s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s Xavier Army ROTC Color Guard Welcome Kathy Brinkman, President, The Center for Holocaust & Humanity Education Motzi: Blessing Over the Meal Dr. Al Miller, Holocaust Survivor, World War II Veteran & Member of CHHE Speakers’ Bureau Aaron Rozovsky, Hebrew Union College – Jerry Springer was born in London in 1944 Jewish Institute of Religion Rabbinical Student, during an air raid. His parents were German Jewish Foundation Fellow at CHHE, and a Captain Jewish refugees who escaped to England just in the United States Army three days before the start of World War II. In 1949, the family immigrated to Queens in New York City. Master of Ceremonies Jerry Springer In 1969, after attending Tulane University and Northwestern University, Jerry came to Remarks Cincinnati to work for the law firm Frost & Steve Boymel & Toby Ganz, Jacobs. He soon became involved in political Voices of Humanity Co-chairs life in Cincinnati, first as a city councilman and then as a two-term mayor. Video Presentation In 1982, Jerry became an anchor and managing editor at WLWT. His success as an Main Course Served anchor would lead to the creation of ‘The Jerry Springer Show’ in 1991. Since then, Jerry has Recognizing World War II Veterans been a host of television programs and his own podcast and has also had Recognizing Louis Weisser a variety of acting roles. as a Voice for Humanity The Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education would like to thank Jerry Springer Special Announcement for sharing his personal story and talent Sarah Weiss, Executive Director, with us tonight. The Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education Closing Honoring World War II Veterans We salute all those who served our country during World War II, an era that truly threatened our very existence as a nation—and as a culturally-diverse, free society. We are forever grateful for the sacrifices of this amazing generation. Among the heroes are those who came face to face with the horrors of the Holocaust. As World War II came to a close, soldiers in the American, Soviet, British, Canadian, and French armies came across concentration camps and the prisoners left inside. After the initial shock of what they saw, these soldiers provided food and health care for the survivors left inside the camps. Relationships between survivors and liberators would be built during liberation and would continue for years to come. Inside CHHE’s permanent exhibit, Mapping Our Tears, is a scrap of paper with the writing of Norbert Silberman. Norbert scratched his name and address onto a piece of paper and gave it to Leon Weisband, whom he liberated from Buchenwald, so that he might look him up someday. Leon carried that address for forty years until he gave it to his cousin from Cincinnati, Ray Warren. Ray was able to re-establish contact with the soldier who liberated Leon. This is just one story of thousands. CHHE is committed to preserving and sharing these stories for generations to come. Below are just a few of the World War II veterans who have impacted CHHE and our work: Elmer Reis (1917-2009): Reis was a fifth-generation Cincinnatian, graduating from Xavier University and the Salmon P. Chase College of Law. He enlisted in the US Army in 1941 at age 24 because he felt the Army was the best place to focus his energy. Reis served in the 4th Armored Division under General Patton. In 1945, Reis’ unit liberated North Stalag III, a concentration camp in Ohrdruf, Germany. After WWII, Reis remained in the US Army Reserve until 1973 while he worked for the Hamilton Country Sheriff’s Department. Milton Schloss (1913-2007): Schloss enlisted in the US Army in 1942 because he felt it was his duty to fight for the Jews of Europe, a commitment he learned from his family. Schloss served from 1944-1945 in the 4th Armored Division and liberated the Ohrdruf Concentration Camp. Understanding some German, Schloss listened to some of the prisoners tell their stories for the first time. After the war, Schloss acted as CEO of Kahn’s meat company until 1966, worked for University of Cincinnati Business College until 1987, and finally retired in 1991 after being the CEO of the John Morrell Company. Schloss was a strong advocate for the State of Israel, even calling himself the First Reform Jewish Zionist in Cincinnati. Saul Marmer (1924-2015): Marmer joined Army ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) and the Enlisted Reserve Corps while he was a student at University of Cincinnati. Marmer served as First Platoon Leader in the 78th Infantry Division from 1943-1946. After a battle with German soldiers, Saul witnessed atrocities at the Wupertal Concentration Camp before liberating a Russian POW Camp in 1945. After the war ended, Saul attended one of the first Yom Kippur services in Kassel, Germany, as well as the first public Chanukah lighting ceremony and Passover Seder in Berlin since 1932. Upon returning to Cincinnati, Saul became CEO of Marmer Shoes, and remained in the Army Reserves until 1950. Louis Weisser was born in 1923 in Podwoloczyska, couple married in Paris in 1949 before emigrating Poland. The town had a large Jewish community to America in 1953. They settled in Cincinnati that lived peacefully alongside the Polish and where they had their son, Mark. Louis worked as Ukrainian communities. At the age of thirteen, an executive of Macy’s (formerly Shillito’s) until his Lou’s father passed away suddenly. While retirement in 1987. Louis is also the proud attending school, Louis took on the responsibility of grandfather of two grandsons, Alex and Evan. helping to provide for his mother and twin sisters. From an early age, Louis was a dedicated to After World War II broke out, tensions in Louis’s service. In the 1970s, he became active with hometown grew. Initially, his family lived in the survivor organizations in Cincinnati and served relative calm under the Soviet regime; but in as president of one of CHHE’s predecessor 1941, the German army invaded the Soviet- organizations, The Jewish Survivors of Nazism. controlled territory. At the age of seventeen, Louis Louis was on the boards of the Jewish Community had to decide between staying with his mother Relations Council and the Jewish National Fund. and twin sisters and facing Nazi persecution or He is also an active member of Adath Israel flee into Russian territory. Fearing that the Nazis Synagogue. Louis is perhaps best known at would target the young men of the village, Louis Rockwern Academy, where he has volunteered as chose to travel east with three male companions. part of Dor l’Dor (From Generation to Generation) Louis eventually enlisted in the Russian Army. and is known as Saba Weisser. While in the army, Louis heard rumors about CHHE is particularly grateful to Louis for his German atrocities, but was not aware of the dedication to Holocaust education in Cincinnati. extent of the devastation until his unit saw the Without leadership like his, CHHE would not be liberated Majdanek death camp. It wasn’t until in existence today. Louis’s willingness to share late 1945 when Louis was released from his his experiences during World War II and the Holo- military service that he discovered that his mother caust has helped ensures that the lessons of the and sisters had been murdered in the Belzec Holocaust are shared in our community today and extermination camp. will continue to be shared for generations to come. In 1946, after returning to Poland, Louis met his Please join us in honoring a true ‘mensch,’ future wife, Helen. After spending time in Italy, the Louis Weisser. The Center for Holocaust & Humanity Education The Center for Holocaust & Humanity Education (CHHE) was founded, built, and forever inspired by Jewish survivors of the Holocaust. CHHE educates about the Holocaust, remembers its victims, and acts on its lessons. Through innovative programs and partnerships, CHHE challenges injustice, inhumanity, and prejudice, and fosters understanding, inclusion, and engaged citizenship. Hours & Information Office Hours To learn more about Monday – Thursday 8:30am – 5:00pm the initiatives of CHHE, please Friday 8:30am – 4:00pm visit www.holocaustandhumanity.org or call 513-487-3055. Exhibit Hours Monday – Thursday 1:00pm – 4:00pm Located at Rockwern Academy (formerly Yavneh) Sunday 11:00am – 3:00pm 8401 Montgomery Road Additional hours available by appointment. Cincinnati, OH 45236 CHHE Resources & Programs Speakers’ Bureau The Roma & Sam Kaltman Holocaust Studies Holocaust survivors, WWII liberators, Holocaust scholars, for Educators and Educator Workshop Series and Holocaust educators are trained and scheduled by CHHE By offering meaningful professional development to speak to schools and groups throughout the community. opportunities to educators through courses and workshops, The speakers share their moving and memorable experiences CHHE reaches hundreds of educators each year. and recount stories of suffering, loss, and survival. This includes the Kaltman graduate level course designed to equip educators with the tools and techniques to effectively teach about the Holocaust. The course Mapping Our Tears is co-sponsored by Xavier University. This permanent exhibit is an innovative educational experience that showcases the strength and the courage of the human spirit. A multimedia theater set in a 1930s Traveling Exhibits European attic, takes visitors back in time by sharing the CHHE offers several original exhibits that can be borrowed testimonials of survivors, refugees, rescuers, and liberators by families, schools, community centers, libraries, and other of the Holocaust.