July 2012 draft 01 without Talis pic JHGC Newsletter.indd
Transcription
July 2012 draft 01 without Talis pic JHGC Newsletter.indd
Newsletter August 2012 Volume 1 Issue 10 Private Bag X6, Sandringham, 2131 Tel: 011 640 3100 / 011 640 2148 Fax: 011 640 7865 [email protected] www.holocaust.org.za Please join us on facebook – www.facebook.com/JHGCentre � SOUTH AFRICAN HOLOCAUST & GENOCIDE FOUNDATION CENTRES: CAPE TOWN • DURBAN • JOHANNESBURG Dear friends of the Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Centre (JHGC) Since our last newsletter in April 2012 and the commencement of the building project, the construction of phase one of the future permanent home of the JHGC is progressing rapidly. We encourage you to become involved in this exciting project. If you would like to visit the site and partner with us in the creation of an important educational institution for the city and beyond, please contact us. As the process of construction progresses, our dedicated team continues to organise many events, commemorations, educational workshops and other activities, several of which are captured in this issue. (L-R) JHGC Fundraising Chairman, Gerald Leissner and Site Foreman, Gideon Ndlovu, on site. Update from the JHGC construction site! Driving down Jan Smuts Avenue one cannot help but notice the construction of the JHGC, progressing at a rapid pace. The slab has been cast - the basement garage is complete as is the mezzanine level. All scaffolding and decking is in place and the concrete and steel beams are currently being installed for the first floor. You can follow construction updates on our website http://www.holocaust.org.za and facebook pages. http://www.facebook.com/JHGCentre Photographed on site (L-R) Architect Lewis Levin, Tali Nates (Director JHGC) Sipho Mhlongo (Transformation Unit, JPC) and Norman Seligman (CEO, Sydney Jewish Museum) Construction at JHGC site, August 2012 Photograph courtesy of Julian Pokroy In Memoriam With sadness we record the passing of the following Holocaust survivors Reuben Drehspul Sisina Silbermann Exhibitions and Events 18th Commemoration of the Rwandan genocide The JHGC partnered in the 18th Commemoration ceremony, held at Freedom Park,11 April 2012 Front (L-R) Joyce Seroke, Tali Nates, Fana Jiyane, (CEO Freedom Park), HE Vincent Karega (High Commissioner of the Republic of Rwanda in SA) and Mrs Karega World Refugee Day (20 June) was commemorated with a screening of the multi award-winning documentary The Last Survivor directed by Michael Pertnoy (2010). The film follows the lives of four survivors of genocide and mass atrocities – The Holocaust, Rwanda, Darfur and Congo – and presents an intimate look into their experiences, thoughts and triumphs in their struggle to make sense of tragedy by working to educate a new generation. In a JHGC event in partnership with Bet David, Guest speaker, Tina Ghelli, Senior Regional External Relations Officer for UNHCR shared some personal experiences with the audience. (L-R) Argentinean Consul General Mr Carlos Rubio Reyna, Guest speaker Tina Ghelli (UNHCR), Rabbi Robert Jacobs (Bet David) and Julia Rubinstein Photographic exhibition Displaced Persons, an exhibition of photographs of Holocaust refugees by renowned photojournalist, Clemens Kalischer has stimulated much discussion since its arrival in Gauteng. The exhibition has travelled in Johannesburg and Pretoria. To commemorate 70 years since the infamous Vel’ d’Hiv Roundup (Rafle du Vel’ d’Hiv) when more than 13 000 Jewish Parisians were rounded up in July 1942 – the JHGC, the French Institute of South Africa and the Liliesleaf Trust held a screening of La Rafle/The Round Up (2010) directed by Rose Bosch. (L-R) Nicholas Wolpe CEO Liliesleaf, Tali Nates, Charles Courdent, cultural attaché and director of IFAS at the screening of La Rafle, at Liliesleaf. Holocaust Survivors’ Interest Group (HSIG) Monthly meetings of the HSIG continue to be well attended by Holocaust survivors. Recently, they enjoyed talks by Lewis Levin (JHGC architect) and Helen Heldenmuth. Helen Heldenmuth with Holocaust survivors (L-R) Don Krausz, Shlomo Pieprz and Jack Shmukler Margaret Hoffmann, who coordinates the HSIG together with Shoshi Shachar, said after the latest meeting, “What better way to spend a morning than one with Helen Heldenmuth who told hilarious and interesting stories of incidents in her life, all connected to ‘Yiddish Laughter’. The Holocaust Survivors’ group laughed and engaged with her, especially those who speak Yiddish. Those of us who don’t were helped along by her Yiddish accent and universal hand signals. Please Helen, come back for an encore!” Spotlight on Learner Education at the JHGC New on the JHGC team It is with great pleasure that we welcome Charlotte Fischer to our team. Charlotte’s warmth and passion are enjoyed by all who meet her. As Head of Learner Education, Charlotte is tasked with developing and facilitating programmes to meet requests from both primary and high schools on Holocaust, genocide and human rights curricula. Together with JHGC educators, Charlotte has reached hundreds of learners in Gauteng, this term. Charlotte Fischer (R) and Alice Motsepe, Snr Education Specialist, Social Science, Jhb North at a programme for Grade 9 learners at Cosmo City Secondary School Wallenberg Year This year marks 100 years since the birth of Raoul Wallenberg. The government of Hungary have declared Commemorative bookmarks were given to learners 2012 Wallenberg Year. The Hungarian Embassy participating in the exhibition programmes in Pretoria kindly offered the exhibition ‘Raoul Wallenberg – Man Amidst Inhumanity’ for use by the SAHGF Centres. The JHGC education team facilitated a programme around the exhibition in 9 schools in Gauteng. One person can make a difference tells the story of Wallenberg – a story that has inspired the world, reminding us of the importance of personal courage and of taking a stand against racism and indifference. (L- R) Michael Caplan (educator), Charlotte Fischer (JHGC), HE Hungarian Ambassador László at the launch of the Wallenberg exhibition at Redhill School Mandela Day 18 July The JHGC was honoured to participate in Wits University’s ‘94 Minutes of Kindness’ initiative to celebrate Madiba’s 94th birthday. On the day, the JHGC education team facilitated a special programme at the National School of the Arts (NSA). One group of NSA learners in discussion during an activity JHGC Bar/Bat Mitzvah Twinning programme JHGC educator, Arlene Sher facilitated a Bar/Bat Mitzvah Twinning programme with Grade 7 learners at King David, Sandton. The Twinning programme aims to assist Bar/Bat Mitzvah participants to learn about the Holocaust in a personal way, by researching and honouring the life of one child who did not have a chance to reach this joyous milestone, because of the events of the Shoah. Participants researched and prepared a speech on their chosen ‘twin’ and will be presented with a special keepsake certificate on completion of the project. This project adds depth to learning and offers the participants the opportunity to experience the values of kavod (honour), chesed (kindness), and tzedakah (charity). Arlene Sher (back left) and KD educator, Louise Benigson (back right) photographed with one group of learners who participated in the Twinning programme. Visiting scholars The JHGC’s education team shared an insightful morning learning from Kay Andrews, National outreach coordinator, Holocaust Education Development Programme Institute of Education, University of London and Dr Amos Goldberg who teaches Holocaust studies at the Department of Jewish History and Contemporary Jewry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and is a co-editor of the bilingual Journal: Dapim Journal: Studies on the Holocaust. Back row (L-R) Janine Cohen, Thuli Malinga, Dr Amos Goldberg, Charlotte Fischer, Kay Andrews, Arlene Sher, Bonaventure Kageruka, John Biyase and Lauren Segal Seated (L-R) Carolyn Smollan, Cliff Matthews and Barbara Buntman More news March of the Living 2012 (MOTL) 85 people from SA, Australia, US, Canada, Israel, Costa Rica and Colombia participated in the MOTL International group, led by Tali Nates. The group was honoured to include Dutch Holocaust survivor Maude Dahme from the US. Joining the group for four days were Polish, Lithuanian, Hungarian and Dutch students. Johannesburg psychologist, Tracey Farber is currently completing her PhD, the focus of which is the long term impact of trauma on Holocaust survivors. Tracey facilitated group discussion on the impact of the Shoah on the Second Generation as well as reflection and debriefing sessions throughout the trip. Tracey Farber, Tali Nates, Dominic Mahlangu, Deputy Editor of The Times and Ann Harris, (Trustee SAHGF) marching from Auschwitz I to Birkenau during the March of the Living. Dominic described his experience on the MOTL as “Life-changing.” For the first time liberators of the camps were honoured in a moving Holocaust Remembrance Day Ceremony in Auschwitz-Birkenau. International conference at Yad Vashem Educators from 52 countries attended the 8th International Conference on Holocaust Education at Yad Vashem in June. Tali Nates attended the conference together with Richard Freedman (Director, SAHGF) and Mary Kluk (Director, Durban Holocaust Centre). Tali Nates is photographed with (L-R): Dr Robert Bernheim, Executive Director Holocaust and Human Rights Centre of Main; Tom White, Coordinator of Educational Outreach Cohen Centre for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Keene State College, New Hampshire; and Mark Weitzman, Director of Government Affairs at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, New York. SAUPJ 80th Anniversary Conference Speaking at the SAUPJ (South African Union for Progressive Judaism) 80th Anniversary Conference in Johannesburg Tali Nates addressed the topic Seeking justice in Africa? Tali Nates with Chairman of the SAUPJ, Steve Lurie We are dependent on the generosity of caring individuals, foundations and organisations to make the new Centre a reality. We invite you to be a partner in this important endeavor and ask you to consider making a contribution to the JHGC. You may want to honour the memory of the Holocaust or other genocides; you may be committed through educating future generations to ensuring that genocide, xenophobia or other human rights abuses never happen again. Whatever your reason, we would like you to partner with us. For more information on donor and benefactor opportunities please contact [email protected] or call +27116403100 Forthcoming events October/November 2012: To commemorate 70 years since the Lidice massacre, the JHGC in partnership with the Czech Embassy will screen Lidice - a Czech drama film produced by Adam Dvorák (2011), that tells the story of the Nazi atrocity of the massacre at– and destruction of–the Czech village of Lidice. November 2012: Kristallnacht commemoration – details to follow Have you visited our website? Go to the South African Holocaust & Genocide Foundation website www.holocaust.org.za � SOUTH AFRICAN HOLOCAUST & GENOCIDE FOUNDATION CENTRES: CAPE TOWN • DURBAN • JOHANNESBURG
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