Martyrdom & Resistance, March/April 2011

ID Transcript mare3704_01 "Vol. 37-N ISSN 0892-1571 March/April 2011 - Adar/Nissan 5771 SURVIVAL AND RESISTANCE Thirteenth Annual Professional Development Conference on Holocaust Education The Education Department of the American Society for Yad Vashem and its Young Leadership Associates convened the Thirteenth Annual Professional Development Conference on Holocaust Education. This year's conference is the largest in recent years, with close to 200 educators from the tri-state area, plus Texas and Ohio, in attendance. The Association of Teachers of Social Studies / United Federation of Teachers, which once again co-sponsored the Conference, points out that ""[t]his conference is an in- This year's keynote speaker was Professor Terri Warmbrand, who delivered remarks on ""Unknown Jewish Resistance during the Holocaust."" Other presenters at the conference were Peppy Margolis and Helene Alalouf. Opening the conference was Jeremy Halpern, Chairperson of the Young Leadership Associates and himself a grandchild of survivors. He was joined by his daughter Brianna, who was the first Fourth Generation to ever join us at an Education Conference. Jeremy Halpern said in his opening remarks: ""...it gives me great pleasure to be here this morning with so many distinguished professionals in the field of education, as well as the students who will take these lessons into their fields of choice. I am particularly pleased to have my wife Abbi and my daughter Brianna here with me today. ""I am a grandchild of Holocaust survivors, or what is termed a Third Generation' person, two generations removed from the Shoah. Brianna, our eldest, has already volunteered to help here today. She and her siblings, members of the 'Fourth Generation', are blessed by having their survivor great-grandparents still with them, a unique privilege experienced by very few, and one which we are so grateful for. ""As you can imagine, I grew up Caroline Massel, Chairperson, Young Leadership Associ- Wlth survivors' memories imparted ates of the American Society for Yad Vashem; Jeremy to me bv mv survivor grandpar- Halpern, Chairperson, Young Leadership Associates of the entS- The Stories of their survival American Society for Yad Vashem; Brianna Halpern, and that of the Holocaust are part daughter of Abbi and Jeremy Halpern; Eli Zborowski, of who I am and what I do. It is the Chairman of the American Society for Yad Vashem; Eliza- goal of the Young Leadership As- beth Mundlak-Zborowski, Cultural Director of the Ameri- sociates to make sure that these can Society for Yad Vashem. stories are never forgotten, and it valuable resource for increasing aware- is the reason that we gather here today for ness and sensitivity to intolerance and injustice, especially in today's world."" This year's conference focused on Survivors and Resistance, a look at the experiences of those who survived and the people who tried to help during the darkest hour of humanity. such an important event. ""As time moves forward and the incomparable horrors of the Holocaust recede farther into history, I know that it is my generation's sacred duty, indeed that of future generations as well, to keep memory alive. It is our collective responsibility to make sure that the memory of those who perished is not forgotten and that the story of survival, resistance, and heroism is told and retold. Abbi and I do our best to pass this message and commitment to our children. And I know that the educators in this room do the same, every day, with our children and the children of so many; to pass along the information you receive here today, to make sure that the lessons of the Holocaust are not forgotten by future generations. ""All of us are here today for this precise reason - remembering and reminding. Through education we can convey the lessons of history, the calamitous consequences of hatred and prejudice. Our job is to educate new generations towards tolerance and acceptance with the hope that also marks our organization's 30th anniversary. How befitting that we should have such an auspicious occasion."" III am delighted to see all of you here land tell you that this is a record- breaking year in our Seminar's number of participants. This seminar has been growing with each passing year and has become an event which we know long-time educators as well as students-in-training look forward to attending,"" said Eli Zborowski, Chairman of the American Society for Yad Vashem. ""As you know, the goal of the American Society for Yad Vashem is to provide you at this seminar with the resources to best educate your students, helping form them into understanding and sensitive members of the community. Through teaching Participants of the conference during discussion. they will learn to prevent such horrors from happening again. It is our hope that these lessons will increase awareness and respect for each other's differences. ""I am delighted to be part of this 13th Annual Professional Development Conference, sponsored by the American Society for Yad Vashem. In Jewish tradition, thirteen is a most lucky number; it marks the point of a person embarking upon maturity and coming into one's own. It is the largest seminar ever, with the largest number of participants, both teachers and students. This event has come into its own. This year the Holocaust, our program aims to raise ethical questions and help students find sources of strength, hope, and renewal. It is our hope that these lessons will increase awareness, tolerance, and respect for each other's differences. ""As a survivor, this year's theme, 'Survival and Resistance,' is very close to my heart, as it is for my wife, Dr. Elizabeth Mundlak-Zborowski. Each story of survival is different and unique to each survivor. My story is different than my wife's. She was smuggled out of the ghetto as a (Continued on page 12) IN THIS ISSUE The wartime diary of Edmund Kessler. 4 Restoring Poland's Jewish past 5 Holocaust survivor believes in fate 6 Auschwitz shifts from memorializing to teaching 7 Young Leadership Associates of ASYV Annual Winter Gala ...8-9 Four million victims' names identified 10 ""None is too many"": Memorial for Jews turned away from Canada in 1939 11 Running - Remembering-Caring 12 Outrage at growing trade in Holocaust artifacts .....13 Eichmann trial veterans reunite.... 14 European Union project aims to establish network of Holocaust archives 15 May those who attend your Seder feast BerSCessed with everything Ofe has to offer... Jknd so may you! ^hfcttnyu *p£Lss&verf "