying for post- their dissertations and preparing for the doctoral and faculty positions. She plans next step in their professional lives. to finish her dissertation during the summer, defend it early in the fall, and to be Sarah Cushman’s dissertation, The engaged as a professional historian by the Women of Birkenau, is a social history of end of the year. the women’s camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau. While writing has been central to her work Rachel Iskov continued her professional this year, other activities have comple- development in a variety of ways. Upon mented this final phase of her graduate her return to Toronto, Canada, last sum- career. mer, she conducted oral histories of Holocaust survivors. These interviews In November, Cushman presented her provide rich insights into the impact of initial findings on a new research project ghetto conditions and Nazi policies on in Claremont, Calif., at the ninth Lessons individuals and families, and put a human and Legacies Conference. Her paper, “The face on the experiences of daily life and Female Face of Genocide: Gender in the death in the Lodz ghetto. Iskov has used Postwar Trials,” was well-received. In this these testimonies in writing her disserta- Center graduate students: (back row, from left) new project, Cushman shifts her focus tion, Jewish Family Life in the Lodz Ghetto, Lotta Stone, Jeff Koerber; from the role of gender in the camps to its and it has renewed her focus and helped (middle row, from left) role in the prosecution of female perpetra- her revise the structure of her work. Naama Haviv M.A.’06, Robin Krause, Tiberiu Galis; tors and in the reconstruction of Germany, (front row, from left) particularly in the British Zone of occupa- Centered around themes of ghetto life, JulieAnne Mercier-Foint, tion. such as work and deportations, each chap- Ilana Offenberger ter of Iskov’s dissertation examines how The Center is proud to count Cushman familial roles and relations changed due to among its several graduate students who these major themes, and how individuals have been honored by fellowships at the and families understood the conditions Rachel Iskov applies her United States Holocaust Memorial Museum under which they lived. scholarly knowledge in her (USHMM). In December, she was pleased public service activities in to begin her appointment as Charles H. Iskov’s other activities included presenting her hometown of Toronto, where she serves on the Revson Research Fellow at the USHMM. a paper at the Holocaust Educational Holocaust Remembrance While there, she expanded her research Foundation’s conference Lessons and Day and Holocaust on gender and postwar trials. She also had Legacies in Claremont, Calif. She incorpo- Education Week committees. the honor of giving several presentations. rated her new survivor testimony into her She presented a summary of her work on talk on the arrival and experiences of

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refugees in the Lodz and Warsaw ghettos. cluded an enriching nine-month research The deportees are understudied but signif- fellowship at the USHMM’s Center for icant, because of the ways they reshaped Advanced Holocaust Studies. During her ghetto life. time there, Offenberger conducted research in the archives of the Jewish Iskov takes seriously the Center’s public Community of Vienna, which are currently service mission. This year, she joined the being microfilmed and held in the Holocaust Museum of Toronto in a volun- International Archival Programs Division teer capacity and sits on the Yom Hashoah of the USHMM. These archival materials (Holocaust Remembrance Day) and Holo- are still unavailable to the public, Offen- caust Educational Week committees, where berger was honored to receive special she is involved in planning educational permission from the Jewish Community of events. In addition to her involvement in Vienna and the USHMM to access them planning the citywide Yom Hashoah pro- for her dissertation research. The unique Beth Cohen Ph.D. ’03 gram in Toronto, Iskov visited a local documents contained in this collection (center front) with Jewish school, United Synagogue Day provide Offenberger with new insights on Center graduate students School, to teach an interactive lesson on Jewish life in Vienna during the Holocaust. Josh Franklin ’06, M.A. ’07, Stefan Ionescu, Adara the Lodz ghetto. Iskov is now involved in Goldberg and Jeffrey planning lectures across the city of Toronto In addition to conducting archival Koerber for Holocaust Education Week. She is research, Offenberger had the opportunity thrilled to have been invited to give a talk to present her work to visiting scholars, for the Polish-Jewish Heritage Foundation permanent museum staff, and historians in November 2008. from the Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies. On 6 October 2006, she gave a Robin Krause, Ilana Offenberger and Lotta presentation on “Jewish Responses to the Stone spent their G-5 year transforming Nazi Takeover of Austria,” and shared her their research into dissertations. Writing most recent research findings, interests, was the focus for all three of these scholars. and questions.

Center Fellow Robin Krause worked on While she was a fellow at the USHMM, her dissertation, German Opposition to the Campus Outreach Lecture Program Genocide: The Case of the Herero, 1904- invited Offenberger to present her research 1907 throughout the year. She was thrilled at Ramapo College in Mahwah, N.J. to have a chapter “The Herero/Nama Offenberger gladly agreed and gave an Genocide” published in Great Events from enlightening presentation on “Kristallnacht Ilana Offenberger visiting History: The 20th Century, 1901-1940, in Vienna: Fragments of a Shattered a Jewish cemetery in Vienna released by Salem Press in March 2007. Krause also found time to share her knowledge with the wider community. Notably, she presented a public Yom Hashoah lecture on “Remembering the Holocaust and Reflecting on the Present” for the Holo- caust and Genocide History Project at the Portland Museum in Louisville, Ky., on 15 April 2007.

Claims Conference Fellow Ilana Offenberger is also in the process of writing her dissertation: The Nazification of Vienna and the Response of the Viennese Jews. In January 2007, Offenberger con-

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World.” Her lecture, open to the public on correspondence with his family in Berlin. 9 November 2006, was so well-received While in London she also completed that the program director insisted she research at the Metropolitan Archive on repeat the lecture the following day in his the role of the British Fund for German college course on 20th Century Jewish His- Jewry in southern Africa. tory. Offenberger was delighted to oblige. Presentations were also on the agenda for Robin Krause presented Offenberger completed the last phase Stone. She traveled to Honolulu to present a public Yom Hashoah of her research when she concluded her the paper “Flight to South Africa: The Tale lecture on “Remembering fellowship at the USHMM on 31 December of Two Ships” at the Hawaii International the Holocaust and 2006. She began the new year by process- Conference on Arts and Humanities. Her Reflecting on the Present” ing her recent discoveries and, by Feb- paper “Seeking Asylum: Flight to Africa” for the Holocaust and Genocide History Project ruary, was constructing detailed outlines was recently accepted for presentation at at the Portland Museum for the next phase of her graduate study: the Middle Tennessee State University in Louisville, Ky., on dissertation writing. On 14 February she Holocaust Conference, to be held in 15 April 2007. submitted an extended outline and table of November 2007. contents for her dissertation and approximately one month later she proudly sub- Stone plans to complete and defend her mitted her first chapter. Both pieces were dissertation this fall. approved by her dissertation advisor and she is currently working on a new chapter. For Sidney and Rosalie Rose Fellow Tiberiu Galis, this has been a year of Ilana Offenberger was The past year proved an intense research adventure. Galis explored archives and honored to receive special permission from the Jewish period for Offenberger due to the abun- libraries in Germany, Hungary, the Nether- community of Vienna and dance of new materials at her fingertips. lands, Romania, and Serbia, conducting the USHMM to access She is now enjoying the long-awaited stage research for his dissertation, Transitional archival materials still of writing and is eager to share the wealth Justice and Transition to a New Regime: unavailable to the public of knowledge that she has uncovered. Making Sense of Uncertain Times. pursuant to her research for her dissertation, The Nazification of Vienna and After a year of focused research at archives Galis studied legislative frameworks for the Response of the in South Africa, Claims Conference transitional justice in the governmental Viennese Jews. Fellow Lotta Stone began to write her dis- archives available from the Nemzeti sertation Seeking Asylum: German Jewish Konyvtar in Budapest, the Biblioteca Refugees in South Africa, 1933-1945. She Nationala in Bucharest, the Narodna was pleased to welcome her South African Biblioteka Srbije in Belgrade, and the mentor Professor Milton Shain of the Deutsche Bibliothek Frankfurt am Main. Kaplan Center for Jewish History at the To analyze the political and legal reality University of Cape Town to the Strassler of transitional justice, often different from Center and introduce him at a luncheon the legislative frameworks, he analyzed held in his honor (see story page 10). legal practice documents available in the After a year of focused official judicial record holders: Arhivele research at archives in Stone continued to travel throughout the Nationale in Bucharest, the International South Africa, Claims year. To supplement the files found at the Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia Conference Fellow Lotta Kaplan Center Archives and the Holocaust Archives in the Hague; the Bundesarchiv Stone tackled the task of Center in Cape Town and the South in Koblenz; the Magyar Orszagos Levetar writing her dissertation Seeking Asylum: German African Jewish Board of Deputies Rochlin in Budapest; and, for the post-war Nurem- Jewish Refugees in South Archives in Johannesburg, she visited the berg trials, the Public Records Office in Africa, 1933-1945. Wiener Archives in London. She investi- London, and the archives of the Imperial gated the Heinz Lowenstein collection, a War Museum, also in London. In addition, valuable day-to-day account of the life of a he pored over the practice documents of young refugee in South Africa preserved in national transitional justice institutions,

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which were available for consultation in Belarus. A quadruple crown experience: the archival services of those national he was thrilled to be awarded a new, short- institutions: the German Gauck Authority’s term grant, the Corrie ten Boom Research archive in Berlin and the Consiliul Nation- Award from the Shoah Foundation Institute al pentru Studierea Arhivelor Securitatii which supports his research in their archives in Bucharest. archives.

Upon returning to the United States, Galis Koerber’s dissertation will describe and established contact with and consequently analyze how the Jewish minority popula- served as a consultant to the Auschwitz tion in the borderlands between the Soviet Institute for Peace and Reconciliation—a Union and the Polish Republic understood testament to the depth of knowledge and events unfolding between 1935 and 1945 level of professionalism Galis has already at home and across Europe, and how their achieved. In this role, he was responsible interpretation influenced their response to for obtaining funding support and develop- oppression and genocide. Through a coming curricula for the Raoul Wallenberg parative study, he will focus on Yiddish- Centre for Genocide Prevention. This pro- speaking Jews in two urban centers: gram seeks to educate government officials Vitebsk in the Belorussian Soviet Socialist in order to make public policy more sensi- Republic and Grodno in the northeastern tive to genocide prevention. interwar Polish Republic. Both towns lie today within the borders of the Republic of Jeffrey Koerber and JulieAnne Mercier- Belarus. Jews in these towns experienced Tiberiu Galis explored Foint, both in their third year of study, similar sequences of events—state-spon- archives and libraries in made progress toward more serious disser- sored oppression and genocide—yet their Germany, Hungary, the tation research, deepening their knowledge reactions were completely different. Netherlands, Romania, and bringing their research plans into Koerber will explore individual and and Serbia, conducting sharper focus. community perspectives on regional and research for his disserta- international events as reflected in the tion, Transitional Justice and Transition to a New Jeffrey Claims Conference Fellow public discourse in the Yiddish language Regime: Making Sense of Koerber passed his comprehensive exam- press; private discourse as in letters, Uncertain Times. inations and defended his dissertation memoirs, and postwar testimonies; and proposal—both on the same day. The day official discourse in Jewish organizational after completing this intellectual marathon, documents. Koerber received the welcome news that he was selected as a Fulbright scholar During the 2006–2007 academic year, to Belarus for 2007–2008 to conduct Koerber served as teaching assistant for research on his dissertation, View from Dwork’s course “The Holocaust: Agency The day after completing this intellectual marathon, the Borderlands: Jews in Belorussia and and Action” and Kühne’s “Authority and Jeffrey Koerber received Poland, 1935–1945. He also was chosen Democracy in Central Europe.” He contin- the welcome news that he for a Critical Language Enhancement ued his Yiddish studies with Dr. Ellen was selected as a Fulbright Award from the U.S. Department of State Kellman at Brandeis University. Koerber scholar to Belarus for Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs also spent two weeks in Belarus in 2007–2008 to conduct which allows him to enrich his Russian January, visiting archives to examine docu- research on his dissertation, View from the language skills prior to starting his Ful- ments related to his dissertation topic. Borderlands: Jews in bright year in Belarus. Less than a week Belorussia and Poland, later, he was honored with yet another fel- Fromson Fellow JulieAnne Mercier- 1935–1945. lowship: the Tauber Institute Award from Foint had a busy third year at the Center, the Tauber Institute for the Study of pursuing teaching and research. She European Jewry at Brandeis University. served as a teaching assistant for sociology This funding will underwrite the travel professor Shelly Tenenbaum in her course expenses during his program of research in “Genocide,” and she taught several ses-

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sions. These lectures included: “The Payaslian, and “Cultural and Social History and Politics of the United Nations Psychology” with Clark psychology profes- Genocide Convention,” “Mass Rape of sor Jaan Valsiner, and undertook a direct- Women and Girls in the Rwandan ed reading with Kühne. Genocide,” and “The History of Darfur, Sudan and the Darfur Genocide.” A highlight of the fall semester was audit- ing Debórah Dwork’s “Holocaust: Agency Mercier-Foint continued to share her and Action.” Interacting with undergradu- knowledge and research with the Clark ate students and fielding their questions community by participating in the History reinforced Goldberg’s passion for Holo- Department’s Modern History Colloquium caust education as her field of study. (see page 6). She presented a detailed Interacting with under- analysis of her dissertation, A War within During the winter break, Goldberg undergraduate students and a War: Mass Rape and Genocide: Armenia, took preliminary research at the Fortunoff fielding their questions Germany, Bosnia, and Rwanda, illustrating Video Archives at Yale University. This reinforced Adara Goldberg’s passion for the importance of historical research on research led to her participation in Clark’s Holocaust education. the topic of mass rape against women and Graduate Student Multidisciplinary Con- girls during genocides. ference, where she presented the paper “Survival as Gentiles: Jewish Women Weeks later, Mercier-Foint continued to ‘Passing’ as Gentiles in the Holocaust,” discuss her doctoral research with Cathy which is the focus of her research. Gold- Cohen Lasry Distinguished Professor berg also produced an article for Afterword: Robert Melson and his students in his Canada’s newspaper for the young Jewish course “Holocaust and Genocide in scene about Holocaust education and Comparative Perspective.” awareness in North America. Several of Stefan Ionescu’s papers have been accepted Mercier-Foint also shared her knowledge During his first year at the Center, for presentation at with the wider academic world, writing an Claims Conference Fellow Stefan upcoming conferences, article for the winter newsletter of the Ionescu also enjoyed interesting courses such as the American Institute for the Study of Genocide. Her in Holocaust and genocide studies taught Association for the Advancement of Slavic article, “Cambodians Work towards by Dwork, Melson, government and Studies convention in New Prosecution of Khmer Rouge Leaders,” international relations professor Valerie Orleans in November 2007, detailed the current state and prehistory of Sperling, Kühne and Valsiner. and Collective Violence: the genocide trials in Cambodia. Emergence, Experience, In the fall semester, Ionescu was privi- Remembrance organized Adara Goldberg and Stefan Cristian leged to serve as teaching assistant for in Sarajevo (Bosnia Ionescu completed an intellectually stimu- Dwork’s course “Holocaust: Agency and Herzegovina) in September 2007. lating and challenging first year of gradu- Action.” He enjoyed working with Clark ate studies at the Center. They are already undergraduates and was inspired by their integral members of the Center community. curiosity and passion for this field of study.

Eager to expand her scholarly range, Ionescu’s own intellectual pursuits led him Ralph and Shirley Rose Fellow Adara to New York and Washington, D.C., during Goldberg enjoyed courses by Clark’s dis- the winter and spring breaks to conduct JulieAnne Mercier-Foint tinguished professors. In the fall semester, preliminary research in the archives of the had a busy third year at she examined “Gender, War and Genocide” Leo Baek Institute, YIVO Institute and the Center, pursuing teaching and research. with Kühne, “Comparative Genocide” with USHMM. This was an immensely enriching Melson, and “Psychology of Peacemaking” experience that helped to crystallize his with Clark psychology professor Joseph de plans for his doctoral research. Rivera. In the spring semester, she delved into “The Armenian Genocide” with During the spring semester, Ionescu par-

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ticipated in the 27th Annual Holocaust and Cultural Psychology of Genocides”). Conference organized by Millersville University in Pennsylvania. He presented Engaging his passion for teaching, the results of his recent research in a paper Franklin instructed fourth- and fifth-grade titled “Bystanders’ Attitudes towards the students at Temple Shaarei Shalom’s reli- Jews during Antonescu Regime: Revisiting gious school in Ashland, Mass. He taught the Diaries of Jewish Survivors from various areas of Jewish studies, ranging Romania,” which fit well with the confer- from Hebrew to Jewish history. ence theme of “Collaboration, Indifference, and Resistance: Responses to the Holo- With his master’s degree in hand, Franklin caust and Genocide.” In addition, Ionescu leaves the Center to pursue the next phase participated in the Clark Graduate Student of his journey: a rabbinical degree at Multidisciplinary Conference, where he Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute presented a paper on “Passive Witnesses? of Religion. He will spend the next five Bystanders during the Holocaust in years, beginning with a year at the Jerus- Romania.” alem campus, completing theological studies in preparation for the rabbinate, a Several of his papers have been accepted calling that Franklin feels will best enable for presentation at upcoming conferences, him to teach and inspire future genera- such as the American Association for the tions. With his master’s degree in hand, Franklin leaves Advancement of Slavic Studies convention the Center to pursue the in New Orleans in November 2007, and New Graduate Students next phase of his journey: Collective Violence: Emergence, Experience, This fall, the Center is pleased to welcome a rabbinical degree at Remembrance organized in Sarajevo five new students to the doctoral program: Hebrew Union College – (Bosnia Herzegovina) in September 2007 Betsy Anthony, Emily Dabney, Alexis Jewish Institute of Religion. by the Center for Interdisciplinary Memory Herr, Jody Manning ’07, and Raz Segal. Research, Kulturwissenschaftlichen Institut Essen. Betsy Anthony currently lives in Vienna, Austria and is Senior Case Worker This year, Joshua Franklin ’06 earned for HIAS (the Hebrew Immigrant Aid a master’s degree in history at Clark. He Society). She interviews refugees seeking worked rigorously to research and write asylum in the United States because of his master’s thesis, Keeping Silent about religious persecution. As a consultant Auschwitz: The Story of Leo Baeck. Working to the Ambassadors of Remembrance under the direction of Dwork, Franklin’s program, she designed and carried out research focused on Rabbi Leo Baeck, a Holocaust remembrance program for head of the German-Jewish community Austrian high school students and during the Nazi era, and Baeck’s decision Holocaust survivors living in New York. to conceal information he had received Prior to that Anthony spent five years about the death camps in the east. in the Office of Survivor Affairs at the Franklin delivered a lecture based on his USHMM, where she served as Deputy work at Clark’s Graduate Student Multidis- Director for the last two. Most notable ciplinary Conference, and also delivered a among her accomplishments was the presentation at Worcester’s Yom HaShoah development of a writing workshop for Community Day of Remembrance service. Holocaust survivors, “The Memory Project,” and the publication of two Franklin also enjoyed courses taught by anthologies of survivor memoir. Melson (“Holocaust and Genocide in Comparative Perspective”), Kühne Anthony is co-facilitator of the Internation- (“Gender, War and Genocide in 20th al Summer Program on the Holocaust, a Century Europe”), and Valsiner (“Social dialogue group for young Europeans and

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Americans who confront difficult societal at the USHMM Center for Advanced and familial histories with regard to the Holocaust Studies, Herr began a thesis Holocaust. She co-developed and co-facili- project on Field Marshall Albert tates an Austrian-Jewish dialogue group, Kesselring. Kesselring was stationed in as well as workshops on “Confronting the Rome from 1943 until the end of the war. Nazi Past” in Vienna. Her background in Found guilty and sentenced to death dur- social work has informed much of her ing the Nuremberg Trials for his involve- career experience, including her work as a ment in the massacre of Italian civilians, Diversity and Anti-Bias Trainer. Anthony his sentence was commuted as a result of has written and spoken extensively about a letter written on his behalf by Winston her experiences with Holocaust survivors, Churchill. Herr’s undergraduate thesis specifically sharing her observations of investigates issues of ethics and justice survivors’ interactions with young Germans after mass atrocities. In her doctoral work, and Austrians. In her doctoral studies, she plans to continue her research on the she plans to continue her research on and Holocaust in Italy. work with Holocaust survivors, focusing on those who returned to Austria after the Jody Manning ’07 entered Clark as an Holocaust. undergraduate, following a successful career in restaurants, with a specific intent Emily Dabney completed her Bachelor to study at the Strassler Center. Early of Arts in history and French at Georgia in his undergraduate career he was able Southern University in 2006. While at to secure a summer internship at the Georgia Southern, she was in the honors Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in program and fulfilled her honors require- Oswiecim, Poland where he recently ments with work focused on the two world returned for a third summer. Working at wars and the Holocaust. Her interests con- Auschwitz, Manning had the opportunity verged in a research project on the Jewish to collaborate with Israeli educators from experience in Vichy France. She received Yad Vashem during the annual seminar a research grant in her last year that Auschwitz in the Collective Consciousness allowed her to explore Parisian archives of Poland and the World. This internship dedicated to the Holocaust. She is sure to experience led to an undergraduate honors repeat this experience, as her research will thesis, Growing up in Postwar Oswiecim: be on France and the Holocaust. She spent Calling the City Known as Auschwitz Your the past year in France as a language Hometown. In this study Manning assesses assistant at L’Institution St. Louis, improv- the effects of postwar memory on Polish ing her French language skills. She enters youth growing up in Oswiecim. the graduate program as the Richard P. Cohen, M.D. Doctoral Fellow, gifted by the In his doctoral research, Manning intends Buster Foundation in honor of Richard to further investigate Aushwitz, Polish- Cohen ’71. Jewish relations, historical memory, cultural psychology, and the continued effects Alexis Herr credits her interest in Holo- of the Holocaust. In preparation for this caust history to the profound influence research he participated in intensive exerted by the writings of Primo Levi. As Polish language study during the summer. a student at Claremont Mckenna College, His Polish studies will facilitate his where she pursued a dual major in litera- continued involvement with the Auschwitz- ture and Italian with a minor in Holocaust, Birkenau State Museum where he hopes human rights, and genocide studies, she to grow their internship program for combined her interests in literature with American students. As an undergraduate Holocaust history. During an internship intern at the Center during the past aca-

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demic year, he should have excellent ideas about how to create meaningful internship opportunities.

Raz Segal comes to Clark from Tel-Aviv University where he recently completed his M.A. in the Department of Jewish His- continued from page 22 Center in the Mail 2006–2007 tory. Yad Vashem will publish his master’s thesis, a study of the Jewish community of “I attended your lecture last Wednesday, Munkács in Subcarpathian Russia between [and] I found it very informative. You man- the world wars and during the Holocaust aged to provide a global picture of the events period. And he has published an article on of those times. I was born in Vienna, lived the Jews of Huszt, an important city in the and grew up in Meidling, the twelfth district, region (“The Jews of Huszt between the prior to my departure for England on the World Wars and during the Holocaust”). kindertransport. Although I was only ten when I left, I still have vivid memories of Segal intends to continue his work on those times, many good ones but some quite Subcarpathian Russia. Segal enjoyed sup- bad. I think you are doing a great job in port from numerous funds at Tel Aviv researching that period.” University and Yad Vashem to carry out —Alfred Traum, to Center graduate student his master’s research. Leading Israeli Ilana Offenberger regarding a presentation she Holocaust historian, Yehuda Bauer, who gave at the United States Holocaust Memorial has served as Distinguished Visiting Museum (USHMM) Professor at the Center on two previous “I am a Clark alumna getting certified occasions, advised Segal on his master’s to teach at Millersville University in Penn- thesis, and has offered to join Segal’s doc- sylvania, and we are currently studying toral committee. The Center welcomes apartheid education in the United States. As Professor Bauer’s participation. I was doing my homework and watching the Auschwitz series, I was pleasantly surprised Already an accomplished presenter, Segal and proud to see you on the documentary. has participated in several recent confer- Your responses on children and morality really hit home. With age and the enlightening ences. He organized the first interdiscipli- influence of scholars like you, I am beginning nary conference dealing with Holocaust to better comprehend the subjects of ethics and genocide studies for graduate students and morality in the age of nationalism. I will from all Israeli universities. He also pre- take this to heart when I become a teacher sented at the Hebrew University graduate and try to better incorporate moral ethics in Holocaust Seminar, at the international my classroom. I must tell you that one day graduate students’ conference at the Buda- I sat in on your class back at Clark and I’ll pest Holocaust Memorial Center, and at never forget your lecture regarding the slow political reforms passed in Nazi Germany that the Sede-Boker Campus of Ben-Gurion affected people silently. It has created a deep University, where he received the Gold- sense of political awareness in me. Thus, in hirsch Foundation award for his master’s light of your PBS discussion that one person thesis. can make a difference, I feel compelled to ■ Judith Jaeger and Mary Jane Rein tell you of the difference you have made in my life. Thank you for your dedication as a person and a scholar.” —Almaisa Yanoff ’00, to Center Director and Rose Professor Debórah Dwork

continued on page 47

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Undergraduate Student News

Clark’s undergraduate concentration in After receiving his bachelor’s degree from Holocaust and Genocide Studies (HGS) Clark, summa cum laude, in May, Manning combines innovative courses across many served as program assistant for Clark’s disciplines with extraordinary internship Prague-Terezín Program, “From Prague to and study-abroad opportunities. HGS stu- Terezín to Auschwitz: Czech Jewry and the dents are encouraged to use their skills Holocaust.” In addition to studying the and knowledge to contribute to under- Polish language, he spent a third summer standing the Holocaust and genocide, and in Oswiecim again working at the to make a difference in the world through Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. research and public service. Two graduat- Manning, now a member of the Phi Beta ing HGS students, who served as interns at Kappa Honor Society, looks forward to the Center, stand out for their contribu- returning to the Center in the fall to begin tions and accomplishments. the Ph.D. program in Holocaust and Genocide Studies. The Center community Jody Manning ’07, a history major with will be pleased to welcome back this out- an HGS concentration, completed an standing student. honors thesis examining young people who Jody Manning ’07 with live in Oswiecim and the effects of post- Daniel Roberts ’07, a history major Center Program Manager war memory upon their lives. His thesis, concentrating in European history, com- Dr. Tatyana Macaulay Growing Up in Post-War Oswiecim: Calling pleted his honors thesis ‘Peace in Our the City Known as Auschwitz Your Home- Time’: British Racism and the Munich town, won the History Department’s Paul Agreement, in which he analyzes how Lucas European History Prize for the best the racism of conservatives profoundly essay on a European historical topic and shaped British policy leading up to the earned First Major High Honors from the Four Powers Conference at Munich in History Department. Strassler Professor September 1938. Thomas Kühne advised Manning on this This significant research outstanding thesis project. Roberts’s research, which flowed from a experience will serve genuine interest in and fascination with Daniel Roberts well Manning’s research was informed by his the people and time period, revealed that when he returns to Clark work at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State British conservatives believed Czechs to in the fall to pursue a Museum. Manning proudly represented be part of an inferior Slavic race incapable master’s degree in history. The Center community Clark and the Center as the first American of governing the multiracial country of looks forward to watching intern to work at the museum. He spent the Czechoslovakia. These conservatives also the progress of this summer of 2005 there and noted that visi- believed that Germans, in particular promising historian. tors to the museum were mostly unaware Sudeten Germans, were a superior racial of the modern city of Oswiecim. Manning group to the Czechs and that any attempt became interested in what it was like to on the part of Czechs to suppress the grow up in the shadow of the notorious racial hierarchy would result in conflict. Nazi death camp. He returned in summer In addition, he discovered that virulent 2006, with support from an undergraduate antisemitism animated British conservative research fund established by Ina Gordon, policy. This ideology inhibited many, to conduct a multi-generational study of including Prime Minister Neville Chamber- the townspeople of Auschwitz, assessing lain, from objectively assessing the danger the effects of postwar memory on their posed to Jews by offering Czech territory lives. to Nazi Germany.

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This significant research experience will serve Roberts well when he returns to Clark in the fall to pursue a master’s degree in history. The Center community looks forward to watching the progress of this promising historian.

During the 2005-06 academic year, a Clark performance groups Hip Hop Clark students and group of undergraduate students estab- Collabo, Radical Cheerleaders, Laurel STAND members at the Save Darfur Coalition rally lished a Clark chapter of STAND: A Andrews, Grill Station, and Axis of Evil. in New York City Student Anti-Genocide Coalition, the • Sent four students to the Northeast student arm of the Genocide Intervention Regional STAND Conference at Brown Network. Undergraduate leaders wasted University in January. no time in organizing activities to educate the Clark community about the genocide • Sponsored community information ses- unfolding in Darfur. This year was no dif- sion on divestment with Massachusetts ferent. Clark’s STAND chapter continued state senators Harriet Chandler and its work to improve the Clark community’s Edward Augustus, Daniel Millenson Jody Manning’s thesis, Growing Up in Post-War understanding of the genocide in Darfur, of the Sudan Divestment Task Force, Oswiecim: Calling the strengthen Worcester’s network of Darfur and Bill Rosenfeld from the Fidelity Out Of Sudan campaign in March. City Known as Auschwitz activism, speak out against the genocide, Your Hometown, won the and call for an end to the violence. • Sent students to the Massachusetts History Department’s Paul Divestment Bill Hearing at the State Lucas European History STAND undertook the following activities House in Boston in March. Prize for the best essay on a European historical this year: • Co-sponsored with Amnesty Internation- topic and earned First • Established close relationships with the al National Student Week of Action Major High Honors from new STAND chapters at the College of in March focused on Darfur. Activities the History Department. the Holy Cross, Doherty High School, included letter writing, a lecture by and Burncoat High School. Sudan researcher Eric Reeves (co-spon- • Took 45 Clark students to the Save sored by HGS), and a die in. Darfur Coalition’s rally in New York City • Participated in the creation and organi- in September 2006 to join thousands in zation of the Die In, Rally and March Central Park to call for United Nations for Divestment in Boston for Global Day peacekeeping forces to be deployed to for Darfur, 29 April 2007, sponsored by Clark’s STAND chapter Darfur. Massachusetts STAND chapters and the continued its work • Screened “Sometimes In April,” the Massachusetts Coalition to Save Darfur. to improve the Clark HBO film about the Rwandan genocide, These activities reflect the exceptional community’s understanding of the genocide in Darfur, commitment of our students to end the to educate the community about the strengthen Worcester’s consequences and realities of genocide. human tragedy unfolding in Sudan. network of Darfur activism, ■ • Held a rally in November 2006 that Judith Jaeger speak out against the featured: speakers Scott Schaeffer Duffy, genocide, and call for an end to the violence. Rev. Gloria White Hammond, Abu Assal, and poet Jamele Adams; and

STRASSLER FAMILY CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES 42 ALUMNI NEWS

To Change the World, To Make a Difference Life After the Center

Graduate Alumni News Worcester area who couldn’t attend Graduates of the Center’s doctoral programs Cohen’s lecture learned about her and her in Holocaust history and comparative geno- work in a feature article in the Worcester cide take seriously the Center’s mission Telegram & Gazette. of teaching, research and public service. They take seriously, too, their responsibili- Indeed, Case Closed has garnered much ty to contribute to their fields of study and deserved attention for Cohen and her to educate others about the Holocaust and research. Joel Kantor noted Case Closed in genocide. They pursue this work with his editorial in Beyond the Couch: Online pleasure and rigor, knowing that their con- Journal for Psychoanalysis in Social Work tribution may help to prevent future atroci- in March. The USHMM invited Cohen to ties. The Center is proud to report on the deliver the Monna and Otto Weinmann activities of its graduate alumni every year. Annual Lecture in May. Her lecture for this event, “Holocaust Survivors in Post- Beth Cohen Ph.D. ’03 reached a par- war America,” captured the attention of ticularly remarkable milestone this year, Professor Henry Greenspan, who asked to as she became the Center’s first Ph.D. reference Cohen’s book and USHMM lec- recipient to publish a book based on her ture in his chapter on “Survivor Accounts” doctoral dissertation research. Case for the Oxford Handbook of Holocaust Closed: Holocaust Survivors in Postwar Studies. Cohen was also interviewed by the America, was released in 2007 by Rutgers American Psychological Association’s University Press, in association with International Newsletter, in conjunction Beth Cohen Ph.D. ’03 the United States Holocaust Memorial with her lecture at the USHMM. delivering a public lecture Museum (USHMM) in Washington, D.C. at Clark on her new In Case Closed, Cohen examines the expe- Cohen remains committed to shedding new book Case Closed: Holocaust Survivors in riences of Holocaust survivors who settled light on the experiences of Holocaust sur- Postwar America. in the United States following World War vivors during the postwar years. Her chap- II. She explores the gap between the pub- ter “Face-to-Face: Holocaust Survivors lic perception of Jewish refugees finding and the American Jewish Community, lives filled with opportunity and happiness 1946-1954” is forthcoming in “We are in America, and what was in fact a much Here”: New Approaches to Jewish Displaced “Case Closed is a well- more complicated reality. Cohen scruti- Persons in Postwar Germany. Her article researched and clearly nizes these years through the eyes of those “From Case File to Testimony: Reconstruc- written volume that offers a powerful corrective to who lived it, challenging the conventional ting Survivors’ First Years in America” is the common, somewhat narrative of postwar easy acculturation and forthcoming in Casden Annual, Vol. 6: The rosy view of Holocaust illuminating the complexity of the new- Impact of the Shoah on America and in survivors’ experiences in comers’ lives as “New Americans.” Jewish American Life. Cohen also pub- the United States in the lished a review of Kirsten Fermaglich’s decade following World The Center community proudly welcomed American Dreams and Nazi Nightmares: War II. As fine historical scholarship often does, Cohen back to Clark in April to deliver the Early Consciousness and Liberal America, Beth Cohen’s work both Asher Family Lecture and to celebrate her 1957-1965 in the Journal of American illuminates and disturbs.” book launch (see page 16). Cohen capti- Ethnic History and presented “The Myth vated the audience of faculty, students and of Silence: Survivors Tell a Different —Peter Hayes, Theodore Z. Weiss Professor community members, and inspired the Story” at the Association of Jewish Studies of Holocaust Studies, Center’s current graduate students to pur- Annual Conference. Northwestern University sue their research goals. Those in the

STRASSLER FAMILY CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES ALUMNI NEWS 43

In addition to contributing new knowledge taught a session titled “New Research on and deeper understanding to the field of Rescue in France” for the JFR Summer Holocaust history, Cohen continues to Institute for Teachers in 2006. In January 2007, Schmidt teach about the Holocaust. This spring she was appointed Director of was a lecturer at California State Univer- Schmidt continues her research and schol- Education at the Jewish sity, Northridge, where students enjoyed arship in the area of rescue and resistance Foundation for the her courses on “Teaching the Holocaust during the Holocaust. This academic year, Righteous (JFR) in New York City. Her appointment and Genocide” and “Religious Responses she wrote 35 additional entries for the further strengthens the to the Holocaust.” She also gladly accept- forthcoming first volume of the USHMM’s Center’s longstanding ed an invitation to participate in Holocaust Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos in relationship with the JFR. Education Week in Toronto, where she will Nazi Germany and Nazi-dominated speak on “Survivors: Facts and Fictions.” Territories, 1933-1945. Her review of Chrétiens et Juifs sous Vichy (1940-1944): Christine Schmidt Ph.D. ’03 enjoyed Sauvetage et désobéissance civile by Limore a landmark year, too. In fall 2006, Schmidt Yagil is forthcoming in Holocaust and was honored to be awarded a Fulbright Genocide Studies, and her review of Goetz Research Fellowship to Hungary, where Aly’s and Susanne Heim’s Architects of she was a postdoctoral fellow at the Annihilation and Gerhard Hirschfield’s Corvinus University of Budapest. She also compilation Karrieren im Nationalsozial- earned a J. and O. Winter Fund Research ismus are forthcoming on H-German. Her Grant, from the Gábor Várszegi article “Madeleine Dreyfus: Jewish Women Endowment, for Holocaust-related and Rescue in France during the Holo- research. It was a busy autumn: she caust” will be published by the Eszter’s served, too, as an editing consultant for Bag Foundation/Esztertáska Alapítvány. project “DEGOB — Recollections on the An essay on wartime international aid Holocaust — The World’s Most Extensive in the south of France will be published Testimonial Site,” www.degob.org. by Centropa (Central Europe Center for Research and Documentation). In January 2007, Schmidt was appointed Director of Education at the Jewish Beth Lilach (ABD) is delighted to join Foundation for the Righteous (JFR) in her colleague Christine Schmidt as a Beth Lilach (ABD) was New York City. Her appointment further Director of Education. She joined the staff appointed Director of strengthens the Center’s longstanding rela- of the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Education at the Holocaust tionship with the JFR (see page 20). As the Center in Glen Cove, N.Y., in July 2007. Memorial and Tolerance Director of Education, a position crucial to As Director of Education, Lilach is Center in Glen Cove, N.Y., the advancement of Holocaust education, responsible for that center’s extensive out- in July 2007. Schmidt is responsible for the JFR’s reach education programs. Previously, she national Holocaust education program for had taught at Florida Atlantic University teachers, as well as the JFR’s international and had served the School District of Palm educational initiatives. In addition, she Beach County as a curriculum consultant has led discussion sessions at the JFR’s and expert lecturer. In November 2006, Advanced Seminar for Teachers, held she provided professional development other teacher workshops, and has authored training to teachers in Florida’s St. Lucie and helped to oversee the development of School District, where she taught a work- educational materials for teaching about shop on the history of the Holocaust. the Holocaust. She also wrote the script for an ambitious exhibition on rescue, her Contributing new scholarship to the field, primary research interest, which will travel Lilach presented “‘Idiots, Imbeciles, and in 2008. Prior to her appointment, Schmidt the Loathsome Diseased’: The Hidden

STRASSLER FAMILY CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES 44 ALUMNI NEWS

History of Postwar Refugees” at DeMonfont Undergraduate Alumni News University’s conference on Refugees and Clark undergraduate students are known the End of Empire in Leicester, England. for transforming knowledge into action, And her paper “Unwanted Remnants: and they continue along this trajectory Giving Voice to ‘Asocial’ Survivors in the long after graduation. The Center is proud Haviv recently accepted Postwar Era, 1951-1957” has been accept- to report on alumni from Clark’s Holocaust a position as the projects ed to the 14th Berkshire Conference on and Genocide Studies (HGS) undergradu- manager of Jewish World the History of Women: Continuities and ate concentration and the many ways they Wa tch, a Los Angeles- based organization Changes, to be held in Minneapolis. are using their Clark education to create dedicated to organizing positive change in the world. the Jewish community to Since completing her master’s degree at the take action in the face Center, Naama Haviv M.A. ’06 spent After three years as Program Coordinator of genocide. seven months as the program officer in the for the Holocaust Studies and Critical Education Department of Relief Interna- Thinking Program of the Silicon Valley tional-Schools Online, a humanitarian Conference for Community and Justice, agency serving over 14 countries world- Sara Levy ’01 has returned to academia wide. In this role, Haviv turned her expert- to pursue a Ph.D. in education. She fin- ise to creating a global online curriculum ished her first year as a Ph.D. student in “This is all in hopes of connecting students from the United States curriculum and instruction at the Univer- eradicating ignorance to students in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, sity of Minnesota. Levy is focusing on of, for example, what’s Palestine, and Tajikistan on issues of peace HGS education, specifically how teachers happening in the Darfur and tolerance, global citizenship, and approach this subject. She is also interest- region of Sudan as youth activism. She also created curricula we speak, and raising ed in the relationship between teaching awareness of this human- and implemented program activities for and representation. race self-destruction.” youth and teacher exchanges to the United States from Tajikisan, Azerbaijan, Jordan, Morgan Blum ’02 is the Director of —Claude Kaitare ’05, Bangladesh and Palestine. Education for the Holocaust Center regarding his continuing work with Facing History of Northern California. After graduating and Ourselves With this experience, Haviv has started a from Clark, Blum continued her research new professional endeavor. She recently at Deakin University in Melbourne, accepted a position as Projects Manager of Australia. Her master’s thesis examined Jewish World Watch, a Los Angeles-based the forced removal of Aboriginal children organization dedicated to organizing the as a case of genocide. A section of Blum’s Jewish community to take action in the thesis was recently published in Genocide face of genocide. The organization is cur- Perspectives III, edited by Colin Tatz. rently focused on education, advocacy, and refugee relief efforts to end the genocide At the Holocaust Center of Northern in Darfur. Haviv is responsible for creating California, Blum creates curricula and and implementing a year-long Youth leads professional development workshops Activist initiative, certifying youth in Los for Bay Area middle- and high-school Beth Lilach (ABD) takes Angeles-area high schools as well-rounded, educators. In March, together with two seriously her responsibility life-long activists; staffing the Women’s Holocaust survivors, she led Shalhevet, to teach others about the Committee and the Community Action and an educational journey to Poland and Holocaust. Response Committee; and assessing future Israel, for 23 Bay-area students. April world issues that warrant the attention of marked the Holocaust Center’s annual Day Jewish World Watch and its constituencies. of Learning, and together with her staff, ■ Judith Jaeger Blum organized and facilitated a conference on the Holocaust and genocide for more than 450 students and teachers.

STRASSLER FAMILY CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES ALUMNI NEWS 45

Blum is an active member of the San rance of, for example, what’s happening in “Everything we learn Francisco Bay Area Darfur Coalition and the Darfur region of Sudan as we speak, focuses on looking to the sits on the advisory board of the Genocide and raising awareness of this human-race past to better understand Education Project. This summer she pre- self-destruction.” the present. From little things, like how to stand, sented a paper at the International to big things, like not Association of Genocide Scholars confer- Amanda Graizel ’06, who served as an viewing civilians as ‘the ence in Sarajevo, Bosnia. intern at the Center last year, is finishing other,’ we are constantly a year as a Jewish Campus Service Corps moving between then and Julie Medina ’02 is the special events Fellow with Hillel International at Syra- now... Indeed, the HGS supervisor at the Tucson Jewish Communi- cuse University. She spent the summer concentration is as valuable on the street as it is ty Center (JCC) in Tuscon, Ariz., where attending a Jewish experiential learning in the classroom.” she also lives. She plans to pursue an institute in California, before moving to M.B.A. with a focus on non-profit manage- the greater Los Angeles area permanently. —Jeffrey Lubin ’06, ment. Medina ultimately hopes to continue Graizel is now Program Director for Hillel regarding his training to become a police officer her career in the Jewish community, at the Claremont Colleges, a consortium particularly, within the JCC or JCC Asso- of five undergraduate colleges and two ciation of North America. graduate institutions in the Los Angeles/ Claremont area. For the past year, Sara Brown ’05 has volunteered with Right To Play Interna- At the end of May, Jeffrey Lubin ’06 tional in rural Tanzania. As a project coor- was preparing to graduate from the police dinator, Brown organized and supported academy and begin a career as a police sports programs for youth in area refugee officer in a Virginia suburb of Washington, camps. D.C. Lubin met the challenges of the Morgan Blum ’02 is an active member of the San academy’s 24-week training program, Francisco Bay Area Darfur Claude Kaitare ’05 completed his where he learned, among other things, Coalition and sits on the second year at John D. Runkle School in investigative skills, the legal system, and advisory board of the Brookline, Mass., as a teacher’s aide to “correct pushup form.” Genocide Education fifth graders. Last year, Kaitare worked Project. with an autistic eighth grader, and with Lubin observes that the issues he studied this student’s classmates, in a special- at the Center remain relevant outside of education setting. academia. “Everything we learn focuses on looking to the past to better understand Kaitare has been accepted into Emmanuel the present. From little things, like how College’s graduate school in Boston, where to stand, to big things, like not viewing For the past year, Sara he is completing his master’s degree in civilians as ‘the other,’ we are constantly Brown ’05 has volunteered education. He continues to serve as a moving between then and now,” he wrote with Right To Play resource for Facing History and Ourselves, to the Center. In fact, Lubin noted that International in rural speaking at many schools in the greater the final day of instruction was a special Tanzania. Boston area about his experiences during program for police recruits at the USHMM. and after the Rwandan genocide. Most In his words, “Indeed, the HGS concen- recently, Kaitare has spoken at the PATH tration is as valuable on the street as it is School, and Nobles and Greenough, and in the classroom.” at Clark University, where he visited ■ Judith Jaeger Professor Shelly Tenenbaum’s course on genocide. Kaitare wrote to the Center, “This is all in hopes of eradicating igno-

STRASSLER FAMILY CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES 46 GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Growth and Development

The Center continues to enjoy outstanding Holocaust Studies program in the United support from a wide array of friends. Many States, a colleague in Denmark pointed them are Clark alumni, such as Harry Aizenstat to the Center. They were particularly ’37 and Rabbi Max Shapiro ’37. We are pleased to direct their philanthropy to a pleased to be able to capture their interest program in Worcester where Howard was seven decades after graduation. They are in born and raised. Current Worcester residents good company with more recent alumni like such as Joan and Rif Freedman; Marlene Josh Franklin ’06, M.A. ’07 who engaged and David Persky; Shirley ’70 and Bob Siff with all that the Center offers to undergradu- understand the Center’s value to their com- ates and has already begun to show his munity and are leaders in their support. appreciation for these intellectual gifts. Special thanks to local friends Lois Green Amanda Graizel ’06 and Gregory Tomao ’06 ’78, Vivian Sigel, and Bob Kaloosdian ’52 made generous contributions to the Prague- who graciously stepped forward as hosts for Terezín program in honor of their outstanding Center events. And we are grateful to our experience as participants in spring 2005. generous donors across the country and from Europe, whose gifts reflect the national and We are equally proud to be recognized international significance of the work we do. by generous donors who are not Clark con- stituents. Dr. Howard Kulin and his wife We are delighted to thank, too, the many Hanne completed their magnificent gift of donors listed below whose contributions an endowed fund to establish a Danish part- help us actualize our aims and ambitions. nership. In their search for the leading ■ Mary Jane Rein, Executive Director

The following list includes outright gifts, pledges, and pledge payments made between June 1, 2006 and May 31, 2007.

Platinum Benefactors Patrons ($100,000 plus) ($10,000 to $24,999) William Hausrath ’53 Diana Bartley Hanne and Howard Kulin The Buster Foundation Joan and Richard Freedman Golden Benefactors Jane L. and Robert J. Katz ($50,000 to $99,999) Charles F. Kriser The Barrington Foundation Inc. Cathy Cohen Lasry ’83 and Marc Lasry ’81 Conference on Material Claims Against Richard M. Lilly ’70 Germany Marlene and David Persky Crown Family Foundation Harvey Schulweis Albert M. Tapper Stephanie Rein and Edward J. Stern Ralph and Shirley Rose Charitable Fund Shirley ’70 and Robert Siff Vilcek Foundation

STRASSLER FAMILY CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT 47

continued from page 39 Center in the Mail 2006–2007 Sponsors ($5,000 to $9,999) “My group visited the exhibit yesterday and The Jaffe Family Foundation Joshua [Franklin ’06, M.A. ’07] was wonder- Michael Nachman ful. He taught our students many things Phyllis and Stephen ’55 Steinbrecher about the Holocaust that they did not know or forgot that they had learned last year. We Friends enjoyed learning about the different ways that ($1,000 to $4,999) the different communities chose to do their Anonymous research about Jews in their communities... Herbert and Dorothy Carver Thank you so much for all that you did to Toby and Leon Cooperman organize a wonderful way for our students Melvin S. Cutler Charitable Foundation to commemorate Yom HaShoah.” Pamela M. Davis and Randy W. DiTata —Rabbi Terry Greenstein to Dr. Tatayana Judy and Richard Feldstein Macaulay, the Center’s program manager, Lillian R. Freedman regarding the “Neighbors Who Disappeared” exhibit at Cohen-Lasry House Laura and Wayne Glazier Lois B. Green ’78 “I owe you a debt of gratitude for your visit Harold Grinspoon to Ramapo. The presentation at our commem- Marianne and Robert ’52 Kaloosdian oration and to my class were both excellent... Roxanne Kupfer All the survivors from Vienna who attended Patricia and Murray Liebowitz your lecture told me that you got it right. Edward M. Morin ’57 That’s probably the most difficult stamp of A. Edward Moulin ’72 approval to obtain and bodes well for your Stephen Novak ’68 future. You have a unique gift of being able Melanie and Larry Nussdorf to blend empathy and historical savvy.” Glenn G. ’71 and Leslie Parish Dianne Parrotte —Dr. Michael Riff, Director, Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Ramapo Harry Sacks College of New Jersey, Mahwah, N.J., to Linda Savitsky ’70 Offenberger Vivian B. Sigel Abbie Strassler “In November, at the Danish Institute for Gregory R. Tomao ’06 International Studies, I listened to your Elizabeth B. Tromovitch ’56 fascinating stories about the families and William B. and Joanne Troy persons that had tried to flee from Nazi Lily Sara Waitsman Germany. It’s probably a common misunder- standing that those Jews that were killed just didn’t try hard enough to get away in time. “Today I read in a Dutch newspaper...that Mr. Otto Frank, father of the famous Anne Frank, tried everything he could to flee the Netherlands...Reading this news reminded me of you and the seminar in November. And I just wanted to say that it was a really good seminar. I think it is important that we get this part of history told, so that we can use the experience now and in the future...I do hope that your research about this dark period will help us to make a brighter future!” —Dorien van Veelen, a student at the Danish Institute for Human Rights, to Dwork

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Supporters Charles Hersch ’57 Contributors ($500 to $999) Richard D. Hofstetter ’74 (up to $100) Czech Center of New York Alan J. Holz ’85 Harry N. Aizenstat ’37 Elaine C. ’63 and David Feingold Frances ’66 and M Howard Jacobson Van Aroian Roman Kent Bruno J. Keith Amy-Jo Aronson-Silverman ’67 Ovsanna ’58 and R. Mirhan ’58 Gerald I. Kheboian ’74 Ivan A. Backer Mooradian Robert George Kinosian ’68 Herbert Bard Mary Jane Rein Arnold G. Konheim Annette Berkowitz Elaine Schwartz Contance L. Lewis ’65 Helen Berman Mark Tobak and Patricia Spargo Leonard Lowy Jerome Berman Erika Tobak Phyllis S. ’50 and Harry Manko Toby Berman Suzanne Tobak Judith ’53 and Eugene Mann Vivian Bernstein Edward B. Weisselberg ’56 Amy ’72 and Robert ’59 Messing Percy Black Alisa B. Mintz ’61 Myron Boluch Donors Frederick Molod Martin Bookspan ($100 to $499) Michael A. Mooney ’93 Torkom Boyajian Herbert Adler Elmer I. Paull Mildred Brecker Merritt Agabian ’55 Howard L. Naslund Leo Bretholz American Association for Polish Jewish Jacob C. Nyman ’01 Edwin Bronksy Studies Heidi Nercessian Pogharian ’87 Blossom Brooks ’53 Paul Aranson Melvin Pomerantz John Francis Burke Janis C. Arvanigian Melvin M. Rosenblatt ’53 Matthew J. Carr Bert Ballin Ian Rosenbluth ’01 Betty Charnam Helen and Ady Berger Alfred H. Roswig Beth B. Cohen Ph.D.’03 Diane and Theodore A. ’60 Bohigian David M. Roth ’84 Herbert A. David Jeffrey S. Borer Ernest Rubenstein Paul Davis Julian and Fay Bussgang Robert Sadoff Marlene S. Dorison Ethel and Harry Chaifetz Mel Salberg Elizabeth Edelstein Richard P. Cohen ’71 Marc Schloss Helen Feingold Herbert S. Cremer ’61 David M. Schneiderman ’72 George K. Frankian Rose Dagirmanjian ’52 Celia L. Schulhoff ’54 Stuart R. Freedman ’62 Elizabeth T. Edelglass Jeffrey M. Schwartz ’74 Own H. Gailar Richard A. Elbrecht Jeffrey B. Segal ’80 Charles Garabedian Joshua Franklin ’06 Eva H. Shamai Ginsberg ’84 Thomas I. Geiger Rabbi Stephen and Karen Franklin Susan and Robert A. Sigel John Gilcrease Wilbur Fried St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral Albert Glassman Jeffrey H. Gelman ’81 Stanlee Stahl Robert Glazer Abe Ginsberg Irene D. Stein ’65 Elaine R. Goldman William Gottlieb ’92 Herman O. Stekler ’55 Melvin Goldstein Barry J. Glick David G. Stern ’91 John R. Golner ’49 Amanda Graizel ’06 Hannah Waldman Alice Grant The Donald G. Wolff Trust

STRASSLER FAMILY CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT 49

Samuel Gordon ’37* Ruth Preminger Nancy J. Graver ’72 Lois M. Price ’71 Steven G. Greenbaum ’76 Susan Ralston Harvey Greenberg William Rosenthal Sherman Greenberg Julius Rosenzweig Thelma Gruenbaum Allen Roth Gilbert Hammer Sidney Roth Carol Harootian Miriam Rowin Jacob J. Heilpern Myron Rubin Ruth N. Heppen Harry Schickler Ralph V. Hovanesian Malkah Schulman Jane F. Huffman ’54 Joshua L. Segal Aaron Ignal Max A. Shapiro ’39 Betty R. Jaffee Lawrence Siders Diane Johnson Howard M. Siegerman Robert E. Katz Shirley Siroka Edward S. Kersch Naomi K. Skriloff Carl Klorman ’71 Herbert S. Sperry ’50 David Korros Bertrand L. Stoler Paul Kuttner Elizabeth Teitelbaum Harris I. Lappen ’79 Gerald Teran ’47 Elliot Lehem Richard P. Traina Herman Lesser Anthony Virga Joyce ’72 and Mark ’72 Levenson Arthur L. Waldman David S. Levine Alan A. Wartenberg Robert Michael Lintz Stephen Weinberg Bernard Loev Julius Wolk Esther London Herbert Wyman Sal Lopes Berjoohie Zakarian Jeffrey L. Lubin ’06 Kathy G. Zaltas Stuart Mandell Melvin L. Zwillenberg Cecelia Margules Mildred Mayer John McAuliffe Nathaniel Mencow* Melvin Merken Alan Miller Mark R. Milner Frank S. Minasian ’61 * denotes deceased Steven A. Neiberg Marie Nestelbaum Lawrence Orbach Jack Polak

STRASSLER FAMILY CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES 50 GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

A heartfelt commitment to deepening study of the Armenian Genocide A long-time supporter of Clark University, enroll at Clark as a freshman. Their sav- Bill Hausrath ’53 has emerged as one ings were depleted after his first year, but, of the most ardent advocates of the thanks to a scholarship, he was able to Strassler Center’s program in the study remain at Clark. of the Armenian Genocide. His wife, A long-time supporter of Agnes Manoogian Hausrath, was the The Armenian Genocide, beginning Clark University, Bill daughter of a survivor of the genocide. in the late 19th century and persisting Hausrath ’53 has emerged As a child, his mother-in-law witnessed into the early 20th century, is the first as one of the most ardent her mother’s death as the Armenians well-documented modern genocide. The advocates of the Strassler Center’s program in the were forced from their homes and made reluctance of the world community to study of the Armenian to march into the desert. When he speaks acknowledge the systematic murder of Genocide. of her experiences, Hausrath testifies to the Armenian people continues to rever- the ongoing trauma of genocide. berate in modern world politics. Indeed, students of genocide studies recognize Hausrath recently established a doctoral that ignorance of historical atrocities can scholarship in memory of his dear wife set the stage for further tragedy. After all, for a student seeking to shed light on the Hitler is famously quoted as remarking Armenian Genocide. to his officers, “Who When he made the gift now remembers the to establish the Agnes Armenians?” Manoogian Hausrath Fellowship, he reflected

on how he and his wife Bill Hausrath ’53 (right) were diligent savers. A with Debórah Dwork at child of the depression a reception prior to the married to a child of public lecture by Raffi Hovannisian genocide, they preferred to live frugally. His generosity in establishing this wonderful fund is Committed to fresh an enduring tribute to scholarship about the the fruit that choice will yield. Armenian Genocide and renewed efforts to teach about it, Clark is eager to recruit An early supporter of the Kaloosdian doctoral candidates with this focus. The Mugar Professorship, Hausrath recognized Agnes Manoogian Hausrath Fellowship the importance of securing dedicated will help to accomplish this goal. More funds for students wishing to study the than 90 years after the Armenian Geno- Armenian Genocide within the Center’s cide, denial of the historical record con- doctoral program. As a Clark undergrad- tinues to be an issue around the globe. uate, he was greatly appreciative of the With Hausrath’s magnificent gift, the scholarship support he received. He grew Strassler Center will stand as a bulwark up during the Depression, and his mother of ongoing research and teaching in the saved a quarter every week to accumulate face of denial. a sum barely sufficient for Hausrath to ■ Mary Jane Rein

STRASSLER FAMILY CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES

52 SAVE THESE DATES

SAVE THESE DATES Please join us for our exciting array of upcoming public programs! Call 508-793-8897 for further information, or visit the Center’s online calendar of events, www.clarku.edu/departments/holocaust/events/index.cfm, for a complete listing.

FALL 2007 SPRING 2008

SEPTEMBER 19 • 7:30 P.M., TILTON HALL JANUARY 28 • 7:30 P.M., TILTON HALL A New Book: Shoghaken Folk Ensemble Who Will Write Our History: Emanuel Featuring Armenia’s folk music and dance. Ringelblum and the Secret Ghetto Archive Sponsored by the Kaloosdian/Mugar Sam Kassow Chair Fund. Charles H. Northam Professor of History, Trinity College APRIL 16 • 7:30 P.M., TILTON HALL A New Book: OCTOBER 10 • 7:30 P.M., TILTON HALL The Terezín Album of Mariánka Zadikow A Pulitzer Prize Winner: Debórah Dwork Imperial Reckoning: The Untold Story Rose Professor of Holocaust History, of Britain’s Gulag in Kenya Director, Strassler Center for Holocaust Caroline Elkins and Genocide Studies, Clark University Hugo K. Foster Associate Professor of African Sponsored by the Asher Studies, Harvard University Family Fund. Co-sponsored with History and Government and International Relations Departments

NOVEMBER 1 • 7:30 P.M., DANA COMMONS “Bridging the Impossible?: Confronting Barriers to Dialogue between Germans, Jews, and Palestinians” •A Difficult Dialogues Symposium: Dialogue Between Former Enemies

Julia Chaitin Senior Lecturer, Sapir Academic College, D.N. Hof Ashkelon, Israel Followed by a panel discussion. Co-sponsored by Clark’s Difficult Dialogues program and with the support of Shirley and Robert Siff.

NOVEMBER 15 • 7:30 P.M., TILTON HALL “Concentration Camps in International Law” Jens Meierhenrich Assistant Professor of Government and of Social Studies, Harvard University and Associate Professor, Weatherhead Center for International Law

STRASSLER FAMILY CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder,” journalist, novelist, and essayist G.K. Chesterton declared. An early opponent of the Boer War and the eugenics movement, Chesterton got it right on many points, and I agree with him about thanks, too.

Looking back at the past decade, and forward to the growth we are poised to actualize, I experience the happiness and wonder Chesterton identifies. The Center rests on a robust and ever-growing community, and I am grateful. Thanks to administrative assistant Margaret Hillard for the superior standard of efficiency she has set which carried the Center through its exponential expansion, and will carry it on to the next level; to bookkeeper Ghi Vaughn whose budgets and accounting documents are utterly reliable and crystal clear to the penny; to librarian Betty Jean Perkins, who brings professional order to an amazing book collection; and to executive director Mary Jane Rein, whose energy and ideas fuel the Center in significant ways. A special note of appreciation to Tatyana Macaulay, whose relationships with colleagues at other institutions, developed through her work as Program Manager, have yielded internships for our students and immediate access to all manner of archives. I am proud to be the beneficiary of Dr Macaulay’s network, and I thank her and her colleagues in Europe and Israel who came to my aid with S.O.S. alacrity in the course of my research this year.

I thank, too, my colleagues in other departments who generously mentor our doctoral students. This past year, Clark professors Eric Gordy, Beverly Grier, Walter Schatzberg, Valerie Sperling, and Jaan Valsiner served as key advisors to Center graduate students. They were joined by AUTHORS colleagues at other universities: Kate Brown; Evan Bukey; Barbara Harff; Ellen Kellman; Joshua Franklin ’06, M.A.’07, Milton Shain; Robert Jan van Pelt; Eric Weitz; and Piotr Wrobel. And the generous souls to Adara Goldberg, Stefan whom our students turn for informal help or advice: Yehuda Bauer; Michael Berenbaum; Ionescu, Jeffrey Koerber, Peter Hayes; Larry Langer. Giving the gift of time and expertise, each enriched the intellectual JulieAnne Mercier-Foint, Tatyana Macaulay, Judith universe of the students, and thus enriched the entire community. Jaeger, Mary Jane Rein, Dan Roberts ’07, Lotta Stone Professor Shelly Tenenbaum, Director of the Undergraduate Concentration in Holocaust and Genocide Studies, serves our entire undergraduate body, and I am deeply appreciative of the work she continues to undertake, reshaping the concentration as the Center has grown. I am EDITOR grateful, too, to Associate Provost Nancy Budwig who, with her time and effort, manifests Judith Jaeger the engagement and support of the university administration.

CREATIVE SERVICES Judith Jaeger, Director of University Communications, is the editor-in-chief of this Report, MANAGER and she is the miracle worker who effects an ever smoother production system as the document Kay Hartnett grows ever more complex. I thank Sandy Giannantonio for her elegant design; creative services manager Kay Hartnett for her great eye; and photographers Rob Carlin and Tammy PHOTOGRAPHY Woodward for finding their subjects’ “right side.” Rob Carlin, Jeffrey Koerber, In short, as the great Tory prime minister Benjamin Disraeli once put it, “I feel a very unusual Tammy Woodard sensation – if it is not indigestion, I think it must be gratitude.” DESIGN Giannantonio Design

PRINTER Barrington Printing Strassler Family Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies Clark University 950 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts 01610-1477

508-793-8897 508-793-8827 (fax) e-mail: [email protected] www.clarku.edu/departments/holocaust