BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Classrooms Without Borders - ECPv6.11.2.1//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Classrooms Without Borders X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Classrooms Without Borders REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20240310T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20241103T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250123T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250123T163000 DTSTAMP:20260708T162318 CREATED:20241108T174558Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250124T174017Z UID:10001090-1737644400-1737649800@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net SUMMARY:Traces of Memory: Mezuzahs and the Echoes of Jewish Life in Pre-War Poland DESCRIPTION:Join us for an evocative exploration into the quiet\, powerful traces of Jewish life in Poland before World War II\, led by CWB Scholar Avi Ben-Hur\, Helena Czernek and Aleksander Prugar\, the creators behind Mi Polin. \nThrough a unique project that spans multiple countries and decades\, Czernek and Prugar have uncovered and recreated the traces of mezuzahs—symbols of Jewish presence—that once adorned the doorposts of Jewish homes and synagogues. These mezuzah traces\, often subtle imprints left behind by missing mezuzahs\, serve as silent yet poignant reminders of the vibrant Jewish communities that flourished in Poland before the Holocaust. \nThe event will begin with an introduction by scholar Avi Ben-Hur\, who will provide essential historical context on Jewish life in pre-war Poland\, touching upon the rich culture and traditions that once defined the Jewish community there. Czernek and Prugar will then share the remarkable stories behind the mezuzah traces they have uncovered in 92 cities across Poland\, as well as other countries like Ukraine\, Belarus\, and Morocco. Through their work\, they have documented over 170 mezuzahs—each representing a powerful link to the vibrant Jewish communities that flourished for over 900 years. \nThe program will delve into the significance of these traces—grooves\, contours\, and markings left on doorposts—each one a symbol of the lives and cultures lost in the Holocaust. The mezuzahs are not replicas but new creations molded from the imprints of the original mezuzahs\, offering a connection to the past while honoring the legacy of the Jewish community in Poland and beyond. \n \nA mezuzah imprint in Warsaw. Photograph © Mi Polin \nThis event offers participants a chance to reflect on the absence and loss of Jewish life in Poland\, while also celebrating the enduring spirit and resilience of the Jewish people. The traces of memory left behind by these mezuzahs speak not only to what was lost but also to the strength of the identity and legacy that continues to resonate with Jewish people around the world today. \nAvi Ben-Hur CWB Scholar in Residence \n \nA Brooklyn native\, Avi Ben-Hur moved to Israel in 1983. From 2003-2008 Avi was Director of the Archaeological Seminars School for Israeli Tour Guides. In 2008 Avi participated in re-writing the curriculum of the National Guiding courses for the Israeli Ministry of Tourism. As a “Scholar in Residence\, Avi has lectured\, taught and facilitated workshops in the US\, Warsaw\, Prague\, Berlin and Greece. From 1996-2000\, Avi taught in Yad Vashem’s International School for Holocaust Studies. As a guide\, Avi has specialized working with organizations focusing on political issues (such as AIPAC & CIJA)\, inter-faith programs and Holocaust studies. At Present\, Avi is an examiner for the Israeli Ministry of Tourism Licensing Boards and is the ongoing scholar in residence of Classrooms Without Borders. \n\n\n\n\n\nHelena Czernek\n\n\nHelena studied Product Design at Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw\, and at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem and Hebrew Studies at Warsaw University. She deals with Jewish design\, graphics\, photography\, calligraphy and Japanese wood block printing. Her project (a collaboration with Klara Jankiewicz) a crosswalk of a shape of piano key was awarded 1st place in a competition for designs promoting the 2010 “Year of Chopin” in Warsaw. She designed also a a yellow paper daffodil for the Museum of The History of Polish Jews as a symbol of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.\n\nAleksander Prugar\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAleksander studied Journalism and Mass Communication at Warsaw University\, Social Sciences at Katowice School of Economics and film course at National Film School in Łódź. For 5 years he worked as a photojournalist with the newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza. In 2009\, critics\, art historians and photo-editors associated with the Month of Photography in Krakow included him in the top hundred of the most significant Polish artists of the decade working in the field of photography.\n\n\n\n\n\nWe look forward to sharing this powerful journey of remembrance and connection with you. URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/traces-of-memory-mezuzahs-and-the-echoes-of-jewish-life-in-pre-war-poland/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Email-Promo-2024-11-17T120600.484.png LOCATION:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/traces-of-memory-mezuzahs-and-the-echoes-of-jewish-life-in-pre-war-poland/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250114T193000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250114T203000 DTSTAMP:20260708T162318 CREATED:20241219T141905Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241219T141905Z UID:10001106-1736883000-1736886600@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net SUMMARY:Defending Democracy Webinar for Educators DESCRIPTION:We are thrilled to share an exciting opportunity from our partners at Woven Teaching! They are hosting a webinar to introduce their latest resource\, Defending Democracy: Lessons for Building Resilience and Taking Action. \nThis free\, downloadable curriculum is designed for high school educators and focuses on protecting democracy and resisting authoritarianism. Inspired by Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century\, the curriculum’s 15 lessons promote civic engagement\, global citizenship\, critical thinking\, media literacy\, and community-building. \nDuring the webinar\, you’ll also hear from colleagues at the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism. \nDon’t miss this chance to learn more about this impactful resource and engage with fellow educators. URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/defending-democracy-webinar-for-educators/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Programming-from-our-Partners.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250105T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250105T183000 DTSTAMP:20260708T162318 CREATED:20241212T223750Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241212T223750Z UID:10001104-1736096400-1736101800@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net SUMMARY:A Virtual Evening with Alexandra Zapruder SALVAGED PAGES : A National Jewish Book Award Winner DESCRIPTION:The Holocaust Teacher Institute Is Proud to Announce The Leslie and Susan Gonda (Goldschmied) Foundation Holocaust/Jewish Themed Sunday Salon Series \nA Virtual Evening with Alexandra Zapruder SALVAGED PAGES : A National Jewish Book Award Winner in Conversation with Dr. Miriam Klein Kassenoff \n“These extraordinary diaries will resonate in the reader’s heart for many days and many nights.”—Elie Wiesel \nA remarkable collection of diaries written by young people\, aged twelve to twenty-two years\, during the Holocaust. Some of the writers were refugees\, others were in hiding or passing as non-Jews\, some were imprisoned in ghettos\, and nearly all perished before liberation. This seminal National Jewish Book Award winner preserves the impressions\, emotions\, and eyewitness reportage of young people whose accounts of daily events and often unexpected thoughts\, ideas\, and feelings serve to deepen and complicate our understanding of life during the Holocaust. Alexandra Zapruder will guide us thru the diaries as we discuss some understanding of life during the Holocaust from the words of these young people. \n \nAll Sunday Salon Series Programs are In Honor of Hidden Child Survivor\, Judy Roda URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/a-virtual-evening-with-alexandra-zapruder-salvaged-pages/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Capture.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241210T163000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241210T183000 DTSTAMP:20260708T162318 CREATED:20241203T142629Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241203T144006Z UID:10001099-1733848200-1733855400@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net SUMMARY:Hour of Need: The Daring Escape of the Danish Jews During World War II DESCRIPTION:When Nazis moved to round up Danish Jews in a surprise raid in 1943\, families were forced to make life-and-death decisions to save their lives. Overnight\, they became refugees at the mercy of strangers organizing their escape. Hour of Need is a tribute to these strangers – ordinary citizens who defied the Nazi regime – and how their heroic actions saved Danish Jews. \nDeveloped in partnership with Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center\, Hour of Need shares the true story of how the people of an occupied nation risked their lives to evacuate their Jewish countrymen. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPresenter:\nAmanda Friedman\nAssociate Director of Education\nIllinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center \n\nDescription:\nThis event focuses on the heroic actions of Danish citizens who saved Jewish lives during Nazi occupation in 1943. The program is based on the book Hour of Need by Ralph Shayne\, illustrated by Tatiana Goldberg. It highlights how ordinary people defied the Nazi regime\, risking their lives to protect their Jewish neighbors. \n\nFeatures:\n\nQuote from Ronald Leopold\, Executive Director\, The Anne Frank House:\n\n“By saving almost the entire Jewish community under Nazi-occupation\, Denmark serves as an example of how to protect our humanity. This book shows that ‘Never again’ is more than a deep-felt wish\, it is a matter of choice.” \n\nResources will be provided to participants.\n\n\nContact Information:\nLinda Medvin: lmedvin@fau.edu\nEllen Sax: esax@fau.edu\nWebsite: www.fau.edu/pjhr/chhre URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/hour-of-need-the-daring-escape-of-the-danish-jews-during-world-war-ii/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/image001-1.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241208T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241208T200000 DTSTAMP:20260708T162318 CREATED:20241111T180044Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241211T151444Z UID:10001092-1733684400-1733688000@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net SUMMARY:Virtual Open House for 2025 Study Seminars DESCRIPTION:We’re thrilled to invite you to our Open House on December 8th at 7pm ET! This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about our transformative 2025 Study Seminars and see how they could be a great fit for you. \nOur evening will begin promptly at 7:00 pm with an overview and Q&A session on our Poland Personally Study Seminar\, an immersive journey into Holocaust history and Jewish life. At 7:30 pm\, we’ll introduce Marching Down Freedom’s Road (MDFR)\, a powerful exploration of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement\, with visits to key historical sites and engagements with civil rights activists. \nJoin us to explore two unique programs that promise transformative learning: \n\nPoland Personally Study Seminar 7:00-7:30pm\nThis seminar takes participants on a journey through key sites of Holocaust history and Jewish cultural resilience in cities like Warsaw\, Krakow\, and Auschwitz-Birkenau. Designed to foster deep reflection and empathy\, Poland Personally offers students and educators alike a chance to engage with history in powerful and meaningful ways.\nMarching Down Freedom’s Road 7:30-8:00pm\nThis experience delves into the Black-led freedom movement\, beginning in Atlanta and traveling through cities pivotal to the Civil Rights Movement\, including Montgomery\, Selma\, Birmingham\, and Memphis. Alongside historical eyewitnesses and present-day activists\, participants explore the enduring impact of this movement and the importance of its lessons for today.\n\nWhether you’re an educator or a student\, these seminars offer unparalleled firsthand encounters with history and social justice that can spark lifelong learning and inspire change. \nWe encourage you to attend and consider these life-changing journeys. Mark your calendar for December 8th and join us to ask questions\, meet our team\, and see how CWB’s study seminars can become a part of your story. URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/open-house-for-2025-study-seminars/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Email-Promo-2024-11-11T130011.654.png LOCATION:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88467483383 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241208T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241208T183000 DTSTAMP:20260708T162318 CREATED:20241112T205849Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241112T212917Z UID:10001094-1733677200-1733682600@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net SUMMARY:Sunday Salon Series: Violins of Hope: Strings of the Holocaust A Virtual Evening with Avshalom (Avshi) Weinstein DESCRIPTION:The Holocaust Teacher Institute Is Proud to Announce The Leslie and Susan Gonda (Goldschmied) Foundation Holocaust/Jewish Themed Sunday Salon Series \nViolins of Hope: Strings of the Holocaust A Virtual Evening with Avshalom (Avshi) Weinstein\na third generation Israeli violin maker\, trained by his father\, Amnon\, Founder of “Violins of Hope” in Conversation with Dr. Miriam Klein Kassenoff\n\nThe Program Will Feature Violin Selections \n“The violin has formed an important aspect of Jewish culture for centuries\, both as a popular instrument with classical Jewish musicians and as a central factor of social life\, as in the Klezmer tradition. But during the Holocaust\, the violin assumed extraordinary roles within the Jewish community. For some musicians\, the instrument was a liberator; for others\, it was a savior that spared their lives. For many\, the violin provided comfort in mankind’s darkest hour\, and\, in at least one case\, helped avenge murdered family members. Above all\, the violins of the Holocaust represented strength and optimism for the future.” \nGrymes\, James\, A.\, Violins of Hope: Violins of the Holocaust–Instruments of Hope and Liberation in Mankind’s Darkest Hour\, 2014 URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/violins-of-hope-strings-of-the-holocaust-a-virtual-evening-with-avshalom-avshi-weinstein/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Capture-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241205T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241205T173000 DTSTAMP:20260708T162318 CREATED:20241028T201138Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241206T150656Z UID:10001089-1733414400-1733419800@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net SUMMARY:Celebrating 96 Years of Courage: Honoring Holocaust Survivor Howard Chandler DESCRIPTION:Join Classrooms Without Borders in celebrating the 96th birthday of Holocaust survivor Howard Chandler\, whose remarkable story has touched the lives of hundreds of educators and students worldwide.\n \nHoward’s unwavering dedication to Holocaust education\, through his long-standing partnership with CWB\, has transformed classrooms into spaces of deep learning and reflection. His personal journey of survival\, resilience\, and hope has inspired countless individuals to confront the past and build a better future. \nThis special event honors Howard’s incredible legacy and his ongoing work to ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust are never forgotten. Be part of this momentous occasion as we pay tribute to a true pillar of remembrance and education. \nCome prepared to share your own story about how Howard has impacted you\, whether through his teachings\, personal reflections\, or the lasting influence he has had on your approach to education. \nThis special event is not just a celebration of Howard’s life\, but a collective tribute to the legacy he continues to build through each life he touches. \n  URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/celebrating-96-years-of-courage-honoring-holocaust-survivor-howard-chandler/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Email-Promo-100.png LOCATION:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/celebrating-96-years-of-courage-honoring-holocaust-survivor-howard-chandler/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241201T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241201T153000 DTSTAMP:20260708T162318 CREATED:20241118T152050Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241119T115433Z UID:10001095-1733061600-1733067000@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net SUMMARY:The Impact of Animation in Holocaust Remembrance DESCRIPTION:The Ghetto Fighters’ House Invites You to the Upcoming Program: The Impact of Animation in Holocaust Remembrance\nOpening Remarks:  \nDr. Judith S. Goldstein – Founder and Executive Director Emeritus Humanity in Action \nGuest Speakers: \nDr. Slawomir Grunberg – Award Winning Director and Producer \nBreaking the Rules:  Integrating Animation in Holocaust Documentary Film \nRon Ayalon – Motion Graphic Specialist & Yuval Nathan – Video Storyteller \nBehind the Scenes of Creating Animated Films \nTamar Herzberg – Curator\, Yad Mordechai & Yaron Tzur – Director of Digital Content\, Ghetto Fighters’ House \nThe Role of Animation in Holocaust Education in the Museum \n \nThe incorporation of animation in Holocaust remembrance has become a fast-growing phenomenon.  Today’s program will take an overall look at the ways in which animation has become an integral part of documentary films\, as well as educational programs\, that focus on the Holocaust. \nOur first speaker is Dr. Slawomir Grunberg\, who will bring examples from his documentary films and discuss his extensive research on the subject.  Two specialists in the field\, Ron Ayalon and Yuval Nathan\, will give us a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process in making two new animation films made for the Yad Mordechai Museum\, examining why they chose animation as an educational tool in teaching about the Holocaust. Finally\, we will have Tamar Herzberg\, curator at Yad Mordechai\, and Yaron Tzur\, director of digital content at the Ghetto Fighters’ House\, present examples of how animated film is being used in the museum space. \nThis program is in partnership with Yad Mordechai from Holocaust to Revival Museum\, Humanity in Action\, Classrooms Without Borders\, the Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Center\, and the Rabin Chair Forum at George Washington University. URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/the-impact-of-animation-in-holocaust-remembrance/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/135-1-12-post-01.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241126T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241126T153000 DTSTAMP:20260708T162318 CREATED:20240920T161629Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241126T220133Z UID:10000952-1732629600-1732635000@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net SUMMARY:Lessons in Resilience from the Holocaust and Genocide Stories of Resilience: Learning from Survivors of the Holocaust and the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda DESCRIPTION:“Stories of Resilience: Learning from Survivors of the Holocaust and the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda”. \nDr. Brown will focus on testimony excerpts of survivors who describe life after their traumatic experiences of the Holocaust and genocide\, and connect to how those lessons of resilience resonate even today. \nNEW DATE November 26th\, 2024\nSarah Brown\, PhD:\nAmerican Jewish Committee\nDirector on Rwanda/ with work on Holocaust\nAuthor of “Gender and the Genocide in Rwanda: Women as Perpetrators and Rescuers.”\nCo-editor of the Routledge Handbook on Religion\, Mass Atrocity\, and Genocide. \nTali Nates \n\nTali Nates is the founder and director of the Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Centre (JHGC) and Chair of the South African Holocaust & Genocide Foundation (SAHGF). She is a historian who lectures internationally on Holocaust and genocide education\, memory\, reconciliation\, and human rights. Born to a family of Holocaust survivors\, her father and uncle were saved by Oskar Schindler. Tali has been involved in the creation and production of dozens of documentary films\, published many articles and contributed chapters to different books among them God\, Faith & Identity from the Ashes: Reflections of Children and Grandchildren of Holocaust Survivors (2015)\, Remembering The Holocaust in Educational Settings (2018)\, Conceptualizing Mass Violence\, Representations\, Recollections\, and Reinterpretations (2021) and The Routledge Handbook of Memory Activism (2023). \nIn 2021 she was part of the 12-member Expert Group of the Malmö Forum\, serving in an advisory capacity to the Secretariat of the Malmö Forum on their programme on Holocaust remembrance\, education and actions to combat antisemitism. Tali serves on many Advisory and Academic Boards including that of the Contested Histories Initiative\, the Interdisciplinary Academic Journal of Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Center and the Academic Advisory Group of the School of Social and Health Sciences\, Monash University (IIEMSA)\, South Africa. \nIn 2010\, Tali was chosen as one of the top 100 newsworthy and noteworthy women in \nSouth Africa by the Mail & Guardian newspaper and won many awards including the Kia Community Service Award (South Africa\, 2015)\, the Gratias Agit Award (2020\, Czech Republic)\, the Austrian Holocaust Memorial Award (2021) and the Goethe Medal (2022\, Germany). \nSara E. Brown\, Ph.D \n \nSara E. Brown\, Ph.D. is the Regional Director of American Jewish Committee San Diego. She holds the first Ph.D. in comparative genocide studies from the Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Clark University. She was a director of Chhange\, a Holocaust\, human rights\, and genocide education non-profit and managed post-secondary education programming for USC Shoah Foundation. Sara has taught courses on history\, human rights\, \nand mass violence\, conducted genocide-related research in Rwanda\, and served as a project coordinator in refugee camps in Tanzania. Sara is the author of Gender and the Genocide in Rwanda: Women as Perpetrators and Rescuers and the co-editor of the Routledge Handbook on Religion\, Mass Atrocity\, and Genocide. She has consulted for a number of international organizations\, including the United Nations. \nIn the midst of uncertainty and shadows\, our series on resistance stands as a beacon of hope. \nOver the course of our 8-part series\, we aim to shed light on the stories of individuals and communities courageously facing prevailing challenges. Our mission is to create a space where narratives of resilience take center stage\, unveiling the indomitable strength of the human spirit in adversity. \nThank you to our Partner: URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/learning-from-survivors-of-the-holocaust-and-the-1994-genocide-in-rwanda/ LOCATION:ZOOM | Registration required and closes 30 minutes prior to the start of the program ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Email-Promo-88.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241119T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241119T193000 DTSTAMP:20260708T162318 CREATED:20241008T144130Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241021T102951Z UID:10001065-1732039200-1732044600@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net SUMMARY:Understanding the Shifting Dynamics in the Middle East: Exploring Arab Alliances\, Hamas Terror\, and Israel's Political Struggles: A 2 Part Series with CWB Scholar Avi Ben-Hur DESCRIPTION:Understanding the Shifting Dynamics in the Middle East: Exploring Arab Alliances\, Hamas Terror\, and Israel’s Political Struggles: A 2 Part Series with CWB Scholar Avi Ben-Hur\nA suggested donation of $10\, to be collected at the event. \nSession 2: \nIsrael at War: Analyzing the Netanyahu Government’s Policies and their Implications \nThis session will delve into the complexities behind the current Israeli government’s steadfastness in negotiating a peace deal\, despite widespread protests both within Israel and internationally. We will explore the political\, social\, and ideological factors contributing to this intransigence\, examining how shifts in leadership\, public sentiment\, and security concerns play a role. Additionally\, we will analyze the growing discourse around Israel’s status on the global stage—questioning whether it has indeed become a pariah state in the eyes of the international community. By unpacking these critical issues\, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the intricate landscape shaping Israeli politics and its impact on regional stability. \nHYBRID EVENT  \nNew Light Congregation 5915 Beacon Street Pittsburgh\, PA 15217 & VIA ZOOM \nAvi Ben-Hur CWB Scholar in Residence \n \nA Brooklyn native\, Avi Ben-Hur moved to Israel in 1983. From 2003-2008 Avi was Director of the Archaeological Seminars School for Israeli Tour Guides. In 2008 Avi participated in re-writing the curriculum of the National Guiding courses for the Israeli Ministry of Tourism. As a “Scholar in Residence\, Avi has lectured\, taught and facilitated workshops in the US\, Warsaw\, Prague\, Berlin and Greece. From 1996-2000\, Avi taught in Yad Vashem’s International School for Holocaust Studies. As a guide\, Avi has specialized working with organizations focusing on political issues (such as AIPAC & CIJA)\, inter-faith programs and Holocaust studies. At Present\, Avi is an examiner for the Israeli Ministry of Tourism Licensing Boards and is the ongoing scholar in residence of Classrooms Without Borders. \nHYBRID EVENT  \nNew Light Congregation 5915 Beacon Street Pittsburgh\, PA 15217 & VIA ZOOM \n  \n \n \n  \n  \n  \n  URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/understanding-the-shifting-dynamics-in-the-middle-east-exploring-arab-alliances-hamas-terror-and-israels-political-struggles-a-2-part-series-with-cwb-scholar-avi-ben-hur/ LOCATION:New Light Congregation\, 5915 Beacon Street\, Pittsburgh\, PA\, 15217\, United States ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Email-Promo-99.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241117T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241117T183000 DTSTAMP:20260708T162318 CREATED:20241112T210029Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241112T210029Z UID:10001085-1731862800-1731868200@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net SUMMARY:Sunday Salon Series - Choosing Love and Marriage During the Holocaust DESCRIPTION:The Holocaust Teacher Institute\nIs Proud to Announce\nThe Leslie and Susan Gonda (Goldschmied) Foundation\nHolocaust/Jewish Themed Sunday Salon Series\n\nA Virtual Evening with Sheryl Silver Ochayon in Conversation with Dr. Miriam Klein Kassenoff\n“Choosing Love and Marriage During the Holocaust”\n“Even amid the Holocaust’s horrors\, individuals chose love and marriage\, defying all odds.” – Yad Vashem Exhibit \nSheryl Silver Ochayon \n \nSheryl Silver Ochayon holds a law degree from Harvard\, a BA in History from SUNY Binghamton\, and a Certificate in Genocide Studies from Stockton University. She transitioned from a legal career to Holocaust education in 2005\, joining Yad Vashem\, where she guides museum visitors\, develops online courses\, and creates educational videos. As the Program Director for Echoes & Reflections\, she empowers educators to teach the Holocaust effectively and represents Yad Vashem at various seminars and international conferences. URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/sunday-salon-series-choosing-love-and-marriage-during-the-holocaust-2/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Capture.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241117T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241117T153000 DTSTAMP:20260708T162318 CREATED:20241028T194857Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241028T194857Z UID:10001088-1731852000-1731857400@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net SUMMARY:Talking Memory Book Launch Event‘Arbeit Macht Frei’: Representations and Meanings in Art DESCRIPTION:The Ghetto Fighters’ House Invites You to a Special Talking Memory Book Launch Event\n‘Arbeit Macht Frei’: Representations and Meanings in Art\nOpening Remarks: \nYigal Cohen\, CEO\, Ghetto Fighters’ House \nSpeakers: \nProf. Shelley Hornstein \nRemembering through Art \nDr. Batya Brutin \nPreserving the Memory:  Holocaust Icons in Post Holocaust Visual Art \nJoin us for the book launch of Dr. Batya Brutin’s book Arbeit Macht Frei\, the third and final book in her trilogy on Holocaust icons in visual art. Our guest speaker is Prof. Shelley Hornstein\, who will give a lecture on how objects of visual art: sculpture\, photographs\, and paintings\, function to convey history and attempt to serve up narratives about the past\, asking whether art succeeds at transmitting sufficiently into the present the evil and atrocities of the Holocaust.  The ongoing debate is tackled in an exhibition she will discuss entitled The Evidence Room (Venice Architecture Biennale\, 2016) where archival documents from Auschwitz form the basis of plaster reliefs\, drawings\, photographs and sculpture to challenge our concept of the real through representation.  Rather than deaden our gaze\, these objects double as communicative devices that transport past events into the now and reinforce how documents fuel the making of artforms that can effectively convey through reification the power of truth. \nDr. Batya Brutin will then give a lecture describing her journey writing the trilogy.   She will discuss Jewish and non-Jewish artists that used Holocaust icons to manifest their ideas\, thoughts\, beliefs\, messages\, and political opinions on social\, cultural\, and political issues. Ass well\, in her lecture\, Dr. Brutin will explore how these artists utilize in their artworks famous images of the little boy with his hands raised during the Warsaw Ghetto liquidation\, the blue line of serial numbers forcibly tattooed on the prisoners’ forearms in Auschwitz\, and the well-known phrase “Arbeit Macht Frei” (“Work Sets You Free”) on concentration camps gates\, especially the one in Auschwitz The presentation will combine the personal point of view of each artist and the general trends and processes indicating the attitude of the artists toward these icons. \nThis program is in participation with Remember the Women Institute\, Women in the Holocaust International Study Center\, Moreshet Holocaust and Study Center\, Classrooms Without Borders\, Rabin Chair Forum at George Washington University\, and the Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Center. URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/talking-memory-book-launch-eventarbeit-macht-frei-representations-and-meanings-in-art/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/1711-web.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241113T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241113T181500 DTSTAMP:20260708T162318 CREATED:20241025T204905Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241025T204905Z UID:10001087-1731517200-1731521700@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net SUMMARY:Fall 2024 Anti-Hate Series Session 2 DESCRIPTION:Fall 2024 Anti-Hate Series\nCarnegie Mellon University\nOffice of Vice Provost for Diversity\, Equity\, and Inclusion\nChief Diversity Officer \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbleism Keynote\nfeaturing renowned disability scholar and CMU alumnus\, Dr. Amanda Kraus\nNovember 13th | 5:00-6:15pm\nSimmons A \nThe second anti-hate series session from the Office of the Vice Provost for Diversity\, Equity\, and Inclusion & Chief Diversity Officer examines how ableism appears in daily interactions and through systemic barriers–from subtle biases to broader societal challenges. Dr. Amanda Kraus\, of the University of Arizona\, will examine the impact of ableism on individuals and communities to raise awareness and foster understanding. Participants will learn to recognize and challenge ableist attitudes and practices to foster inclusivity and accessibility. The session will also emphasize the importance of allyship and individual advocacy for the rights\, dignity and inclusion of people with disabilities. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\nAmanda Kraus | Associate Professor of Practice\, Educational Policy Studies and Practice\nAssistant Vice President for Campus Life\nExecutive Director for Disability Resources and Chief Accessibility Officer \nOriginally from the suburbs of New York City\, Dr. Amanda Kraus has lived in Tucson\, AZ and worked at the University of Arizona (UA) for over twenty years. Dr.  Kraus currently serves as Assistant Vice President for Campus and Executive Director of UA’s Disability Resource Center. One the largest in the nation\, the Disability Resource Center is an international model of progressive service delivery\, uniquely positioned to approach campus access systemically.  Through strategic outreach\, the goal is to design campus environments and experiences to be usable and welcoming for a diverse range of individuals\, thereby reducing the need for individual accommodations or modifications.  Dr. Kraus is highly involved in collaborative efforts with University personnel to foster the development of a seamlessly accessible campus environment and infuse disability into the campus community.\nAs Associate Professor of Practice in the Center for the Study of Higher Education at the UA\, Dr. Kraus coordinates the M.A. program and instructs courses on student services and disability in higher education.  Borrowing from disability studies\, Dr. Kraus studies disability identity\, disability dynamics in the student veteran community\, and disability-related biases and microaggressions. Through her research and teaching\, she challenges the dominant deficit or tragedy narrative on disability and promotes models and tools to increase access and equity and ultimately reframe concepts of difference in higher education. \nDr. Kraus is President of the Association of Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) and previously chaired its standing committee for diversity. She has had the privilege of delivering keynote addresses and facilitating workshops at institutions such as Singapore Management University\, Duke University\, Wake Forest University\, the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) and was recently invited to join a delegation convened by the US Department of State to engage in dialogue on disability access in education and employment in Beijing\, China and again in Washington\, D.C. \nDr. Kraus completed her B.A. at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh\, PA and earned her M.A. and Ph. D. in Higher Education from the University of Arizona (UA). URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/fall-2024-anti-hate-series-session-2/ LOCATION:Carnegie Mellon University\, 5000 Forbes Avenue\, Pittsburgh\, PA ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Screenshot-2024-10-18-at-11.51.36 AM.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241113T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241113T163000 DTSTAMP:20260708T162318 CREATED:20240722T231031Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241114T124857Z UID:10000994-1731510000-1731515400@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net SUMMARY:Understanding Genocide: History\, Causes\, and Responses with Dr. Michael Berenbaum DESCRIPTION:“Understanding Genocide: History\, Causes\, and Responses” is an in-depth seminar series led by Dr. Michael Berenbaum\, a distinguished scholar in Holocaust and Genocide Studies. This series aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of genocide\, examining its historical origins\, legal definitions\, and instances in the post-Holocaust era. Each session delves into key aspects of genocide\, offering scholarly insights and fostering a deeper comprehension of this critical issue. \n\nDr. Michael Berenbaum \n\n \n\n\nDr. Michael Berenbaum is a writer\, lecturer\, and teacher consulting in the conceptual development of museums and historical films. He is director of the Sigi Ziering Institute: Exploring the Ethical and Religious Implications of the Holocaust at the American Jewish University\, where he is also a Professor of Jewish Studies. \nHe was the Executive Editor of the Second Edition of the Encyclopedia Judaica that reworked\, transformed\, improved\, broadened and deepened\, the now classic 1972 work and consists of 22 volumes\, sixteen million words with 25\,000 individual contributions to Jewish knowledge. For three years\, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation. He was the Director of the United States Holocaust Research Institute at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Hymen Goldman Adjunct Professor of Theology at Georgetown University in Washington\, D.C. From 1988–93 he served as Project Director of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum\, overseeing its creation. He also served as Deputy Director of the President’s Commission on the Holocaust\, where he authored its Report to the President. \nBerenbaum is the author and editor of twenty books\, scores of scholarly articles\, and hundreds of journalistic pieces. His most recent books include: Not Your Father’s Antisemitism\, A Promise to Remember: The Holocaust in the Words and Voices of Its Survivors and After the Passion Has Passed: American Religious Consequences\, a collection of essays on Jews\, Judaism and Christianity\, Religious Tolerance and Pluralism occasioned by the controversy that swirled around Mel Gibson’s film\, The Passion. He was the conceptual developer on the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Educational Center and played a similar function as conceptual developer and chief curator of the Belzec Memorial at the site of the Death Camp. He is currently at work on the Memorial Museum to Macedonian Jewry in Skopje\, the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum\, and the Holocaust and Humanity Center in Cincinnati\, Ohio. \n\nSession 1: October 9th Raphael Lemkin and the Origin of the Word Genocide  \nThis session explores the pioneering work of Raphael Lemkin\, the Polish-Jewish lawyer who coined the term “genocide.” Participants will delve into Lemkin’s efforts to define and conceptualize genocide\, his advocacy for international recognition\, and the historical context that influenced his groundbreaking work. The session will also examine how Lemkin’s definition laid the foundation for contemporary understandings of genocide and its legal implications. \nSession 2: Oct 30 The UN Convention on Genocide  \nIn this session\, participants will analyze the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide\, adopted in 1948. The discussion will focus on the legal framework established by the convention\, its definitions and provisions\, and the challenges associated with its implementation and enforcement. The session will also address the political and diplomatic processes that led to the adoption of the convention and its impact on international law.| \nSession 3: November 13 Post-Holocaust Genocides  \nThis session examines genocides that have occurred since the Holocaust\, including those in Rwanda\, Bosnia\, and Darfur. Participants will study the causes\, characteristics\, and consequences of these atrocities\, exploring the roles of ideology\, political power\, and social dynamics in their occurrence. The session will also discuss the international community’s responses to these genocides\, including humanitarian interventions\, legal prosecutions\, and efforts at prevention and reconciliation. \nBy the end of this series\, participants will have gained a thorough understanding of the concept of genocide\, its historical development\, and the ongoing challenges in addressing and preventing such crimes. URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/understanding-genocide-history-causes-and-responses-with-dr-michael-berenbaum-3/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Email-Promo-71-1.png LOCATION:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/understanding-genocide-history-causes-and-responses-with-dr-michael-berenbaum-3/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241112T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241112T193000 DTSTAMP:20260708T162318 CREATED:20241008T144819Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241021T102701Z UID:10001070-1731434400-1731439800@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net SUMMARY:Understanding the Shifting Dynamics in the Middle East: Exploring Arab Alliances\, Hamas Terror\, and Israel's Political Struggles: A 2 Part Series with CWB Scholar Avi Ben-Hur DESCRIPTION:Understanding the Shifting Dynamics in the Middle East: Exploring Arab Alliances\, Hamas Terror\, and Israel’s Political Struggles: A 2 Part Series with CWB Scholar Avi Ben-Hur\nA suggested donation of $10\, to be collected at the event. \nSession 1: \nCurrent Arab alliances in the Middle East and how Hamas terror is linked to these alliances: \nCurrent Arab alliances in the Middle East reflect a complex web of relationships influenced by political\, economic\, and security interests. Countries like Saudi Arabia\, the United Arab Emirates\, and Egypt have increasingly focused on countering Iranian influence in the region and fostering closer ties with Israel\, particularly through initiatives like the Abraham Accords. \nHowever\, the presence of Hamas\, a designated terrorist organization\, complicates these dynamics. Hamas\, which receives support from Iran and has aligned with certain non-Arab allies\, poses a challenge to Arab states seeking stability and normalization with Israel. The group’s militant actions against Israel are often seen as undermining peace efforts in the region\, prompting some Arab nations to cautiously distance themselves from Hamas while others maintain a level of support\, reflecting the diverse political landscapes and historical grievances within the Arab world. \nHYBRID EVENT  \nNew Light Congregation 5915 Beacon Street Pittsburgh\, PA 15217 & VIA ZOOM \nAvi Ben-Hur CWB Scholar in Residence \n \nA Brooklyn native\, Avi Ben-Hur moved to Israel in 1983. From 2003-2008 Avi was Director of the Archaeological Seminars School for Israeli Tour Guides. In 2008 Avi participated in re-writing the curriculum of the National Guiding courses for the Israeli Ministry of Tourism. As a “Scholar in Residence\, Avi has lectured\, taught and facilitated workshops in the US\, Warsaw\, Prague\, Berlin and Greece. From 1996-2000\, Avi taught in Yad Vashem’s International School for Holocaust Studies. As a guide\, Avi has specialized working with organizations focusing on political issues (such as AIPAC & CIJA)\, inter-faith programs and Holocaust studies. At Present\, Avi is an examiner for the Israeli Ministry of Tourism Licensing Boards and is the ongoing scholar in residence of Classrooms Without Borders. \nSponsored by: URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/understanding-the-shifting-dynamics-in-the-middle-east-exploring-arab-alliances-hamas-terror-and-israels-political-struggles-a-2-part-series-with-cwb-scholar-avi-ben-hur-2/ LOCATION:New Light Congregation\, 5915 Beacon Street\, Pittsburgh\, PA\, 15217\, United States ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Email-Promo-95.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241030T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241030T163000 DTSTAMP:20260708T162318 CREATED:20240722T231016Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241030T233357Z UID:10000993-1730300400-1730305800@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net SUMMARY:Understanding Genocide: History\, Causes\, and Responses with Dr. Michael Berenbaum DESCRIPTION:“Understanding Genocide: History\, Causes\, and Responses” is an in-depth seminar series led by Dr. Michael Berenbaum\, a distinguished scholar in Holocaust and Genocide Studies. This series aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of genocide\, examining its historical origins\, legal definitions\, and instances in the post-Holocaust era. Each session delves into key aspects of genocide\, offering scholarly insights and fostering a deeper comprehension of this critical issue. \n\nDr. Michael Berenbaum \n\n \n\n\nDr. Michael Berenbaum is a writer\, lecturer\, and teacher consulting in the conceptual development of museums and historical films. He is director of the Sigi Ziering Institute: Exploring the Ethical and Religious Implications of the Holocaust at the American Jewish University\, where he is also a Professor of Jewish Studies. \nHe was the Executive Editor of the Second Edition of the Encyclopedia Judaica that reworked\, transformed\, improved\, broadened and deepened\, the now classic 1972 work and consists of 22 volumes\, sixteen million words with 25\,000 individual contributions to Jewish knowledge. For three years\, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation. He was the Director of the United States Holocaust Research Institute at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Hymen Goldman Adjunct Professor of Theology at Georgetown University in Washington\, D.C. From 1988–93 he served as Project Director of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum\, overseeing its creation. He also served as Deputy Director of the President’s Commission on the Holocaust\, where he authored its Report to the President. \nBerenbaum is the author and editor of twenty books\, scores of scholarly articles\, and hundreds of journalistic pieces. His most recent books include: Not Your Father’s Antisemitism\, A Promise to Remember: The Holocaust in the Words and Voices of Its Survivors and After the Passion Has Passed: American Religious Consequences\, a collection of essays on Jews\, Judaism and Christianity\, Religious Tolerance and Pluralism occasioned by the controversy that swirled around Mel Gibson’s film\, The Passion. He was the conceptual developer on the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Educational Center and played a similar function as conceptual developer and chief curator of the Belzec Memorial at the site of the Death Camp. He is currently at work on the Memorial Museum to Macedonian Jewry in Skopje\, the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum\, and the Holocaust and Humanity Center in Cincinnati\, Ohio. \n\nSession 1: October 9th Raphael Lemkin and the Origin of the Word Genocide  \nThis session explores the pioneering work of Raphael Lemkin\, the Polish-Jewish lawyer who coined the term “genocide.” Participants will delve into Lemkin’s efforts to define and conceptualize genocide\, his advocacy for international recognition\, and the historical context that influenced his groundbreaking work. The session will also examine how Lemkin’s definition laid the foundation for contemporary understandings of genocide and its legal implications. \nSession 2: Oct 30 The UN Convention on Genocide  \nIn this session\, participants will analyze the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide\, adopted in 1948. The discussion will focus on the legal framework established by the convention\, its definitions and provisions\, and the challenges associated with its implementation and enforcement. The session will also address the political and diplomatic processes that led to the adoption of the convention and its impact on international law.| \nSession 3: November 13 Post-Holocaust Genocides  \nThis session examines genocides that have occurred since the Holocaust\, including those in Rwanda\, Bosnia\, and Darfur. Participants will study the causes\, characteristics\, and consequences of these atrocities\, exploring the roles of ideology\, political power\, and social dynamics in their occurrence. The session will also discuss the international community’s responses to these genocides\, including humanitarian interventions\, legal prosecutions\, and efforts at prevention and reconciliation. \nBy the end of this series\, participants will have gained a thorough understanding of the concept of genocide\, its historical development\, and the ongoing challenges in addressing and preventing such crimes. URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/understanding-genocide-history-causes-and-responses-with-dr-michael-berenbaum-2/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Email-Promo-71-1.png LOCATION:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/understanding-genocide-history-causes-and-responses-with-dr-michael-berenbaum-2/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241029T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241029T203000 DTSTAMP:20260708T162318 CREATED:20241010T152827Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241010T153141Z UID:10001084-1730228400-1730233800@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net SUMMARY:Stories of Survival: Melissa Hacker on the Legacy of the Kindertransport DESCRIPTION:Join us for an insightful evening with Melissa Hacker as she delves into the legacy of the Kindertransport\, a rescue mission that saved thousands of Jewish children from Nazi persecution. Through personal stories and historical reflections\, Melissa will explore the profound impact of this humanitarian effort and its lasting relevance today. \nAbout Melissa Hacker: \n\nMelissa Hacker\, daughter of a Kindertransport survivor from Vienna\, is the Executive Director of the Kindertransport Association and the first member of the Second Generation to serve as its President. She has spoken internationally on the Kindertransports and consulted on major exhibits\, including Rescuing Children on the Brink of War at the Center for Jewish History. Melissa continues to preserve and share the stories of this pivotal moment in history\, ensuring that the lessons of the Kindertransport endure for future generations. \nDOORS OPEN AT 6:30pm URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/stories-of-survival-melissa-hacker-on-the-legacy-of-the-kindertransport/ LOCATION:Temple Sinai 5505 Forbes Ave\, Pittsburgh\, PA 15217 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Email-Promo-98.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241029T164500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241029T180000 DTSTAMP:20260708T162318 CREATED:20241025T203710Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241025T205006Z UID:10001086-1730220300-1730224800@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net SUMMARY:Fall 2024 Anti-Hate Series Session 1 DESCRIPTION:Fall 2024 Anti-Hate Series\nCarnegie Mellon University\nOffice of Vice Provost for Diversity\, Equity\, and Inclusion\nChief Diversity Officer \n\n\n\n\n\nThe Great Replacement Theory\nfeaturing guest lecturer and esteemed scholar\, Dr. Kathleen Blee\nOctober 29th | 4:45-6:00pm\nSimmons A \nThe first anti-hate series session from the Office of the Vice Provost for Diversity\, Equity\, and Inclusion & Chief Diversity Officer examines the Great Replacement Theory; a harmful and conspiratorial ideology stemming from the nexus of white nationalism\, antisemitism\, racism\, and xenophobia\, which has historically incited global hatred and violence. Esteemed scholar and Pittsburgh community member\, Dr. Kathleen Blee of the University of Pittsburgh\, will explore its origins\, manifestations\, and intersections with other forms of bigotry. The presentation aims to highlight the dangers of this conspiracy theory\, emphasizing the need to confront hateful ignorance and disinformation with education\, while centering compassion\, love\, and a unifying commitment to equity\, inclusion\, and belonging within and across our community. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \nDr. Kathleen Blee\, PhD\nDistinguished Professor\, Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences\nUniversity of Pittsburgh\nMy areas of interest are social movements\, especially racist/anti-Semitic\, and far-right movements in the U.S. and Europe\, racial violence\, and microsociology. I currently have two research projects: with Pete Simi and Matthew DeMichele\, I am collecting data and beginning analysis in a funded prospective interview-based study of white supremacist activists to understand whether and how they separate from racist ideologies and activities over a 5 year period.  I am also working on a project on spatial and cultural precipitators of social interaction\, based on a year-long ethnography of urban bus riding. URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/fall-2024-anti-hate-series-session-1/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Screenshot-2024-10-18-at-11.51.36 AM.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241027T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241027T163000 DTSTAMP:20260708T162318 CREATED:20241006T231955Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241006T231955Z UID:10001073-1730041200-1730046600@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net SUMMARY:Talking Memory Event From Darkness to Freedom: Honoring the 80th Anniversary of the Courageous Tunnel Escape from the Novogrudok Ghetto DESCRIPTION:The Ghetto Fighters’ House Invites You to a Special \nTalking Memory Event\nFrom Darkness to Freedom: Honoring the 80th Anniversary of the Courageous Tunnel Escape from the Novogrudok Ghetto\nOpening Remarks: \nLady Esther Gilbert \nPatron\, The Together Plan  \nGuest Speakers: \nDr. David Silberklang \nWith Limited Information: Jewish Resistance in the Ghettos \nBetty Cohen \nBuilding Upon the Ruins:  The Post-war Lives of the Novogrudok Tunnel Escapees   \nTamara Vershitskaya \nHow We Remember: Virtual Tour of the Jewish Resistance Museum in Novogrudok \nDebra Brunner  \nThe ‘Making History Together’ Project on the Holocaust in Belarus \nCommemoration Ceremony: \nSurvivors Speak about the Legacy  \nMusical Piece – Sevil U. Weinstein\, violinist \nOn September 26\, 1943 about 240 Jews accomplished a daring escape from the Novogrudok (Navardok) labor camp in Belarus (White Russia) via an underground tunnel dug by the inmates over a period of several months. In this program\, we will focus on this little known escape\, which\, according to research carried out by Dr. betty Cohen\, was the greatest prisoner escape of Jews during the Holocaust.  \nWe are honored to have Lady Gilbert give the opening remarks.  Afterwards\, Dr. Silberklang will present the broader picture of Jewish resistance in the ghettos.  Dr. Betty Cohen\, whose mother\, Fania Dunetz Brodsky\, was one of the escapees\, will examine the survivors’ choice to rebuild their lives\, where they did so\, the legacies they left behind\, and the families they created. She will also discuss her newly released book:  Tunnel of Hope:  Escape from the Novogrudok Forced Labor Camp\, with a Forward by Prof. Yehuda Bauer. Tamara Vershitskaya\, founder of the Jewish Resistance Museum in Novogrudok\, will take us on a virtual tour of the exhibition. Our final speaker\, Debra Brunner\, CEO of the Together Plan\, will discuss the organization’s work in Belarus\, including the “Making History Together” project that promotes Holocaust commemoration.  \nThis program is in partnership with The Together Plan\, the Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain\, Jewish Small Communities Network\, Qesher\, the Jewish Tapestry Project\, DIALOG International Charitable Organization\, Jewish Religious Union (Belarus)\, Classrooms Without Borders\, Rabin Chair Forum George Washington University\, and the Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Center. \nPlease note time zones for this program: \n3 PM EST | 7 PM GMT | 8 PM CET | 9 PM Israel | 10 PM Belarus URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/talking-memory-event-from-darkness-to-freedom-honoring-the-80th-anniversary-of-the-courageous-tunnel-escape-from-the-novogrudok-ghetto-2/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/600x800-5-2-27-10-web.1.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241027T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241103T170000 DTSTAMP:20260708T162318 CREATED:20241010T150923Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241010T151044Z UID:10001083-1730016000-1730653200@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net SUMMARY:Für das Kind / For the Child Exhibit at Temple Sinai DESCRIPTION:For the Child – The Story of the Kindertransport\nExhibit on display: October 27 – November 3\, 2024\n  \n \nExplore the heroic stories of the Kindertransport\, a rescue effort that saved 10\,000 Jewish children from Nazi persecution between 1938 and 1940. Through personal belongings like suitcases\, photos\, and cherished mementos\, this exhibit offers a glimpse into the lives of the children who were forced to leave everything behind. Their journeys of survival and resilience inspire reflection on our own responsibilities today. \nDon’t miss this powerful\, intergenerational exhibit that tells the story of hope in the face of unimaginable hardship. \n \n5505 Forbes Ave\, Pittsburgh\, PA 15217 URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/fur-das-kind-for-the-child-exhibit-at-temple-sinai/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Email-Promo-97.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241025T121500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241025T130000 DTSTAMP:20260708T162318 CREATED:20241006T233515Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241006T235147Z UID:10001074-1729858500-1729861200@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net SUMMARY:From the Ghetto to the Forest: Surviving the Holocaust in Belarus DESCRIPTION:From the Ghetto to the Forest: \nSurviving the Holocaust in Belarus\n  \nThis talk is co-sponsored by the Department of History and the Dietrich Dean’s Office. \nEighty-one years ago\, on October 21\, 1943\, the Minsk ghetto was “liquidated” by German forces. They rounded up the remaining Jewish prisoners\, killing many in the surrounding forests or deporting others to concentration camps further west. However\, a group of 13 Jews survived by hiding in the basement of a home in the city\, living to see the end of World War II. Their survival is a testament to the brutal force of the Nazi murder campaigns in and around the ghetto. It also highlights the agency and resilience of Jewish children\, women\, and men\, who\, despite marginalization\, abuse\, and horrific violence\, found ways to survive—whether in hiding or as part of partisan units in the forests and swamps around Minsk and other Belarusian cities and towns. \nIn this lecture\, Professor Anika Walke will discuss how Soviet Jews experienced the Holocaust and how they made sense of their lives in the years that followed. The lecture will take place in the Posner Grand Room 340\, Posner Hall\, on Friday\, October 25th\, from 12:15 to 1:00 PM. This talk is co-sponsored by the Department of History and the Dietrich Dean’s Office. Anika Walke’s current research focuses on the long aftermath of the Nazi genocide in Belarus\, particularly how people remember and live with the repercussions of systematic violence. She has recently taught courses on the Holocaust and Soviet Union history and will join the History Department as the inaugural Askwith Family Professor in fall 2025. \nTHIS IS AN IN PERSON EVENT: Posner Grand Room 340\, Posner Hall \n5000 Forbes Avenue\nPittsburgh\, PA 15213-3890 URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/from-the-ghetto-to-the-forest-surviving-the-holocaust-in-belarus/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/10-25-2024_Anika-Walke-Lecture_8.5x11-2.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241015T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241015T163000 DTSTAMP:20260708T162318 CREATED:20240801T175337Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241021T102230Z UID:10000998-1729004400-1729009800@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net SUMMARY:Post Film Discussion "Telling Nonie" – A Yom Kippur Reflection on Redemption and Forgiveness with Avi Ben-Hur DESCRIPTION:“Telling Nonie” is a poignant documentary that delves deep into themes of repentance\, forgiveness\, and reconciliation—core elements of Yom Kippur. \nTormented by his role in a 1950s Gaza assassination\, Geizi Tsafrir\, an elderly Israeli agent\, seeks redemption. Reflecting on his time with Shin Bet (The Israeli Security Services) and the killing of an Egyptian lieutenant colonel\, he decides to confront his past. He contacts the colonel’s daughter\, Nonie Darwish\, once intent on avenging her father’s death but now a prominent voice against radical Islam and a supporter of Israel. The mysterious email from Tsafrir sets Darwish on an emotional journey into her past\, culminating in a meeting with him in Los Angeles. \nWhy It Resonates: “Telling Nonie” is not just a film but an experience that mirrors the essence of Yom Kippur. It explores intricate emotions\, historical complexities\, and the bumpy path toward mutual understanding and forgiveness. The film’s exploration of guilt\, atonement\, and the courage to seek and offer forgiveness makes it an ideal reflection piece for the Day of Atonement. \nCritical Acclaim: Winner of the Haifa International Film Festival’s Best Israeli Documentary\, this film is celebrated for its deep emotional impact and its honest\, unflinching look at the power of forgiveness. \nJoin Us: This Yom Kippur\, join us for a screening of “Telling Nonie.” Let this powerful documentary inspire you to reflect on your own journey of forgiveness and reconciliation. \nAvi Ben-Hur CWB Scholar in Residence \n \nA Brooklyn native\, Avi Ben-Hur moved to Israel in 1983. From 2003-2008 Avi was Director of the Archaeological Seminars School for Israeli Tour Guides. In 2008 Avi participated in re-writing the curriculum of the National Guiding courses for the Israeli Ministry of Tourism. As a “Scholar in Residence\, Avi has lectured\, taught and facilitated workshops in the US\, Warsaw\, Prague\, Berlin and Greece. From 1996-2000\, Avi taught in Yad Vashem’s International School for Holocaust Studies. As a guide\, Avi has specialized working with organizations focusing on political issues (such as AIPAC & CIJA)\, inter-faith programs and Holocaust studies. At Present\, Avi is an examiner for the Israeli Ministry of Tourism Licensing Boards and is the ongoing scholar in residence of Classrooms Without Borders URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/post-film-discussion-telling-nonie-a-yom-kippur-reflection-on-redemption-and-forgiveness-with-avi-ben-hur/ LOCATION:ZOOM | Registration required and closes 30 minutes prior to the start of the program ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Email-Promo-79.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241010T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241010T173000 DTSTAMP:20260708T162318 CREATED:20240628T102340Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241011T162629Z UID:10000995-1728576000-1728581400@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net SUMMARY:Silent Shadows: A Virtual Commemoration of October 7th with Rabbi Jonty Blackman DESCRIPTION:Join Rabbi Jonty Blackman\, a renowned educator and storyteller with a deep understanding of Jewish history and the Holocaust.  \nFacilitated by Rabbi Blackman\, this virtual event offers a poignant opportunity to honor the lives lost on October 7th\, 2023. Through compelling narratives and insightful reflections\, we will commemorate the victims\, explore themes of resilience\, and contemplate the enduring lessons of this tragic day.   \nRabbi Jonty Blackman \n \nJonty has led many seminars and missions in Poland and Israel and is a gifted educator and a fascinating storyteller. Jonty has a unique way of connecting his teachings to his audience\, such that their experience of learning leaves a deep and enduring impact on their lives. He weaves together Jewish history with philosophy\, culture with archaeology\, and the tragedy of the Holocaust with probing\, source-based theological questions. His intricate knowledge of Jewish history and the Holocaust\, combined with his analytical and sensitive approach to challenging philosophical questions offers students a profound educational experience. URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/silent-shadows-a-virtual-commemoration-of-october-7th-with-rabbi-jonty-blackman/ LOCATION:ZOOM | Registration required and closes 30 minutes prior to the start of the program ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Email-Promo-74-1.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241010T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241010T130000 DTSTAMP:20260708T162318 CREATED:20240924T203647Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241007T002950Z UID:10001005-1728561600-1728565200@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net SUMMARY:Running and Hiding from the Nazis: My Family’s Miraculous Escape from the Holocaust DESCRIPTION:Virtual Lunch & Learn Series: Running and Hiding from the Nazis \nFeatured Speaker: Dr. Miriam Klein-Kassenoff\nIn Conversation with: Barbara Goldstein \nDate and Time: Thursday\, October 10th\, 2024 • 12:00 PM ET\nLocation: Via Zoom \n\nAbout the Event:\nJoin us for a compelling discussion as Miriam shares her family’s extraordinary journey of escape from the Holocaust. Dr. Miriam Klein-Kassenoff\, is a child survivor and esteemed Holocaust educator. \nAbout Dr. Miriam Klein-Kassenoff:\nDr. Klein-Kassenoff\, who fled Kosice\, Slovakia\, in 1941 with her family\, brings invaluable insights from her experiences. As the Education Chairperson at the Miami Beach Holocaust Memorial and the Founding Director of the Teacher Institute on Holocaust Studies at the University of Miami\, she is dedicated to Holocaust education. Her extensive studies at Yad Vashem’s International Center for Holocaust Studies and her role as an Education Consultant for the PBS/WLRN-Miami film\, The Last Witness of Treblinka\, highlight her commitment to preserving and sharing Holocaust narratives. In recognition of her contributions\, she was honored with a dedicated day in her name by the Mayor and Miami Beach Commission in 2022. URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/running-and-hiding-from-the-nazis-my-familys-miraculous-escape-from-the-holocaust/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/unnamed-1.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241009T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241009T163000 DTSTAMP:20260708T162318 CREATED:20240627T153628Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241009T234143Z UID:10000992-1728486000-1728491400@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net SUMMARY:Understanding Genocide: History\, Causes\, and Responses with Dr. Michael Berenbaum DESCRIPTION:“Understanding Genocide: History\, Causes\, and Responses” is an in-depth seminar series led by Dr. Michael Berenbaum\, a distinguished scholar in Holocaust and Genocide Studies. This series aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of genocide\, examining its historical origins\, legal definitions\, and instances in the post-Holocaust era. Each session delves into key aspects of genocide\, offering scholarly insights and fostering a deeper comprehension of this critical issue. \n\nDr. Michael Berenbaum \n\n \n\n\nDr. Michael Berenbaum is a writer\, lecturer\, and teacher consulting in the conceptual development of museums and historical films. He is director of the Sigi Ziering Institute: Exploring the Ethical and Religious Implications of the Holocaust at the American Jewish University\, where he is also a Professor of Jewish Studies. \nHe was the Executive Editor of the Second Edition of the Encyclopedia Judaica that reworked\, transformed\, improved\, broadened and deepened\, the now classic 1972 work and consists of 22 volumes\, sixteen million words with 25\,000 individual contributions to Jewish knowledge. For three years\, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation. He was the Director of the United States Holocaust Research Institute at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Hymen Goldman Adjunct Professor of Theology at Georgetown University in Washington\, D.C. From 1988–93 he served as Project Director of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum\, overseeing its creation. He also served as Deputy Director of the President’s Commission on the Holocaust\, where he authored its Report to the President. \nBerenbaum is the author and editor of twenty books\, scores of scholarly articles\, and hundreds of journalistic pieces. His most recent books include: Not Your Father’s Antisemitism\, A Promise to Remember: The Holocaust in the Words and Voices of Its Survivors and After the Passion Has Passed: American Religious Consequences\, a collection of essays on Jews\, Judaism and Christianity\, Religious Tolerance and Pluralism occasioned by the controversy that swirled around Mel Gibson’s film\, The Passion. He was the conceptual developer on the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Educational Center and played a similar function as conceptual developer and chief curator of the Belzec Memorial at the site of the Death Camp. He is currently at work on the Memorial Museum to Macedonian Jewry in Skopje\, the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum\, and the Holocaust and Humanity Center in Cincinnati\, Ohio. \n\nSession 1: October 9th Raphael Lemkin and the Origin of the Word Genocide  \nThis session explores the pioneering work of Raphael Lemkin\, the Polish-Jewish lawyer who coined the term “genocide.” Participants will delve into Lemkin’s efforts to define and conceptualize genocide\, his advocacy for international recognition\, and the historical context that influenced his groundbreaking work. The session will also examine how Lemkin’s definition laid the foundation for contemporary understandings of genocide and its legal implications. \nSession 2: Oct 30 The UN Convention on Genocide  \nIn this session\, participants will analyze the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide\, adopted in 1948. The discussion will focus on the legal framework established by the convention\, its definitions and provisions\, and the challenges associated with its implementation and enforcement. The session will also address the political and diplomatic processes that led to the adoption of the convention and its impact on international law.| \nSession 3: November 13 Post-Holocaust Genocides  \nThis session examines genocides that have occurred since the Holocaust\, including those in Rwanda\, Bosnia\, and Darfur. Participants will study the causes\, characteristics\, and consequences of these atrocities\, exploring the roles of ideology\, political power\, and social dynamics in their occurrence. The session will also discuss the international community’s responses to these genocides\, including humanitarian interventions\, legal prosecutions\, and efforts at prevention and reconciliation. \nBy the end of this series\, participants will have gained a thorough understanding of the concept of genocide\, its historical development\, and the ongoing challenges in addressing and preventing such crimes. URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/understanding-genocide-history-causes-and-responses-with-dr-michael-berenbaum/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Email-Promo-71-1.png LOCATION:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/understanding-genocide-history-causes-and-responses-with-dr-michael-berenbaum/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241006T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241006T183000 DTSTAMP:20260708T162318 CREATED:20240830T150321Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240830T150321Z UID:10001000-1728234000-1728239400@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net SUMMARY:Sunday Salon Series - The True Story of the MS St. Louis with Dr. Diane Afoumado DESCRIPTION:Dr. Diane F. Afoumado\, Chief of the Holocaust Survivors and Victims Resource Center\, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum will present the St. Louis’ dramatic story through archival documents\, photos and artifacts from the collections of the US Holocaust Memorial Museum\, examining the incident in the larger context. URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/sunday-salon-series-the-true-story-of-the-ms-st-louis-with-dr-diane-afoumado/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Oct-6.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240927T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240927T113000 DTSTAMP:20260708T162318 CREATED:20240905T215209Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240906T150041Z UID:10001001-1727431200-1727436600@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net SUMMARY:RVCC Webinar with the Artists of "Bearing Witness" DESCRIPTION:Five artists whose artwork is featured in Bearing Witness\, an exhibition currently on display at Raritan Valley Community College\, will speak about their works’ inspiration and their artistic process during a webinar\, September 27\, at 10 a.m.\n\nThe online event\, which is free of charge and open to the public\, will feature remarks by artists Maxine Hess of Georgia\, Sandi Goldstein of California\, Jeanne Marklin of Massachusetts\, Phyllis Cullen of Hawaii\, and Alicia Merrett of the United Kingdom.\n \n\nBearing Witness—on display through December 13 in the Morris & Dorothy Hirsch Library of the Holocaust\, Genocide\, and Racism in RVCC’s Evelyn S. Field Library (second floor)—focuses on the dangers of hatred.\n\n\nSchool and community groups are invited to schedule a free\, in-person\, or virtual tour of Bearing Witness\, an exhibition featuring 35 mixed-media quilts and other works of fabric art.\n\n\nThe display is being presented in collaboration with the College’s Institute of Holocaust and Genocide Studies and its Office of Diversity\, Equity & Inclusion. The exhibition has been organized by Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA)\, Inc.\n\n\nHumanity’s shared history includes a violent and shameful component—that of deliberate attempts to eradicate specific populations due to differences in culture\, religion\, ethnicity\, sexual orientation\, gender expression\, and race. These acts are often motivated by those in power\, and collective trauma and tragedy are part of many people’s past and present. These themes are explored in the exhibition\, which features work by artists from the United States\, as well as the United Kingdom\, Israel\, Germany\, Italy\, and Canada.\n\nFor additional information about the exhibition or to schedule a tour\, contact Michelle Edgar\, Program Specialist\, Institute of Holocaust and Genocide Studies\, at michelle.edgar@raritanval.edu. To learn more about the Holocaust Institute\, visit https://www.raritanval.edu/community-resources/holocaust-institute.\n\nRVCC is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg\, NJ. For further information\, visit www.raritanval.edu. URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/rvcc-slates-webinar-with-artists-of-bearing-witness-exhibition/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/unnamed-3.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240925T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240925T153000 DTSTAMP:20260708T162318 CREATED:20240813T194231Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240926T113156Z UID:10000951-1727272800-1727278200@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net SUMMARY:Lessons in Resilience from the Holocaust and Genocide with Tali Nates and Asya Darbinyan DESCRIPTION:Join us on this transformative journey; let this series serve as your source of empowerment\, inspiring our community to find their own light within the encompassing shadows. \nAsya Darbinyan:\nExecutive Director of Chhange\, the Center for Holocaust\, Human Rights & Genocide Education\nDate: September 25\, 2024 \nTali Nates \n\nTali Nates is the founder and director of the Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Centre (JHGC) and Chair of the South African Holocaust & Genocide Foundation (SAHGF). She is a historian who lectures internationally on Holocaust and genocide education\, memory\, reconciliation\, and human rights. Born to a family of Holocaust survivors\, her father and uncle were saved by Oskar Schindler. Tali has been involved in the creation and production of dozens of documentary films\, published many articles and contributed chapters to different books among them God\, Faith & Identity from the Ashes: Reflections of Children and Grandchildren of Holocaust Survivors (2015)\, Remembering The Holocaust in Educational Settings (2018)\, Conceptualizing Mass Violence\, Representations\, Recollections\, and Reinterpretations (2021) and The Routledge Handbook of Memory Activism (2023). \nIn 2021 she was part of the 12-member Expert Group of the Malmö Forum\, serving in an advisory capacity to the Secretariat of the Malmö Forum on their programme on Holocaust remembrance\, education and actions to combat antisemitism. Tali serves on many Advisory and Academic Boards including that of the Contested Histories Initiative\, the Interdisciplinary Academic Journal of Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Center and the Academic Advisory Group of the School of Social and Health Sciences\, Monash University (IIEMSA)\, South Africa. \nIn 2010\, Tali was chosen as one of the top 100 newsworthy and noteworthy women in \nSouth Africa by the Mail & Guardian newspaper and won many awards including the Kia Community Service Award (South Africa\, 2015)\, the Gratias Agit Award (2020\, Czech Republic)\, the Austrian Holocaust Memorial Award (2021) and the Goethe Medal (2022\, Germany). \nDr. Asya Darbinyan  \n \nDr. Asya Darbinyan is the Executive Director of Chhange (Center for Holocaust\, Human Rights & Genocide Education) at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft\, NJ. She earned her Ph.D. in History from the Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Clark University\, Worcester\, MA. Darbinyan’s research and teaching expertise stand at the intersection of genocide\, refugees\, and humanitarian interventions\, with a focus on the agency and actions of refugees in addressing their suffering and plight. Prior to joining Chhange\, Darbinyan worked as a Visiting Professor at the Strassler Center at Clark\, where she taught courses on Genocide and Women\, the Armenian Genocide\, and the History of Genocide. Darbinyan has also served as a Postdoctoral Scholar at the Martin-Springer Institute at Northern Arizona University (NAU)\, and a Fellow in Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Stockton University. She was the Deputy Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute in Yerevan\, Armenia\, prior to pursuing her doctoral degree in the USA. \nThe Remarkable Resilience of the Armenian Genocide Refugees \nThe Armenian genocide—orchestrated and systematically implemented by the Ottoman government against its Armenian subjects under the cover of the First World War—was a disaster that inflicted tremendous suffering and pain upon a people. The genocide took over 1.5 million lives\, triggered huge population movements\, and left hundreds of thousands of Armenians\, as well as Assyrians and Greeks\, without home and hope. In her talk\, Dr. Darbinyan reflects on the successful attempt of refugee-survivors\, including women and children\, to self-organize and help each other during the Armenian Genocide. The tremendous operations of Armenian volunteers to liberate abducted Armenian women and children from Muslim captivity\, the willingness and strength of exhausted and famished children to overcome endless obstacles and even find their way back home\, the efforts of refugees in classrooms and workshops to teach and train children survivors are testimony to the remarkable resilience in a time of catastrophe. The decisions made and the actions taken by those individuals constitute critical examples of agency\, self-help\, and self-organization. \n  \nIn the midst of uncertainty and shadows\, our series on resistance stands as a beacon of hope. \nOver the course of our 8-part series\, we aim to shed light on the stories of individuals and communities courageously facing prevailing challenges. Our mission is to create a space where narratives of resilience take center stage\, unveiling the indomitable strength of the human spirit in adversity. \nThank you to our Partner: \n \nFuture Events in this Series: \n\nOctober 23\, 2024 – Paul Lowe: Capturing the Siege of Sarajevo (Tentative)\nNovember 20\, 2024 – Sarah Brown\, PhD: Women as Perpetrators and Rescuers (Tentative) URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/lessons-in-resilience-from-the-holocaust-and-genocide-with-tali-nates-and-asya-darbinyan/ LOCATION:ZOOM | Registration required and closes 30 minutes prior to the start of the program ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Email-Promo-87.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240924T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240924T173000 DTSTAMP:20260708T162318 CREATED:20240628T101740Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240926T113055Z UID:10000991-1727193600-1727199000@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net SUMMARY:"Jews and Islam: Exploring Shared Histories: a 3-Part Series" with Paul Forgasz DESCRIPTION:Dive into a concise yet comprehensive exploration of the historical ties between Jews and Islam in our 3-part series. From moments of collaboration to periods of tension\, the series sheds light on the interconnected journey of these two influential communities. Gain insights into the impact of their shared history on the present global landscape and uncover lesser-known narratives that have shaped their relationship. Join us as we navigate through the nuanced dynamics that define the historical interactions between Jews and Islam. \nPaul Forgasz \n\n\n\nFor more than a decade\, Paul Forgasz was principal of the secondary (grades 7-12) campus of Mt Scopus College\, a large K-12 Jewish day school in Melbourne\, Australia. He also lectured in Bible and Jewish history at Monash University’s Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation and taught about Jewish education\, as well as school leadership\, in the university’s Faculty of Education. Since 2010\, Paul has also curated and led Jewish study tours to various European destinations under the auspices of the Jewish Museum of Australia. For most of his professional life\, Paul has also been actively involved in Jewish-Christian dialogue and he also works closely with teachers in the Catholic education sector. \n\n1st Session September 10 2024\n2nd Session September 17 2024\n3rd Session September 24 2024\n\nThis is a 3 session course \nWe are offering PA Educators 5 Professional Development hours for attending the entirety of this course. URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/jews-and-islam-exploring-shared-histories-a-3-part-series-with-paul-forgasz/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Email-Promo-73.png LOCATION:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/jews-and-islam-exploring-shared-histories-a-3-part-series-with-paul-forgasz/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240922T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240922T200000 DTSTAMP:20260708T162318 CREATED:20240627T174733Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240919T114953Z UID:10000997-1727028000-1727035200@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net SUMMARY:Resilience Rising: Amplifying Voices of Hope: Opening Reception "Für das Kind / For the Child" DESCRIPTION:REGISTER NOW! \n Opening Event on September 22nd\, 2024\, and stay tuned for more details on this impactful experience. \n\nEvent: Resilience Rising: Amplifying Voices of Hope Opening Reception\nDate: September 22\, 2024\nTime: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm\nLocation: Rodef Shalom Congregation Freehof / Aaron Court 4905 Fifth Ave\, Pittsburgh\, PA 15213\n\nAmple FREE Parking \nThe exhibit will be open to the public at Rodef Shalom Congregation Aaron Court from September 22 to October 1\, 2024.\nEvent Program: \nArrival and Welcome Reception\nGuests are greeted upon arrival and invited to explore the exhibit. \n\nOpening Remarks\nKate Lukazawitz and Ellen Resnek from Classrooms Without Borders.\nEmily Loeb from The Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh.\nHannah Lessing\, General Secretary of the National Fund of the Republic of Austria for Victims of National Socialism since 1995\, and has overseen the Fund for the Restoration of the Jewish Cemeteries in Austria since 2010.\nMilli Segal: Introduction to the exhibit’s significance\, offering insights into the historical context and the stories behind the photographs on display.\nMichelle Ultman\, a second-generation descendant\, will share a personal account and reflections on the legacy of the Kindertransport.\n\nPerformance by Katia and Emili Stahovic\nA musical performance featuring traditional and evocative pieces\, including a violin performance that intertwines historical and contemporary themes. \nClosing Remarks and Acknowledgments\nFinal thoughts will be shared by staff from Classrooms Without Borders and the Holocaust Center\, with expressions of gratitude to guests and participants. \nPost-Event\nGuests are welcome to mingle\, enjoy refreshments\, discuss the program\, and continue viewing the exhibit. URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/resilience-rising-amplifying-voices-of-hope/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Email-Promo-89.png END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR