No. 42 Fall 2014

No. 42Fall 2014

AAt the 12th AnnualConference, participants

explored many aspects of the theme“Meeting the Common Core: Teachingthe Holocaust, Genocide and HumanRights”.

Drawing upon the voluminousresources of the Foundation, keynotespeaker, Dr. Stephen D. Smith, ExecutiveDirector of the USC Shoah Foundation –Institute for Visual History andEducation and utilized documents,photographs, and recorded interviews tolead the conference participants inanalysis of the resources, theirinstructional value, as well as theimportance of asking questions andpromoting critical thinking. Dr. Smithquoted from an Open Letter to Hitler byAnnie Wagner on the subject of the firstboycott of Jews: “What you have done tothe Jews today you did to all Germansand will bring shame on our nationforever.” Following an insightfuldiscussion of the letter, Dr. Smithrecalled survivor Gerda WeissmanKlein’s comment that “the big questionsabout the Holocaust were still notasked”. Participants were asked toconsider the following: “What do youactually consider right or wrong? Whatwill you do in any given situation?”.

Dr. Smith also provided informationand instructions to the educators on howto access the Shoah archives of 52,000video testimonies from all over the worldand create their own classroom pagewhich would also provide access to YadVashem resources, the B’nai B’rith

Echoes and Reflections program, as wellas the currently gathered resources andtestimony from the genocide in Rwanda.

Noah Rausch, Assistant Director ofthe School and Family Program andJenny Pachucki, Oral Historian andAssistant Curator of the 9/11 MemorialMuseum, spoke to educators about theopening of the museum in the spring of2014. Mr. Rausch discussed the oralhistory collection, Story Corps videosand preview site recordings. Both he andMs. Pachucki described the threesections of the Historical Exhibition.They also showed photos of artifacts andobjects while responding to audiencequestions. Mr. Rausch also spoke aboutprojected “educator evenings” withprograms designed specifically forteachers.

Beverly R. Plein, Social StudiesCoordinator at the New JerseyDepartment of Education made apresentation on “Implementing theCore”, articulating and highlighting,studying and teaching “Holocaust and

Genocide Studies” while addressing thecore common standards. These included“Habits of the Minds”, “Voice of anEyewitness”, “Integrating VisualInformation”, “Support for Students” and“Designing an Articulated Program”, aswell as other examples of core standardsapplicable to Holocaust, genocide andhuman rights education.

Linda H. Michalski, TheologyChairperson at the Benedictine Academyin Elizabeth, spoke about “HumanTrafficking and Slavery in OurBackyard”. Mrs. Michalski and Sr.Donna Jo Repetti are co-founders of theaward-winning method to teach theirstudents “take care of their neighbor”through their campaign to raiseawareness of the horrors of humantrafficking today. Conferenceparticipants learned that New Jersey,California and Nevada have the mosttrafficking between ages 11-24, with 27million trafficked every year. Half is inlabor trafficking, with 83 % beingwomen and girls. Warning signs andprograms to alert the community werediscussed. Mrs. Michalski providededucators with resource information andclosed with a video made by students inthe Academy’s Core Defenders program.

Dr. Paul Winkler, ExecutiveDirector of the New Jersey Commissionon Holocaust Education, Dale Daniels,Executive Director of Chhange atBrookdale College and ColleenTambuscio, President of CHE welcomedand spoke with participants about topicspresented and programs planned for therest of the school year, as well as NJCHEresources available on the Commission’swebsite.

NEW JERSEY COMMISSION ON HOLOCAUST/GENOCIDE EDUCATION

COUNCIL OF HOLOCAUST EDUCATORS

(center) Dr. Stephen D. Smith, Executive Directorof the USC Shoah Foundation - Institute forVisual History and Education

Holocaust News

IIn June and July 2013, the Center concentrated on TheGenerations: 11 Descendant of the Shoah. The Book

Club and the Yiddish Club continue to meet each month. Inaddition, the group has also gone to see the play “The Lies MyFather Told Me.”

In August, there was a screening of “The Last Nazi Hunter:the Fight against Holocaust Distortion and Antisemitism inEastern Europe” – followed by a Q and A withfilmmaker/historian and Simon Wiesenthal Center Coordinatorof Nazi War Crimes Research, Efraim Zuroff.

In-school programming continued throughout the academicyear, and the Journey through Life suitcases went out to middleand high schools across the state for a few days to a month,sometimes accompanied by a survivor/speaker. Suitcases alsovisited Monmouth University. The Center’s traveling exhibit,Triumph over Adversity, also got around to selected schools.Students from area schools, Monmouth University, as well asBrookdale’s Intercultural Communications, Art Jounalism andSociology classes, visited Chhange to learn about the Holocaust,see survivor artifacts and view the Center’s current artinstallation.

September 2013-July 2014, Chhange once again hosted theClinical Pastoral Counseling Program. Survivors Helena Flaumand Gerald Blumenthal provided testimony, with the focus onhelping the international and multidenominational clergy developa deeper understanding of the Holocaust. A screening of InvisibleChildren, in October 2013 highlighted the mission of theorganization of the same name to end the violence and brutalityin East and Central Africa perpetrated by the Lord’s ResistanceArmy. Following the film, David, a Ugandan, who witnessed theeffects of the LRA first-hand, shared his story. Chhange alsohosted photographer Beth Burstein who honored her family andother Lithuanian victims of the Holocaust.

In October and November the program, “On the Groundwith Jenny: Uganda – Chhange’s Director of Education” who hadspent two weeks working in the Bush – explored the humanrights and education crisis there.through her eyes andexperiences, as well as those of her Brookdale students. Thesame time period also featured the Wednesday morning filmseries: Rare and Remarkable Rescues. Shown were: TheOptimists: Story of the Rescue of Bulgarian Jews from theHolocaust; The Righteous Enemy, a story about Italian officialswho subverted Mussolini’s plan and saved the lives of 4,000 Jewsin Yugoslavia, France and Germany from deportation, as well asIn Our Hands, the story of the Britain’s formation of the JewishBrigade in 1944 to fight in Italy.

In November, to commemorate the 75th Anniversary ofKristallnacht, Chhange honored the memory of survivor EricaRosenthal, who had educated thousands of school children about

the destruction wrought by the hate on that fateful day and night,by showing her powerful video testimony and displaying some ofher personal keepsakes. Other personal survivor testimonies wereshared in a book of remembrance. In December, during thecommemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Kindertransport,survivor Manny Lindenbaum shared his personal experiences.His daughter and granddaughter joined him to share thegenerational impact of the Kindertransport.

Also in December, Sara Brown, the first comparativegenocide doctoral candidate at Clark University, spoke about“Women’s Roles in the Rwandan Genocide: Rescuer, Bystander,Victim and Perpetrator” against the Tutsis. In addition, Chhangehosted the 12th Annual Council of Holocaust EducatorsConference. (See detailed description of the Conference Programelsewhere in this issue of Remember on page 1.)

In January 2014, Chhange presented “100 Days of Silence”,an educator workshop which allowed teachers to partner with theCenter in an exciting artistic initiative that aligns to the CommonCore Standards. For the 20th anniversary of the 1994 genocideagainst the Tutsis in Rwanda, an installation allowed educators,students and community members from throughout New Jerseyto get together to experience history with interdisciplinary teamsin a cross-curricular collaboration. More than 450 middle andhigh school students participated in this powerful, emotionalexhibit.

Once again, Chhange took part in Red Bank’s Martin LutherKing Day Commemoration. Community organizations, religiousinstitutions and schools worked together to create an outstandingevent. At the end of January, at the International HolocaustRemembrance Day, a one-hour documentary, “Rescue in thePhilippines” was screened for the first time to commemorate theuntold story of the five Frieder brothers, Cincinnati businessmenliving in Manila who helped 1,200 Jews immigrate to thePhilippines with the aid the first President of the Philippines,Manuel Quezon. Dr. Jeff Roffman, a local physician and nephewof the Frieder brothers, introduced the film and child survivorBrigitte Wachs who was in the film, and she also participated inthe Q and A.

In February, Chhange presented Ghetto Tango, theacclaimed musical chronology of occupied Europe’sunderground musical culture created for the Ghetto cabarets. InMarch, Chhange proudly hosted an evening – Transforming theWorld through Action – with Mark Harris, grandson of foursurvivors who decided not to be a bystander during the RwandanGenocide by founding Genocide Intervention Network andengaged thousands of students to end and prevent furthergenocide.

(continued on p. 3)

2

● Brookdale Community College – Center for Holocaust: Human Rights andGenocide Education (CHHANGE)

Holocaust News

● BrookdaleCommunity College(continued from p. 2)

IIn April, the work of InterfaithDialogue Scholar Carol

Rittner, RSM, provided the frameworkfor the program The Pope and the Jews –from John XXIII to Francis I. Responsewas provided by Rabbi Jeff Sultar ofCongregation B’nai Israel and Father BobSchecker of Church of the Nativity, co-sponsors with Chhange.

The Annual Armenian GenocideRemembrance, “Hearing Footsteps atDawn: Turkey and the ArmeniaGenocide”, featured Armenia GenocideScholar Khatching Mouradian. Since2010, he has been traveling aroundTurkey, interviewing children andgrandchildren of witnesses and victims.He spoke about the “hidden Armenians”trying to discover their heritage and aboutthe fight of some activists against denial.

Hannah Rosenthal, former Head ofthe Office to Monitor and CombatAntisemitism in the Obamaadministration, was the guest speaker atthe Annual Yom Hashoah Remembrance– Never Again: Holding EveryoneAccountable. She spoke about the role ofthe U.S. during the Holocaust and anti-Semitism today.

In May, Lt. General Romeo Dallaire,Commander of the U.N. Ground Forcesduring the genocide in Rwanda, was thekeynote speaker at Chhange’s 32ndColloquium – 100 Days of Silence. Hisexperiences there resulted in hisbecoming a globally recognized activist.Yannick Tona, a Rwandan survivor andhuman rights activist shared the story ofhis family’s struggle to survive, thelessons he learned from seeing prejudicein the extreme and his subsequentdetermination to make the world a betterplace. The presentations were followed by38 workshops on various topics,including the Holocaust and humanrights.

The outstanding event in June was

the premiere of Oro Macht Frei, a rivetingdocumentary about the Jews of Romeduring World War II, produced by JoeMarkel, son of a Holocaust survivor. Hetook this opportunity to honor his motherand millions of other victims. Dr.Deborah Dwork of Clark Universityprovided background. She and theproduction team interacted with theaudience following the screening.

Dr. Dwork also provided thehistorical context for the tragic voyage ofthe St.Louis – on the 75th anniversary ofthat voyage. Holocaust survivor EvaWiener shared the story of her family’ssurvival, with a Q and A at the end of thepresentation.

On two successive days in May,Chhange arranged Lunch and Learnsessions for 7th graders from Colts Neck.At lunch on each of the two days, groupsof 8 students who sat at a table with asurvivor had an extraordinary opportunityto hear their testimony, ask questions andtake a pledge to serve as a witnesses forthe future – especially in 2045, the 100thanniversary of the liberation of the camps.

Chhange’s eventful year ended inJuly with an Annual VolunteerRecognition Dinner and, of course, theusual daily stream of visitors to theChhange facility – to use the resources,visit the library and view the exhibits andarchival holdings.

Rutgers, The StateUniversity of NewJersey – The Herbertand Leonard LittmanFamilies HolocaustResource Center

RRutgers University MasterTeacher Institute in

Holocaust Education course offeringsincluded:

In September 2013, Prof. PaulHanebrink presented “Fall SemesterOverview: Social Outsiders and the

Holocaust – Nazi Germany as a RacistState”

In October, Prof. Ethel Brooks ofRutgers University taught “Fall SemesterOverview: Social Outsiders and theHolocaust – Roma/Sinti- Who Are theGypsies?”

Prof. Geoffrey Giles, University ofFlorida presented “Fall SemesterOverview: Social Outsiders and theHolocaust – Treatment of Homosexualsduring the Holocaust”

In November, Dr. Martin Dean,USHMM, presented “Fall SemesterOverview: Social Outsiders and theHolocaust – New Research and Findingson Nazi Persecution”

In December, Dr. Patricia Haberer-Rice, USHMM, taught “Fall SemesterOverview: Social Outsiders and theHolocaust – Nazi Policy and theDisabled”

In February, Colleen Tambuscio, NewMilford High School presented SpringSemester Overview: Using Media inTeaching the Holocaust: DigitalTestimonies and Teaching

In March, Dr. Eddie Portnoy, RutgersUniversity, presented “Spring Semester –Using Media to Teach the Holocaust:From Anne Frank to Maus”

Prof. Rachel Baum, University ofWisconsin- Spring Semester – “UsingMedia to Teach the Holocaust: TheHolocaust and the Internet

In April, Prof. Michael Levine,Rutgers University, Spring Semester –“Using Media to Teach the Holocaust:The Holocaust on Film”

In May, Prof. Carol Zemel, YorkUniversity, Spring Semester, “UsingMedia to Teach the Holocaust:Photography and Witness Pictures fromthe Lodz Ghetto”

Last session, Presentation byAdvanced Teachers – Spring Semester –“Using Media to Teach the Holocaust:”

3

● Drew UniversityCenter for HolocaustGenocide Study

OOn November 2, 2013, theCenter showed a documentary

film, The Night of Broken Glass, to markthe 75th anniversary of Kristallnacht.Prior to the screening, Erwin Ganzengaged the audience in an extensivesession of Q and A. He was 8 years old,living in Frankfurt, when his house wasransacked and vandalized, with hatchetmarks slashed into the front door. Ganzand his family succeeded in emigrating tothe United States, but the rest of hisfamily was not as fortunate.

On November 15th, Drew held anannual conference entitled “Understandingthe Long, Rippling Effect of NaziPropaganda for the Arab World”. Its goalwas to foster awareness of how propagandanot only shapes our world view, but also ofhow, transformed beyond its own historicalcircumstances, it can morph into ways ofshaping public opinion.

Dr. Jeffrey Herf, Professor of Historyat the University of Maryland and authorof Nazi Propaganda in the Arab Worldbegan by talking about the design andimplementation of this propaganda. Dr.Christopher Taylor, Professor of IslamicStudies and Director of the Center forReligion, Culture and Conflict at Drewspoke about “The Enemy of My Enemy:Egyptian Responses to Nazi Propaganda,1939-1943”, describing how the Germansbuilt upon anti-British sentiment in Egyptto convince them to join Nazi Germany indefeating one of the main colonial powersin the Middle East. Dr. Jonathan Golden,Assistant Professor of Religious Studiesat Drew discussed how Jews living inArab lands between 1933 and 1945reacted to the Nazi propaganda in theircountries. Finally, Dr. Menhaz Afridi,Assistant Professor of Religious Studiesat Manhattan College and Director of theHolocaust, Genocide and InterfaithEducation Center discussed “TheLingering Effects of Nazi Propaganda in

the Modern Muslim World”.On March 6th, 20th and 27th 2014,

the Center had a three-part study seminaron “The Transatlantic Slave Trade and theMaking of the Modern World”,demonstrating the impact of slavery oncontemporary society and the fact that weonly have a cursory understanding of thehistory leading to slavery in the U.S. Theseries examined how slavery definedtoday’s Europe, what role Africa andAfricans played in its development andthe subsequent development of theAmericas – while simultaneouslyexploring slavery’s legacies.

The first study seminar led by Dr.Lillie Edwards, Drew Professor of Historyand African Studies, focused on “TheOrigin and Dynamics of the Trans-AtlanticSlave Trade”. Dr. Edwards also presentedthe second session which concentrated on“The Slave Trade and the Development ofthe Americas”. The final session, presentedby Dr. Gialanella, Adjunct Professor ofHistory at Seton Hall University, looked atthe “Legacies of the Trans-Atlantic SlaveTrade: Memory, Culture and Reparations”.He also, moderated the series.

The April 16, 2014 commemorationof the 20th anniversary of the Genocide inRwanda featured the program “TwentyYears After the Genocide in Rwanda: aSurvivor Reflects on the Journey Backfrom the Abyss” with EugenieMukeshimana. She was 8 monthspregnant with her first child when shesought refuge from those who wanted tokill her.

Miraculously, she survived not onlyto tell her story, but also to found asupport network designed to help othersurvivors of the genocide. She spokeabout their challenges.

At its annual Yom HashoahCommemoration on April 23, 2014, theCenter presented the documentary film“Rene and I”, telling the story of Rene andRenata, twin brother and sister survivorswho spent more than a year in Auschwitz.Separated in the camp, Renate wassubjected to medical experiments by thenotorious Dr. Josef Mengele. The twins,who were 8 years old at liberation in 1945,were reunited in 1950.

The screening was followed by a Qand A with Irene Hizme (formerlyRenate) and Leora Kahn, the film’sexecutive producer. Each participatingschool received a copy of the film.

● Historical Society ofPrinceton HolocaustGenocide ResourceCenter

TThe Society’s first program asthe newest of New Jersey’s

Holocaust centers took place on October 3,2013 and featured “Having aSurvivor/Victim in the Classroom: aPanel of Survivors and Survivor AuthorsDr. Stephen Felton – son of Survivor,born in DP camp; Maud Dahme – childsurvivor rescued by Dutch family; Dr.Vera Goodkin - child survivor rescued bySwedish humanitarian, RaoulWallenberg; Dr. Charles Rojer – Belgianchild survivor saved in a children’shospital; Cantor David Wisnia – deathcamp survivor, rescued in a chanceencounter with the 101st AirborneDivision of the United States Army,shared with educators how writing helpsthe learning and healing processes. Theyalso discussed techniques that make theclassroom experience meaningful.

On April 3, 2014, the Society focusedon a “Forensics Approach to HolocaustEducation”, a professional developmentworkshop that emphasized theimportance of using primary sources topiece together a history, with specialemphasis on the Holocaust. Teacherslearned how to encourage their studentsto examine a variety of documents touncover historic facts, using a variety ofdocuments from a multitude of sources.

4

Holocaust Center News

5

● Holocaust Council ofGreater MetroWest

TThe on-going activities of theCouncil include providing

speakers for Kristallnacht and YomHashoah programs at schools, colleges,churches and synagogues. It also developsand facilitates presentation by twinners,their parents and survivors. The twinninginitiative with survivors has spreadthroughout New Jersey and beyond.

The Council is also active in the SurvivorsSpeak and the Adopt-a-Survivor program bybringing survivors and eyewitnesses intoschools, colleges, churches, synagogues andcivic organizations. A Holocaust Councilhistorian often participates. In addition,teaching trunks, trunks filled withinstructional materials, are lent out to schools.

The Council maintains Facebook andTwitter accounts and sends informationalemail blasts about Holocaust topics andissues. Then there is the Real to Reel FilmSeries, screening about ten films each year –followed by discussions.

Lunch-and-Learn sessions with a survivor,eyewitness, rescuer, their spouses ordescendants, preserve the testimony of thosewho have not spoken before. Select speakersmay become part of the Speakers’ Bureau.Partnering with Rubell HolocaustRemembrance Journeys, Council sponsorssix trips to the USHMM annually.

Barbara Wind moderated three sessions ofthe Generations of the Shoah InternationalConference, and the Council held a specialexhibition of “Sanctuary in Shanghai” on loanfrom the Shanghai Jewish Refugee Museum.Docent training sessions were held inconjunction with the “From Memory toHistory” exhibit.

The Council sponsored a special program,“Building a Scale Model of the WarsawGhetto with Legos” by architect StephenSchwartz and Warsaw Ghetto survivor NessaBen-Asher. It also held The Cecile SeidenEducators Workshop “Teacher to Teacher:Using Literature, Film and Primary Sourcesas Educational Tools to Meet N.J. CoreCurriculum Standards, Inspire Students andImprove School Climate”.

There was Council participation in severalHolocaust Remembrance programs andservices: the 37th Annual Interfaith Service inMaplewood and the Yom HashoahMemorial Service at Kean University, aswell as the one in Newark and another withthe Jewish Federation in Whippany.

The Council also hosted theCommission’s ceremony commemoratingthe 20th anniversary of the HolocaustEducation Mandate and the Second AnnualSeder. The year ended with the AnnualHolocaust Rubell leadership seminar andthe Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner.

● Seton Hall University– Center for JewishChristina Studiesand HolocaustEducation

OOn September 22, 2013, Dr. JohnConnelly presented a program

on the subject of “From Enemy to Brother:The Revolution in Catholic Thinking aboutthe Jews 1933-65.

The Sister Rose Thering Fund forEducation in Jewish Christian Studiesplanned and implemented a variety ofprograms. A six- week film festival, open tothe public at no charge included screeningsof the following documentary films:

“An Open Door:Jewish Rescue in thePhilippines” – with comments by DirectorNoel Izon of the film “God Sleeps inRwanda”, responded to by survivorsEugenie Mukeshimana and EmannualRuranga

“I Am Joseph: Your Brother” – withguest producer Amy Kronish, speaking ofthe visit of Pope John Paul II to Israel

“Sister Rose’s Passion” – withcomments by director/producer OrenJacoby who also showed a trailer of hisupcoming film on the Jews of Italy

“Shanghai Ghetto” – with discussionled by Dr. Daniel Leab, Professor of Historyat Seton Hall

“The Test of Freedom: MuslimAmericans and the Struggle Against

Prejudice” – Anisa Mehdi and producerKhaliff Watkins

The concert at the Cathedral Basilica ofthe Sacred Heart in Newark on theanniversary of Kristallnacht marked the endof an 18-month commemoration of the workof Monsignor John M. Oesterreicher,founder of the Institute for Jewish andChristian Studies at Seton Hall. This movingconcert by the Seton Hall Chorus andprofessional singers led by Choral DirectorDr. Jason Tramm was open to the public andattracted a large audience.

These special programs were anaddition to the Scholarship RecognitionAwards event honoring educators in theJewish-Christian Studies Program featuringDr. Margaret Dames; the third Dr. MarciaRobbins-Wilf Community Lecture featuringa dialogue between Sister Mary Boys, Ph.D.of Union Theological Seminary and BluGreenberg, author and Jewish-FeministMovement activist and the fifth recognitionprogram for winners of the Sister RoseThering Essay Contest.

The crowning event of the year was the21st Annual Evening of Roses honoring thethirty original founders of the Sister RoseThering Board of Trustees. Twenty of theFounders attended. Each received a specialgift and a few spoke on behalf of the group,including Dr. David Bossman, ExecutiveDirector, Luna Kaufman, chairman emerita,Marilyn Rosenbaum, Program Co-Chairand Dr. Marcia Robbins-Wilf, benefactor ofthe Fund. All funds raised were used forscholarships for New Jersey educators,enabling them to enroll in the Jewish-Christian Studies courses at Seton Hall.

On March 13, 2014, the Center featureda program entitled “Poles and Jews duringWorld War II“. It included “Lectures on theHolocaust: Destructive Past and DangerousFuture” with Rev. Dennis McManus and“Poles and Jews during the War” withMonika Rice, as well as workshops on JanKarski, Jedwabne and Czestochowa.

On March 30th , Rabbi David Dalinpresented a lecture on Pope John XXIII.


RRamapo College’s Gross Center for Holocaust andGenocide Studies held a variety of programs last

spring on topics ranging from the consequences of ArmenianGenocide to the pursuit of justice against a dictator held responsiblefor genocide and human rights violations in Guatemala.

In March 2013, New York University Professor Ayda Erballaunched the semester’s activities with a wide-ranging lecture. Sheexamined the ramifications of the 2007 assassination of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink and drew attention how Turkishsociety used his murder by a young Turkish nationalist for its ownends. Dr. Erbal pointed out that the journalist’s tragic death was usedto contain and avoid discourse about Turkey’s continuing denial ofArmenian Genocide. Shortly after Dr. Erbal’s lecture, noted filmhistorian Dr. Eric Goldman discussed “The Culture of Antisemitismin Cinema – with clips from several relevant movies. Dr. Goldmanexplained that the topic in the movies mirrored American attitudetoward Jews and bigotry, in general. Hollywood’s Jewishmoviemakers were so uncomfortable with their prominence,especially after the advent of Nazism, they were reluctant to raise theissue. What changed Hollywood’s approach to anti-Semitism was theHolocaust. Two non-Jewish filmmakers, Darryl Zanuck withGentleman’s Agreement and Edward Dmytryk with Crossfire,confronted the issue head-on in 1947. Combined with the advancesin civil rights that began with Brown v. Board of Education, moviescontinued to play a role in making manifestations of bigotry againstJews less frequent.

In April, Turkish-Dutch historian, Ugur Umit Ungor returned tothe Armenian Genocide in a talk entitled “Confiscation andDestruction: The Young Turk Seizure of Armenian Property” in1915-1921. His focus was the rise of Turkish economic nationalismand its emergence in the genocidal process. He showed how localelites became beneficiaries of state-sanctioned robbery, and howeconomics is inextricably intertwined with genocide.

Changing gears, still in April, was the screening of the filmDictator in the Dock, by Pamela Yates and Paco de Onis. The filmbrings viewers into the courtroom as former dictator General EfrainRios Montt stands trial for genocide and crimes against humanity.This historic case marked the first time ever that a former head ofstate was tried for genocide in national court – in the country wherethe crimes were committed. Also, the first time in the history in Southand North America that the genocide of indigenous people was triedin a court of law, significantly in a country of the Americas with amajority of indigenous population

A few days later, Dr. David Wildermuth, Professor of German atShippensburg University, in a talk entitled “And from that moment,the Shoah began for us: What Survivor Testimony Tells Us about theWehrmacht and Its Victims during the Invasion of the Soviet Union”addressed the question of the direct involvement of the Wehrmacht inthe Holocaust. Using pre-invasion orders and war diaries

corroborated by witness testimony, Dr. Wildermuth made it clear thatingrained antisemitism and a carte blanche determined the individualcommander’s decision whether or not to kill the Jews.

The last lecture of the fall semester was a discussion of a newbook published by Professor David Kertzer, The Poles andMussolini. The book tells the dramatic story of the Church. ThePope’s blessing played a key role in legitimizing fascist rule in Italy.In return, the Church received support against Communism andmodernity. As Dr. Kertzer pointed out in the Q and A, even thoughNazi treatment of the Jews was antithetical to the tenets ofChristianity, Pope Pius XI welcomed curtailing Jewish participationin society because he saw Jews as agents of modernity and socialismwho were undeserving of equality because of their refusal to acceptChristianity.

Several significant issues were discussed at the Annual GumpertTeachers’ Workshop dealing with “The U.N. Convention onGenocide as a Living Text: A Case Study for the Classroom”.

In his introduction, Dr. Michael Riff placed the topic in thecontext of contemporary events. Dr. Paul Winkler, ExecutiveDirector of the N.J. Commission on Holocaust Education, thenpresented an inspiring overview of how a close reading of theConvention on Genocide as evolving text can be used to satisfy theState Mandate on Holocaust Education, as well as several key corecontext standards.

In her keynote lecture, Totally Unofficial: The Autobiography ofRaphael Lemkin, acclaimed author and scholar Dr. Donna-LeeFrieze traced the development of the original text of the Conventionas a living document from the time Lemkin first drafted it in the late1940s to the present day. She pointed out how the document was theproduct of diplomatic compromise in a particular moment of history,when the Holocaust loomed large in the consciousness of theinternational community.

Jill McCracken, a Social Studies teacher at Holmdel HighSchool and instructor at Brookdale Community College’s Chhange,(Center for Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights), delivered apresentation on how to bring the study of the evolution of theGenocide Convention into the classroom. The title of her lessonsplan? “How well does the U.N. Genocide Convention function in the21st century?”

Concluding theprogram, NancySteinson Ehrlichreflected on herfriendship withRaphael Lemkin.Having assumed theposition at NewYork’s InternationalHouse in 1957, shemet RaphaelLemkin in 1958.They became closefriends, and sheassisted him in thepreparation of hisautobiography.

6


NEW JERSEY COMMISSION ON HOLOCAUSTEDUCATIONChairperson: Phil Kirschner, ESQ.Executive Director: Dr. Paul B. WinklerPhone: 609-292-9274Fax: 609-633-8599E-mail: [email protected] site: www.state.nj.us/njded/holocaust

Editor: Dr. Vera Goodkin Staff, New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education

● Ramapo College Center for HolocaustGenocide Studies

7

● The HolocaustResource Center ofKean University

DDuring the fall semester of2013 and the spring of

2014, the University has offered Teachingthe Holocaust and Teaching PrejudiceReduction courses in Bloomfield, EastWindsor, South Orange/Maplewood and atthe Kean University campus.

In October 2013, the Center ran a trip tothe USHMM for the Holocaust course, ID1800, and the Diversity course participants.

Another Center event was the RichardWeisberg Seminar, discussing 20 years oflitigation on behalf of Holocaust survivors.

Richard Weisberg also presented“Inflexible Heroes: Stalwart Resistance toHitler’s Policies in World War II. Germany,France and British Channel Islands” in theMurray Pantirer Lecture Series.

October and November, featured thescreening of two films on humantrafficking and sexual assaults in themilitary.

In December, Dr. Suzanne Vromendelivered a Student Holocaust Lecture.

In January 2014, the Center ran fourDiversity Council Workshops aboutidentity safety,with a keynote by BeckiCohn Vargas of Not in Our Town/Schools –entitled Identity Safety: Strategies to HonorIdentity and Reduce Harassment,Intimidation and Bullying.

In February, the Center hosted theFranklin Township “Shadows Anti-Bullying” program with the Tyler ClementiFoundation and National School ClimateCenter.

In March, the Center ran the DiversityCouncil High School Leadership CouncilTraining, and the Diversity CouncilElementary and Middle SchoolConference, as well as the DiversityCouncil High School LeadershipConference.

In April, the Center held a Yom HashoahCommemoration with the HolocaustCouncil of Greater MetroWest.

● The Sara and SamSchoffer HolocaustResource Center atRichard StocktonCollege

TThe Center offers workshops,seminars and programs for

students, educators and the community.Between June 30, 2013 – July 1, 2014,these programs impacted 9,967 students,2,527 educators, 236 survivors and 9,473community members. In that time, theCenter has introduced a program to grades6-9, held planning meetings with Holocaustsurvivors and held a USHMM SummerTeacher Seminar at Stockton. It has alsoplanned and held a Raoul WallenbergDedication Ceremony on Jerome Avenue inMargate.

A sampling of other events andactivities includes a Seashore GardensSummer Institute for High School Studentson the History of the Holocaust; anintergenerational brunch for Holocaustsurvivors and their families; introduction ofthe Center for Barnegat High School andHoly Spirit High School teachers; “lunch-and-learn” for survivors; Second AnnualGenocide Awareness Week Orientation;seminar on memoir writing; freshmanseminar at Stockton on “Nurses andDoctors during the Holocaust; lecture onthe “Theatre of Genocide”; luncheon withstudents and Holocaust survivors;introduction of the USHMM Tracingprogram for second generation; annualKristallnacht lecture on “Jewish Resistanceagainst the Nazis”; Gail Rosenthal’spresentation on “Eugenics andEuthanasia”; educational programs onRwandan genocide; Gail Rosenthal’spresentation on “Holocaust Education forFuture Generations”; programcommemorating the 75th anniversary ofthe Kindertransport; program on rescuers;lecture and discussion on “UsingChildren’s Literature to Introduce theHolocaust”.

In May 2014, the Center offered a 15-day study tour of Germany, Poland andLithuania on the “History, Legacies andLessons of the Holocaust”. As preparationfor these study tours, the studentscompleted an undergraduate and a graduatecourse. The group of 44 included survivorand second generation participants whoselifes journeys were traced by Stocktonundergraduate and graduate students.

The 31st Annual Holocaust AwarenessProgram in 2014 highlighted the 75thanniversary of the Kindertransport.Holocaust survivor Ruth Kessler spokeabout her experiences at Atlantic CapeCommunity College. She also shared herlife story and Kindertransport experienceswith educators in a workshop at the Saraand Sam Schoffer Holocaust ResourceCenter. A copy of her memoir, “The BlueVase”, was distributed to teachers.

● William PatersonUniversity – Center forthe Study of Genocideand the Holocaust

IIn March 2014, Art ProfessorLeslie Nobler led a student

workshop on art, memory and theHolocaust. Students created diaries andtransferred meaningful images.

The Center also co-sponsored theCollege of Education DiversityConference on Global Perspective onSocial Justice Education.

In April, Dr. Dobrick presented atand participated in a Master Seminar onHolocaust and Genocide Studies at KeanUniversity.


8

● College of Saint ElizabethHolocaust EducationResource Center

OOn October 31, 2013, theCenter held a screening of the

film “Some Who Lived”, a USC ShoahFoundation production, as part of theCollege’s Film Study Festival Archivalfootage and Testimonies of HolocaustSurvivors. Directed by Luis Puenzo,winner of the Academy Award for BestForeign Film, the movie featuredsurvivors who had found refuge inArgentina and other Latin Americancountries.

On November 11, 2013, ChantalBerthet, instructor of Spanish, led a filmscreening and discussion of excerpts fromthe documentary Visa to Paradise during aclass session entitled Mexico and theHolocaust.

Another class session of screeningwith discussion featured the filmRequiem of Defiance: Music fromTerezin. Dr. Vincent Rufino, AdjunctLecturer in Music History, led adiscussion of the music created andperformed in the Terezin concentrationcamp.

The Kristallnacht Commemoration“The Future of Survivor Testimony” washeld on the same date, with guest speakersStephen D. Smith, Executive Director ofthe Shoah Foundation and Pinchas Gutter,Holocaust survivor from Poland whoshared his experiences as a child duringthe Holocaust. Smith showed exceptsfrom his documentary about Gutter, TheVoid in Search of Memory Lost, as wellas examples of “New Dimensions ofTestimony”, a hologram project underdevelopment that could make testimoniesof and interviews with survivors availablein the future. The issues and implicationsof such a project were also discussed.

On November 12, 2013, grades 6-12and their teachers were given anopportunity to view and discuss theimportance of various aspects of the

“Future of Survivor Testimony” withguest speakers Stephen Smith andPinchas Gutter. After the showing of “TheVoid in Search of Memory Lost” and theQ and A session following it, directorSmith and survivor Gutter presented the“New Dimensions of Testimony”hologram program and discussed issuesrelated to offering testimony when thesurvivors are gone.

Simultaneously, Dr. Ginny Butera,Director of the Maloney Art Gallery,Professor of Art and Curator of the artexhibit Held Against Their Will led adiscussion of particular pieces of art withHolocaust related images.

In an In-Class Faculty Sessionentitled Propaganda of Nazi Germany,Raul Villareal, Assistant Professor of Art,led a discussion on the use of advertisingpropaganda to promulgate the Naziagenda

In another in-class session, Holocausttestimony, Lona Hess, survivor fromHanover, Germany, introduced by Dr.Ellen Ehrlich, Professor of Nursing,spoke about her survival in Riga, Latvia atthe age of 20.

Eight additional in-class sessions dealtwith:

Holocaust Remembering and theCommon Good with Sr. Alice Swartz,Professor of Theology – on theimportance of remembering.

Requiem of Defiance – screening anddiscussion with Dr. Vincent Rufino.

Holocaust Testimony by Germansurvivor of Kristallnacht ErnestPressburger, introduced by Dr. ChloeBland, Professor of Psychology.

Gina Lanceter from Poland and herdaughter Dina Cohen – introduced by Dr.Margaret Roman, Professor of Englishand Women’s Studies presented twogenerations of testimony.

Dr. Valerie Scott, Professor ofPsychology introduced Ursula Pawelfrom Germany who spoke aboutsurviving the Holocaust in Terezin andAuschwitz.

Rabbi Richard Hammerman,introduced by Dr. Erin Biviano, spokeabout the importance of faith in the face

of tragedy.Dr. Catherine Martin, Professor of

Theology and Integrated Literacy, led adiscussion on Holocaust Rescuers fromIslamic, Christian and Jewishbackgrounds.

In a session on “Analyzing HateCrimes”, Dr. Jim Ford, Professor andStudy Coordinator for the College’s JusticeStudies program, led the discussion ofstudent research and discussion onHate/Bias Crime Trends in the UnitedStates.

On November 14th, in an InterfaithProgram – Learning to See Jews as God’sBeloved: A Revolution in CatholicUnderstanding, speaker Dr. PhilipCunningham, Director of the Institute forJewish-Catholic Relations and Professorof Theology at St. Joseph’s University,focused on the new relationship betweenCatholics and Jews between the 1960sand the present.

On November 15th, Dr. Anne Langan,Professor of Sociology, led a discussionon the Cambodian Genocide teachers andsupervisors, with the goal of enablingthem to utilize important strategies andresources and helping them meet the NewJersey mandate for Holocaust Education.

On April 2nd, following the screeningof the “Trial of Adolf Eichmann”, Dr.Harriet Sepinwall led a discussionfocused on his 1951 trial.

At the April 4th ProfessionalDevelopment Conference – Children ofthe Holocaust: Remembering the Past andEducating for the Future, keynote speakerPinchas Gutter shared his experiences as achild in the Warsaw and Lodz ghettoes aswell as a prisoner in MajdanekConcentration Camp and slave laborcamps. A panel of survivors also sharedexperiences of their childhood during theHolocaust, while a panel of masterteachers focused on specific strategies ofteaching about the Holocaust.


9


TThe Institute has been offering avariety of activities, programs

and events. Between June 2013 and June2014, there were screenings of thedocumentary, THE OTHER for HolocaustRemembrance. The preview of thedocumentary “Ripples from the Holocaust”was held at the 2013 Somerset LeadershipConference.

November 11, 2013 marked the AnnualKristallnacht Commemoration at Raritan.

High School Learning throughExperience Program and Workshops wereheld on November 18th. Additional eventsincluded a Community Multi-Media DancePerformance: to tell the story of ProducerGabriel Chajnik’s family’s survival duringthe Holocaust. The performance wasfollowed by a Make-a-DifferenceReception in honor of the performers andthe program given by Mr. Chajnik.

March 9, 2014 featured the Annual YadVashem Educator’s ConferencePresentation of “Ripples from theHolocaust”.

The Middle School Learning throughExperience and Workshops took place onMay 21-22 – highlighting the 20thanniversary of the Rwandan Genocide, withJacqueline Murekatete, as well as variousworkshops with Genocide and otherHolocaust survivors.

The program also included the MiddleSchool Art and Writing Competition.

The Survivor/Student Brunch with twomiddle schools from Hunterdon Countytook place on June 2nd. Four Holocaustsurvivors from the Institute: MargitFeldman, Tova Friedman, Fred Cige andMaud Dahme met with Franklin andReadington Township Middle Schoolstudents from Barbara Suozzo and JanetHoward’s classes. The informal

conversations during brunch weremeaningful, educational and rewarding tothe students, teachers and survivors.

The Raritan Valley CommunityCollege Human Resources LeadershipProgram participants previewed thedocumentary THE OTHER on June 26th,accompanied by a discussion aboutreconciliation and the nature of forgiveness.

● Goodwin HolocaustMuseum andEducation Center ofDelaware Valley

AAs usual, the Center has had abroad spectrum of activities

in 2013-2014. September, October,November and December 2013 featuredAdult Interfaith Discussions on “Trip toMinsk and Belarus”, “New JerseyLegislated Week of Respect” and “Updateon the Separation of Church and State andForgiveness”, respectively. In October,there was also a presentation by JeannieSmith, daughter of Polish rescuer IreneOpdyke, a Café Europa luncheon withstudents and a presentation by FrankMeenik, Reformed Neo-Nazi Skinhead.

November marked a Veterans DayProgram, as well as a KristallnachtCommunity Remembrance. There was alsoa puppet show, The Town That Fought Hate,showing what can be done if you stand up tohate. The Teacher Workshop – Echoes andGenerations to get them more activelyinvolved in their mission.

The January 2014 Video Conferenceshighlighted three facets of Holocausthistory: “Meet a Survivor, a ConcentrationCamp Liberator and the Child of aSurvivor”. February was an especiallyactive month, with an Adult InterfaithDiscussion dealing with social justice; twosessions on “Confronting Antisemitism”;performance of the play Dear Esther, thetrue story of a Holocaust survivor, teach thehistory and lessons of the Holocaust. Inaddition, the Center ran a one-day trip for

educators to the United States HolocaustMemorial Museum, ran a panel discussionby survivors and presented a multi-mediaperformance, teaching the history of theHolocaust through a student’s perspective –entitled “Through the Eyes of a Friend”.

March started with the ButterflyProject, followed by three videoconferences: Genocide in Today’s Worldwith Dr. Jerry Ehrlich; PrincetonPediatrician working with child Survivorsof the Rwandan genocide; St. Louis andthe Voyage of the Damned and Sonja’sLegacy. The concluding program was theLiving Voices Teacher Workshop.

In April, Yom HashoahCommemorations were held at the Center,at local schools and synagogues, as well asat government agencies. An educationaldisplay was created for Rowan UniversityStudent Center. Another Adult-InterfaithDiscussion explored “Religious Bias”.

In May, there were 8 performances ofNumber the Stars, with the HaddonfieldPlays and Players. In June, the Center ran avirtual tour of the Goodwin HolocaustMuseum for the Adult Interfaith DiscussionGroup, as well as a one-day trip to theMuseum of Jewish Heritage – A LivingMemorial to the Holocaust in NYC. Inaddition, the Center awarded $ 5,000 inscholarships to students for humanitarianefforts – in memory of Josiah DuBois.

The Center’s on-going activities haveincluded: docent training sessions toeducate new volunteers to give Museumtours and help survivors as they meetstudents; conducting the Tolerance GuestReader Program by sending staff membersto 116 classrooms in 12 schools to readselected picture books and discuss issues oftolerance and compassion; receivingvisitors to the Museum; designingintervention strategies with studentsinvolved in bullying incidents; orchestratingstudent meetings with Holocaust survivorsand concentration camp liberators at theCenter and in schools, as well aspresentations at Community Groups:Rotary Clubs, Church Groups, DiversityDay Programs, Library Programs, BookClubs, Scout Groups, etc.

● Raritan ValleyCommunityCollege – Institutefor HolocaustGenocide Studies


● Rider University –The Julius andDorothy KoppelmanHolocaust/GenocideResource Center

IIn November, the Center conductedits Annual Kristallnacht

Commemoration while connecting with acommemorative program in the German townof Lautertal.

In December, the Center ran a K-8Teacher Workshop on using children’s storybooks.

In March 2014, Rider Center held ascreening of HBO film “Conspiracy” duringhigh school teacher workshop on the WannseeConference.

In May, the Center partnered with AdathIsrael Congregation in a Yom HashoahCommemoration and screening of the video“Only a Number”, the life story and Holocaustexperiences of producer Stephen Besserman’smother.

The Center’s last event for the year wasits annual Holocaust lecture, “The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Today”.

● Mercer CountyHolocaust andGenocide ResourceCenter – MercerCounty College

IIn September 2013, the Centerconducted a Panel Discussion of

the 150th Anniversary of the EmancipationProclamation. The Panel examined the impactof the Proclamation, from its historicalsignificance to social and racial impact.Present and future effects, as well as problemsremaining, were also discussed.

In October, there was a screening anddiscussion of the movie “Bent”, a 1997 Britishfilm is based on a play of the same name andrevolves around the persecution of

homosexuals in Nazi Germany. A HumanTrafficking panel presentation, “A Violation ofHuman Freedom” was also part of theprogram. Assistant Attorney GeneralThompson told the audience that humantrafficking was, in essence, bullying.

Anti-bullying took center stage at the endof October, with Bullying Awareness Day incollaboration with Future Teachers Club and apresentation on bullying by the staff of theKidsbridge Museum. “Bully”, a character-driven documentary, followed students frompublic schools in Georgia, Iowa, Texas,Mississippi and Oklahoma during the 2009-2010 school year. The film particularlyfocused in on the deaths of two students,victims of bullying, who committed suicide. Italso explained in great detail, that the averagestudent cannot defend him/herself againstridicule. The problem transcends geographic,racial, ethnic and economic borders. Itdocuments the reactions of teachers andadministrators to aggressive behavior that defy“kids will be kids”clichés and captures agrowing movement to change how bullying ishandled in schools, in communities and in theSociety as a whole. Participants also had anopportunity to learn anti-bullying strategies.

On the 75th anniversary of Kristallnacht,the Commemorative Program in Novemberfeatured a violinist, performing Bach, as wellas the theme from Schindler’s List. Dr.Winkler discussed the events of Kristallnachtand addressed questions from the audience.

He held a workshop on “Using Books toTeach Anti-Bulllying”. He showed howchildren’s literature fosters empathy andteaches tolerance.

In February 2014, the Center featuredWomenspace speakers on “Violence towardsWomen”, screening a film and showing anexhibit of student art work and posters onViolence, Genocide and the Holocaust. Thefilm “Scream Bloody Murder” examinedatrocities in Cambodia, Iraq, Bosnia, Rwandaand Darfur. It also focused on those who spokeout.

In March, the Center screened StevenBesserman’s instructional video “Only ANumber”, the story of his mother, a Holocaustsurvivor of Auschwitz. Using his mother’sdiary as a guide, Besserman journeyed throughghettoes, concentration camps and slave laborfactories, reflecting her experiences and howthey impacted him as a second generationsurvivor. The Center also showed the film

“Sarah’s Key” that deals with a journalist’sresearch investigating the roundup of Jews inNazi-occupied Paris, illustrating participationby the French bureaucracy and contrasting thatbetrayal with the deeds of Sarah’s rescue byFrench citizens. “Auschwitz – Inside the NaziState, the third in this film series, was a six-partdocumentary that examines the establishmentand development of the concentration camp,within the historical context of the Nazi’schanging strategies and goals during WorldWar II. Using photographs, filmed re-enactments, interviews with survivors andperpetrators and blueprints, the film traces theevolution of Auschwitz from a facility forPolish detainees to a forced labor camp andultimately, to the horrifying factory for massmurder.

The highlight of the month was thelaunching of Jerry Casciano’s gripping photoexhibit of the concentration camps. The artist’sfather was a World War II camp liberatorwhose life remained permeated with thehaunting memories of that experience, andJerry grew up with a psychological need toexplore that part of his father’s past. Upon hisreturn from Europe with the depictions of grimwinter scenes from the abandoned camps, hetook portraits of survivors, each holding anobject that had special significance for themduring the Holocaust Dr. Vera Goodkin, childsurvivor of the Holocaust, spoke at theremembrance, and Dr. Paul Winklermoderated the program.

In May, the Center featured Auschwitzsurvivor, Cantor David Wisnia in a program ofdiscussion and music. In the last year of thewar, Cantor Wisnia escaped from a Nazitransport and was rescued by the 101stAirborne Division of the U.S. Army. Duringhis presentation, he performed songs from hisyouth, two of which he composed while inAuschwitz.

In May, the year culminated in the AnnualEducators Conference, “MakingConnections”, dedicated to recently deceasedProfessor Saul Goldwasser, Founding Directorof the Center. Panelists presented informationon how to design lesson plans for variousgrade levels. The Saul Goldwasser WritingAward, presented by Dena, ProfessorGoldwasser’s widow to Giovanni Charles, aMCCC Honors Student who read his winningentry to the audience. The 2014 YouthHolocaust and Genocide Awareness Awardwas also presented at the conference.

10


IIn October 2013, the Centersponsored the lecture “Without

Refuge: Voices from a Syrian Camp forInternally Displaced Persons”. Inaddition, The Voice of Free Syria –Rutgers and Merkin Hall gave a concertand presentation on the condition ofSyrian children.

In November, the program featuredwas “Expert Meeting: Sexual Rights andPrivacy Common Concerns”. This was a“by invitation only think tank/policy/education meeting to discuss educationaltools and common concerns.

In September-December, the Centerheld The Global Justice Speaker Series: aSemester-Long Speaker Series forstudents and community to explore issuesof global justice.

Fall 2013 activities encompassedthree lectures of the Human Rights in aGlobal World Speaker Series, six lecturesof the Global Justice Speaker Series,seven lectures of the Justice in CambodiaSpeaker Series and three screenings of theFraming Bigotry Film Series.

January – May 2014, the Centerfeatured the Community Teach-In Seriesfor Newark Alternative High SchoolProgram – YouthBuild Newarkpartnership lectures: workshops on issuesconnected to English and Social StudiesStandards: Human Rights, Genocide andSocial Justice.

A January 2014 ProfessionalDeveopment Workshop dealt with theArmenian Genocide Initiative –cosponsored with Bergen College Centerfor Peace, Justice and Reconciliation.

Another January event was theInterfaith Lecture – with Q and A – AnInsider’s Perspective: Faith, This wasaccompanied by a video, discussion andQ and A between Muslims and Jews.

February’s activity involved ameeting for Building Up Tolerance:Educational Policy for Human Rights

Activists in Russia and Ukraine – andEducational Toolkit Development.

March featured The Voice ofArbitrary Detention – Meeting andLecture at the UN to discuss justicechallenges in Syria.

Another program, CambodianEducation: Passages and Pathways –Global meeting on GlobalEducation/Expert Meeting to discussstrategic planning for the development ofcurricular changes and professionaldevelopment in Cambodia.

Discussions in April revolved aroundArt and Culture in the Face of Violence:Syria Today, Cambodia and the FutureWorkshop and Genocide: Pathways andPassages Conference.

May focused in on Night of thePencils: Activism and Accountability inArgentina: High School Lesson – Pilot forArgentine Genocide – High School.

Curriculum development in the areaof Teaching Genocide and Holocaustfrom a Global Perspective – High SchoolTeacher Professional DevelopmentWorkshop – UNESCO and CriticalGenocide Studies; four lectures of theCommunity Teach-In Series; GenocidePathways and Passages Conference.

● Bergen CountyCommunity College –Center for Peace,Justice andReconciliation

OOctober 2013, featured Readingof a play about domestic

violence: Freedom to Protect, as well as theWola Suchozebrska Seminar: WritingPersonal and Political Bravery under theNazis. as well as a Faculty Lecture, SlideShow and Discussion on Without Refuge:Voices from a Camp for InternallyDisplaced Persons.

In November, the Center featured adebate among professional advocates andopponents entitled “Gun Control CivilDebate on Loaded Topic.

Film screening of and discussioncentered around about “Kristallnacht and theBirth of Israel”.

December dealt with the subjects ofartistic portrayal of military issues – turninguniforms into creative expression - and femaleinfanticide: Screening and discussion of “It’s agirl!”

In January 2014, the Center presented itsAnnual Professional Development Workshopfor Teachers: on Armenian Genocide.

February was the time of artexhibit:Inside/Out: A Global Participatory ArtProject.

March featured Facing HistoryWorkshop for faculty and students devoted toteaching and learning about Genocide.

In April, the Center displayed posterexhibition about People Make Choices;Choices Make History.

The screening of “Destiny’s Bridge: aDocumentary about Homelessness” includeda discussion with the director.

The remaining programs in Aprilincluded a student panel on The ArmeniaGenocide and Other Genocides, aperformance and discussion of The MitzvahProject: A One-Man Play – to commemoratethe Holocaust, lecture, slide show andpresentation by Khaching Mouradian –Unhiding the Past: Turkey and the ArmenianGenocide Centennial.

● Cumberland CountyCollege – Coalitionfor Holocaust andGenocide Education

IIn February 2013, the Centerconducted a bus tour to USHMM

for educators.In June, the Center partnered with the

College Performing Arts Center and theVineland School District in putting on aproduction of Dear Esther – depicting the lifeof survivor Esther Raab.

● Center for Study ofGenocide and HumanRights (CGHR)

11


● Ocean County College– The Center forPeace, Genocide andHolocaust Studies

IIn October 2013, Director Dr. AliBotein- Furrevig made a

presentation of “Heart of a Stranger”, basedon her book of the same name to fostertolerance and understanding of theOrthodox culture and belief system.

In November, Humanities Professor,Dr. Martin Novelli, lectured and screened afilm on the Cambodian Genocide.

In December, Dr. Maysa Abou-YoussefHayward and Dr. Ali Botein made apresentation on “Intersections of Culture inCourtship and Marriage among Muslim andOrthodox Women in the Middle East.

In February 2014, Dr. Ali Boteinpresented “Last Waltz on the Danube”,based on her book of the same name,highlighting a history and a survivor story ofTito’s 1944-46 genocide of ethnic Germansliving in the Baltic region whose ancestoremigrated from Swabia over 400 years ago.

In March, Holocaust survivor and“Hidden Child”, Maud Dahme, spoke abouther experiences as a young child rescued bya Dutch Christian family. As part of thesame program, the film “Hidden Child”,based on Maud’s experiences of living witha Christian family was viewed anddiscussed.

In April, the Center sponsored a prayerservice and candle lighting ceremony oncampus to commemorate the Holocaust. Inaddition, the following HolocaustCommemorative programs were held inApril: a student presentation on the“Children of Auschwitz”, highlighting themedical experiments conducted at the camp,as well as viewing and discussion of the film“Into the Arms of Strangers” about theKindertransport operation. and survivorGerda Lowenstein’s testimony about herexperiences in that transport.

The year culminated in May with theproduction of a one-man play, “TheMitzvah”, written and performed byactor/director Roger Grunwald.

● Museum of HumanRights, Freedom andTolerance

IIn September 2013, the Centeroffered a Community Seminar:

From Herero Genocide, to Rwanda andDarfur – Origins and Struggle againstGenocide in Africa.

In December 2013, the Centerundertook a unique seminar with TheRussian Holocaust Center in Moscow – viaSkype.

In January 2014, the Center conducted adiscussion – 20th Century: The Era ofDiscovery or the Era of Genocide?

The February activity involved aRockville, MD Education Center lecture“Shalom”.

In March, the Center had a secondseminar with the Russian Holocaust Centervia Skype.

May marked the continuation of theRockville Education Center lecture.

In June, the Center held a discussion :Ethnic Discrimination – the Roots ofGenocide.

● The Sam AzeezMuseum ofWoodbine Heritage

IIn July 2013, the Museum Centerwas visited by Professor Wendell

White from the ‘Artist Teacher Institute”,Mike Bolicki’s Sociology Class for“Opportunity Starts Here” exhibit - studyingthe end of 19th century wave of immigrantsettlements and USHMM educator visitprovided an opportunity to showcase Russianimmigrant settlement at Woodbine.

Events in September includedEgalitarian Rosh Hashanah Service attractingparticipants from a 60 mile area; ProfessorMarsh Fiedler and Stockton Hillel studentsexperienced a celebration of the New Year;visit by Woodbine Chamber of Commercewith special guest Lt. Governor Kim

Guadagno; Kol Nidre and Yom KippurServices; Ocean View ORT; and PhiladelphiaHadassah.

The October exhibit attendeesexperienced a presentation by Holocaustsurvivor Fred Spiegel with students fromDennis Township Middle School; The Saraand Sam Schoffer and the HolocaustResource Center Executive Committee.

In November, the Center welcomedRabbi Eliezer Horowitz’s study group.

In May 2014, the Museum hosted TheVernacular Architectural Forum; the AnnualHolocaust Survivor Luncheon; SurvivorRosalie Simon, presented to students ofMargaret Mason Middle School

In June, Fred Spiegel presented toMillville High School; Suburban and OceanView Senior and Senior Citizen Disabilitygroup.

● Burlington CountyCommunity College –Center for SocialJustice and HolocaustStudies

IIn February 2014, the Centerconducted a tour to USHMM.

During the spring semester, the Collegeoffered the “Holocaust in Literature’ course.

In April, the Center hosted a lecture bysurvivor Fred Spiegel.

● Camden CountyCollege – Center forCivic Leadership andResponsibility

MMid-June to Mid-July, theCenter offered a 5 session

mini-course, Understanding Genocide: AStudy in Human Behavior that examines thecommon threads that allow genocide topersist into the 21st century, and the failure ofhumanity to put an end to it.

12


13

n Student/Survivor GetTogethers

n Teacher Training Programs

n Student Activities

n Survivors and StateLeadership Personnel

Documents

No. 42 Fall 2014