Presents The False Witness The Trial of Humanity’s Consciousness YOU ARE SUMMONED FOR JURY DUTY PROSECUTOR- ANNE FRANK WITNESSES- SHAKESPEARE- FDR- HENRY FORD TOGETHER We Honor all the victims of Nazi persecution an d those who perished… May their memories be for a Blessing. We are grateful for those who survived - they inspire us! 2 Pr ogram A genda March 26th and March 27th Spanish River High School, Boca Raton The False Witness Tuesday, March 26th (Final Dress Rehearsal) Welcome Remarks - Jenni Frumer, NEXT GENERATIONS of Holocaust survivors Introduction of the Play - Robert Krakow, SS St. Louis Legacy Foundation and Writer and Director The False Witness (50 minutes) Panel discussion - Q&A - Student Actors Closing Remarks - Robin Isaacson, ORT America Wednesday, March 27th Welcome Remarks - Robin Isaacson, ORT America Introduction of the Play - Robert Krakow, SS St. Louis Legacy Foundation and Writer and Director The False Witness (50 minutes) Panel discussion - Q&A - Student Actors Closing Remarks - Jenni Frumer, NEXT GENERATIONS of Holocaust survivors Thank you for your support! 2 Our Or ganizations NEXT GENERATIONS of Holocaust survivors is a nonprofit organization, founded by NANCY DERSHAW in 2004. WE are the descendants of Holocaust survivors We engage our authentic voices to keep our parents and grandparents legacies and memories alive We raise awareness and seek to inspire all children by applying the lessons of the Holocaust to rally against bullying, anti-Semitism and hatred by shining a light on the courage of survivors and the selfless acts of righteous people who put their lives in danger to help Jews WE raise funds to support Holocaust survivors with needs; paying for medications, utilities and transportation. WE are here to support the next generations of survivors and are committed to increasing the awareness of the effects of multi- generational transmission of trauma WE are dedicated to honoring all those who were and the future generations who will be scarred by the h\Holocaust by transforming prejudice, creating greater understanding, developing moral conscience and never forgetting - being silent, no more! For more information, please visit http://www.nextgenerations.org/ or contact Jenni Frumer, Director of Strategic Initiatives: 561-312-3054. 3 ORT America breaks through social and economic barriers to transform lives. When students from underserved communities have access to high-quality education, they are better positioned to enter the job market with marketable skills, become leaders in their own right, and invest back into their communities. Our global educational network, schools, colleges, and international programs propel more than 300,000 students in 35 countries to develop careers and lead fulfilling, independent lives. ORT’s 139-year history proves that education has the power to link generations before us with generations to come, connect communities near and far, and dovetail learning opportunities in the present with prosperity in the future. For more information contact Robin Isaacson, Director Florida Region ORT America, 561-997-1071 www.ortamerica.org 3 Million Lives Impacted – 139 Years – 35 Countries – Join US! The SS St. Louis Legacy Project is a 501©(3) foundation whose mission is to promote greater awareness and dialogue on issues of 1) Jewish identity in the post-Holocaust era 2) Holocaust Education 3) the fight against Anti-Semitism and BDS. Through its proprietary Education Through Drama program, the Foundation produces documentary films, theater projects, archival exhibits, symposiums and curricula that serve a worldwide student body as well as institutional and communal audiences. The Foundation distributes its creative products through its international network of Jewish communal organizations, universities, Jewish High Schools, Jewish film festivals, museums and such notable organizations as ORT AMERICA, NEXT GENERATIONS, the Lappin Foundation, PBS and Chabad. For more information contact: Robert Krakow, 561-703-1080 – www.stlouislegacyproject.org 4 A special Thank You to our Title Sponsors H oward K aye Howard Kaye is a well-known Boca Raton philanthropist, actively involved in numerous charitable organizations and an ardent supporter of the arts. He was honored as Man of the Year (2008) by the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County and has served on the boards of the JCC and the Federation. He sincerely cares for those in need and demonstrates this time and again with both his time and donations. Howard Kaye is the President of Howard Kaye Insurance Agency, where he shows his clients how life insurance allows you to give back; to your heirs and to charity. In 2009, Howard arranged for 33 surviving passengers of the Jewish refugee ship, SS St. Louis, to reunite in Miami Beach to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the voyage. He presented Senate Resolution 111 to Richard Hunt, a director at the National Archives. The Resolution was signed by all 33 passengers and now resides in the Treasures Vault of National Archives in the same casings as the George Washington Inaugural Address. Howard is very pleased to be a title sponsor of The False Witness presentation and to be reunited with the delegation of SS St. Louis passengers that are participating in this program. Dr. Steven Melman & Phyllis M elman. Dr. Steven Melman and Phyllis Melman have been residents of Boca Raton since 2005. Both Steve and Phyllis are on the board of many charitable organizations. They are on the executive board of the Israel Cancer Association, an organization that funds cancer research 5 by Israel’s preeminent scientists. They were chairpersons for ICA golf tournament from 2014-2018. They have been chairpersons of major events hosted by the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach. In 2016, they accompanied a delegation of 7 surviving SS St. Louis passengers on a mission to Israel for commemorative events at Yad Vashem, Hebrew University and the Knesset and were signatories to the Proclamation of Gratitude and Remembrance presented to the Knesset. They are the Executive Producers of COMPLICIT, a documentary film, which tells the saga of the Jewish refugee ship SS St. Louis. The film has been touring the US and internationally for the last 5 years. Steve and Phyllis are very pleased to be a title sponsor of The False Witness presentation and to be reunited with the delegation of SS St. Louis passengers that are participating in this program. Edith Stein - Boca Raton, FL: Edith is a graduate of Birch College in New York City. She has been active in Hadassah, the national women’s committee, Brandeis University, and she is also proud to be a ruby lion of Judah. She is a supporter of the Boca Raton Philharmonic Symphonia, the Boca Raton Museum of Art, SOS Children’s Village, The Theatre Lab at FAU, Temple Bethel, the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, and she serves on the board of directors of the Tri-County Animal Rescue. Together, Edith & Martin dedicated the Edith & Martin Stein Assisted Living Facility, the Stein Hospice Facility, and the Edith & Martin Stein Building of Hope, all in New Jersey. Remaining loyal to the memory of her husband, and to her home state of New Jersey, Edith continues to support the Jewish Federation of Middlesex County, Temple Emanuel, Embrace Kids Foundation, and Jewish Family & Vocational Services of Middlesex county, among others. Edith discovered a love for the works of artist Theresa Bernstein and, together with her husband, they became major collectors of Bernstein’s works. Selections from the collection have been loaned for exhibitions across the US, including a major exhibition in 2013 at the galleries at Edith’s alma-mater, at which she was honored for her life’s work. Edith also has a deep love for traveling and animals, especially her Yorkshire terrier Lily. 6 The Surviving P assengers of the Steamship St. L ouis J udith Ste el - Kew Gardens, NY: As a child, Steel evaded Nazi persecution in Germany when a French Catholic family took her into their home—an experience that informed her view that love does not always fit within the neat confines of religion. She was the cantor at the New Synagogue in Manhattan. She attended the 2009 70th Anniversary St. Louis passengers reunion in Miami Beach and signed Senate Resolution 111 which was accepted into the Treasures Vault of the National Archives. Senate Resolution 111 was passed unanimously in May, 2009 and acknowledged the importance of learning the lessons of the saga of the St. Louis. Judith appears in the documentary film, COMPLICIT, which has been touring the US and internationally since 2014. Judith, together with Sonja Geismar and Eva Wiener, participated in Canada’s apology ceremony in November, 2018 where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed the passengers in the House of Commons and offered his heartfelt apology for Canada’s refusal to grant safe haven to the passengers aboard the SS St. Louis Sonja Geismar - Bronx, NY: In May 1939, Sonja’s parents, paternal grandparents, two great aunts, and another great aunt with her husband were passengers on the St. Louis. In Havana harbor, she remembers the tenders and waving to cousins who came to see their grandparents who unfortunately went to Belgium and met their fate in a gas chamber. 7 Sonja and her parents went to England and when their quota numbers were reached, they sailed into New York harbor on February 11, 1940 and the Statue of Liberty came into view. Sonja became a high school social studies teacher. Years later she changed the direction of her career by returning to graduate school for her second Master’s degree. She became a high school librarian in an inner city school and after ten years became head librarian. Sonja together with Eva Wiener, participated in the mission to Jerusalem where they told their stories at the Knesset, Yad Vashem and Hebrew University.