Commemorative Event for Holocaust Remembrance Day

(Yom HaShoah) on April 13-14.

Please join us, the BIC Holocaust Education Planning Group for the Yom HaShoah events:

Monday April 13th — a commemorative evening  (Theme:  Resistance and Reflection):

  •  Doors opening at 5:00 pm –exhibit viewing (Yad Vashem’s “Art in the Holocaust” and “The Anguish of Liberation as Reflected in Art”).
  • Candle lighting at 5:45 pm, followed by songs (BIC Choir!) of resistance and poems of reflection.
  • Conversation with Abe Jakob at 6:30PM.  We are privileged to have Abe as our guest.  He is a Holocaust survivor and will to recount his story and chat with us over Zoom.  Thanks to the Claims Conference for this opportunity.
  • Refreshments and further viewing of the exhibits until 8:30PM.

Tuesday April 14th —  Film screening of HIDDEN – The Kati Preston Story, a Holocaust docudrama to be given in-person by the producer and editor of the film, Jody Glover.  

  •  Doors opening at 6:00 pm – Exhibit Viewing.
  • Introduction and Film Presentation at 6:30PM

Please RSVP Ralph to let us know you can make it on the evening of April 13 and/or April 14th.

 

More about “HIDDEN – The Kati Preston Story”

(by Jody Glover)

Jody Glover is the producer and editor of the Holocaust docudrama called HIDDEN – The Kati Preston Story and lives in Cobourg!  The director is Daniel Matmor and he lives in Toronto.  They began creating this film about Daniel’s mother back in 2019 and are now finally screening it at various film festivals. They recently won Best Documentary Feature at the Canadian International Film Festival, which Christine attended! The film is based on Kati’s award-winning graphic novel called HIDDEN: A True Story of the Holocaust. Kati is now 86 years old and lives in New Hampshire.
 
The goal is to get this film into schools where kids can learn about the Holocaust directly from someone who has lived through it. Kati’s firsthand account is so important because it changes “history” into someone’s life. She tells her story from the perspective of her 5-yr old self, reliving all the moments that impacted her life so dearly. The film and her book also come with complimentary curricula written by Tom White – an expert in Holocaust and genocide studies. You can find them here: https://www.hiddenkatiprestonstory.com/education/holocaust-education.php
 
Here is the trailer to the film: https://vimeo.com/1074080088?share=copy#t=0

Holocaust Education Planning Group –

Event Notices

Trent U Max Eisen Lecture in Holocaust Studies – Jan. 20.  

For more details and to register (free):  Trent U link 

BIC Field Trip to the Toronto Holocaust Museum Field – Sunday, January 25

The Holocaust Education Planning Group is offering shared transport to the THM on January 25th to attend the “Proof of Life” event, a commemorative event for the International Holocaust Remembrance Day.  Click THM event.  Please contact Ralph if you have questions and/or are wishing to attend the THM event on January 25th.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day – Tuesday, Jan. 27

The International Holocaust Remembrance Day is a globally recognized day comemorating the Holocaust and the millions of victims that experienced the genocidal brutality of antsemitism.  January 27th, 1945 is the day the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp was liberated.  To learn more about IHRD and antisemitism, here are some links:  ENRS link; IHRA working definition of antisemitismGov’t of Canada’s Handbook on the IHRA definition.  In commemoration of IHRD, the Toronto Holocaust Museum has a number of events.  Click link.  

BIC Holocaust Education Planning Group – Events in the Planning

During the upcoming months in preparation for Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), April 13-14, we begin a journey of learning that is based on listening to voices of the past, present and future.  Screening of films and documentaries are going to be a part of that:  “The Listener“, the story of Dori Laub and his incredible work; “Remnants“, the moving solo play by Henry Greenspan; “White Bird: A Wonder Story“,  a gripping story for the young and old.  Each of these provide an opportunity for signficant discussion and learning about the Holocaust and its continued impact today.

Trent University’s Max Eisen Lecture

in Holocaust Studies

The Max Eisen Lecture organizing committee warmly invites Beth Israel Congregation and friends to Flights of Spirit, the 2026 Max Eisen Lecture in Holocaust Studies, Tuesday, January 20th from 6 –7:30 pm at Trent University. The year organizers welcome Holocaust survivor and author Elly Gotz in conversation with Holocaust scholars Tomaz Jardim and Doris Bergen. This important talk continues the legacy of educating the public about the Holocaust and upholding human rights. Registration will open soon and is required to attend. Learn more at Trent University: Eisen Lectures.

Holocaust Education Exhibits,

Friday, November 14th

In recognition of Holocaust Education Week there will be an assortment of exhibits on display at Beth Israel Synagogue from 4 -8 p.m. (before and after the Oneg Shabbat service) .  The theme of the exhibits is: “Resistance and resilience: artifacts, stories and memorials about the Holocaust”. Included will be a display in recognition of Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat who provided means of sanctuary and safety for many Jews, an exhibit from Yad Vashem: “Heroism and Resistance: Rescue by Jews During the Holocaust,” Holocaust survivor memoirs from the Azrieli Foundation, and more. Please join us!

Holocaust Education Week in November 3-9

In support of Holocaust Education, and the anniversary of Kristallnacht (The Night of Broken Glass), and pogroms that occurred throughout Germany in 1938, November 9th-10th, the Beth Israel Holocaust Education Committee invites and encourages each of us to attend these learning opportunities:

If you would like to attend any of these events with others from the Beth Israel community, please email Ralph, BIC Holocaust Education Chair and we will do our best to coordinate.

Beth Israel Holocaust Education Field Trip to Margaret’s Legacy, Oct 20th

Join the Beth Israel Holocaust Education Committee for a trip to Margaret’s Legacy, the Holocaust Learning and Jewish Advocacy Centre based at the Hamilton Jewish Federation (which has been very supportive in our Holocaust Education efforts). This field trip will give us a chance to explore further those learning opportunities through a tour and discussion with members there. For more details or to sign up, email Ralph, BIC Holocaust Education Chair.

Holocaust Education Committee Field Trip

May 7th to the Toronto Holocaust Museum to attend a presentation entitled:  “Reflecting Together:  Interfaith Families and the Holocaust”.   The presenter is Rabbi Denise Handlarski a Trent University education professor and long time friend of Beth Israel.  More details about this can be found at this link.   The presentation is from 7PM-9PM.   

For those interested in possibly car pooling and taking some extra time to visit the THM on May 7th, please contact Ralph.

Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah)

On behalf of the Beth Israel Holocaust Education Committee:

Yom HaShoah V’Hagvura (Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day) occurs every year on the Hebrew date of 27 Nisan.  It is observed in Israel as its Holocaust memorial day.  This year marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camps.   The theme this year at Beth Israel is resistance and resilience as expressed through art. 

Please join us on Wednesday, April 23rd from 5 – 8:30 p.m. at Beth Israel Synagogue. 

At 5:00PM the doors open for attendees to peruse a Yad Vashem exhibit entitled “The Anguish of Liberation in Art”.   Other related resource materials will be presented as well.

At 5:30 PM, please join us for a commemorative candle lighting. 

At 6:15 PM, please join us for a screening of Hilary Helstein’s documentary, “As Seen Through These Eyes” (trailer link here) .  It threads together incredible stories of defiance and resistance to Nazi brutality through expressions of art.  A cautionary note that some graphic images are presented.

For more information email Ralph.   Click here to RSVP.

Help Us Make a Minyan for Yom HaShoah

Please join the Holocaust Education Committee for a shared observance of Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) on Wednesday, April 23.  The program begins at 5:00PM with time to view an HE Exhibit and resource materials followed by a 5:30PM commemorative candle lighting (minyan+), and at 6:00PM-7:30PM a presentation.  Mark your calendars please. More details to follow.  If you have questions please contact Ralph B. at shoaheducation@jccpeterborough.com.
 

Some Holocaust Education Learning Resources

Elie Wiesel’s ‘Night’ is available for free as an audiobook:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEKtHbS0YJ4 (the full version);  separated by chapters:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_4Q1RYoCEA (Chapter 1; others listed there)