Center for Judaic, Holocaust, and Peace Studies

* indicates an event that is open to the public.

Friday, July 7, 2023

02:30 PM - 04:30 PM: Teacher Registration - Thunder Hill Hall (228 Stadium Drive)

06:00 PM - 09:00 PM: Shabbat Service with Rabbi Alty - Temple of the High Country (1043 West King Street) *

• We open this year's symposium with a joyous Shabbat celebration at the Temple of the High Country, followed by a Shabbat delicious dinner. Shabbat is the weekly, countercultural Jewish day of rest, reminding us that 24/6 is a much healthier way to live than 24/7. We are all entitled to experience a day of creativity, gratitude, play, meditation, song and fellowship. Join us! [Add to Google Calendar]

Saturday, July 8, 2023

08:45 AM - 09:00 AM: Reflections & Intentions - Reich College of Education (RCOE) Room 227

09:00 AM - 10:30 AM: Lecture: "The Czech Scroll Story: From World War II to the Diaspora" with Lois Roman - RCOE Room 127 *

• A series of miracles allowed a huge hoard of Czech Torah scrolls to survive the devastation of the Shoah and stand as a testament to the communities that perished. The Memorial Scrolls Trust is committed to maintaining the legacy of these scrolls by dispersing 1400 of them around the world on permanent loan from the Trust Collection. To those who were entrusted with the scrolls, they are a symbol of hope as well as sorrow. The hope pushed forward an ongoing mission. We believe these Czech scrolls should be reinstituted in Jewish life as a memorial to the vanished communities that once treasured them. The Memorial Scrolls Trust bears witness to the fulfillment of this hope. Let us teach our children about the world of miracles and let us the scrolls to remind people about what binds them together every day. [Add to Google Calendar]
• This is a hybrid event. To join the webinar via Zoom, click here. The passcode is 000000.

10:45 AM - 12:15 PM: Lecture: "The Holocaust & Children's Literature; What Books to Read & How to Pick Them" with Kathy Kacer - RCOE Room 127 *

• We’ve come a long way in creating literature for young people about the Holocaust. There was a time when The Diary of Anne Frank was the only Holocaust book for young readers that existed. Today, there are dozens who write about this time in history. Nevertheless, there are still many problems inherent in the task of writing about the Holocaust for a young readership. Writing historical fiction about this time may be problematic; the blending of fact and fiction can cause alarm. Writing about atrocities, especially for a younger audience, may traumatize the young reader. The list goes on and on. We will look at Holocaust literature for children and identify the problems inherent in writing this history for a young readership. We will also address the criteria to keep in mind when selecting Holocaust literature for young people. A number of children's and Y.A. books will be highlighted. [Add to Google Calendar]
• This is a hybrid event. To join the webinar via Zoom, click here. The passcode is 000000.

12:15 PM - 01:30 PM: Lunch Break (On Own)

01:30 PM - 03:00 PM: Workshop I: "The Holocaust & Lessons for Today" with Lee Holder - RCOE Room 127

03:15 PM - 05:00 PM: Workshop: "Safety In, Safety Out: Teaching Traumatic Materials in a Trauma-Informed Way" with Amy Hudnall - RCOE Room 227

Sunday, July 9, 2023

09:00 AM - 09:15 AM: Reflections & Intentions - RCOE Room 227

09:15 AM - 10:45 AM: Lecture: "Shanghai Escape & Other Stories: Books about the Holocaust" with Kathy Kacer - RCOE Room 227 *

• In the years leading up to and during the Second World War, the world closed its doors to Jewish refugees trying to escape the atrocities in eastern Europe. Shanghai, China, was one of the only places to allow Jews in. Kathy Kacer has written about these incredible events in her book Shanghai Escape, which tells the story of Lily Lash, one young Jewish girl who, along with her family found refuge in a world far away from her home of Austria. Kathy will talk about the evolution of this book and the events in Shanghai at that time. In addition, she will highlight several other books that focus on rescuers - those brave individuals who were willing to risk their lives to help their Jewish friends and neighbors. In this age of rising antisemitism, it is increasingly important to recognize those who were allies and demonstrated moral courage and good citizenship at this dangerous time in history. [Add to Google Calendar]
• This is a hybrid event. To join the webinar via Zoom, click here. The passcode is 000000.

11:00 AM - 12:45 PM: Lecture: "An Overview of the Holocaust" with John Cox - RCOE Room 227 *

• This session will provide crucial background on the Holocaust, tracing this centuries-old history of antisemitism and describing other relevant developments during the decades preceding the Nazi rise to power in 1933. We will then examine key turning points in the evolution and intensification of Nazi antisemitism; look at the role of various elements of German society and look closely at the turn to mass murder, following the German invasion of Poland in 1939. This session will provide a comprehensive framework with which to understand the evolution of Nazi policy, and role of German and non-German collaborators and bystanders, and point to other areas that require deeper research and education, such as Jewish resistance and resilience. [Add to Google Calendar]
• This is a hybrid event. To join the webinar via Zoom, click here. The passcode is 000000.

12:45 PM - 02:00 PM: Lunch Break (On Own)

02:00 PM - 03:30 PM: Open Forum: Discussions with Kathy Kacer & Lee Holder - RCOE Room 227

06:00 PM - 08:00 PM: Opening Banquet, Dinner & Theater - Grandview Ballroom (By Invitation Only)

Monday, July 10, 2023

09:00 AM - 09:15 AM: Reflections & Intentions - Plemmons Student Union (PSU) Room 201AB

09:15 AM - 10:45 AM: Lecture: "Legacies of the Holocaust" with John Cox - PSU Room 201AB *

• German Nazism was resoundingly defeated—primarily by Soviet, American, and British forces—in April and May of 1945. But the Third Reich had inflicted tremendous damage upon the world, and the story of Nazism and the Holocaust did not end in May ’45. This session will help educators learn and teach about: Jewish refugees after 1945; post-war attempts at justice; the creation of Israel and longer-term, lingering issues of antisemitism, racism and genocide. [Add to Google Calendar]
• This is a hybrid event. To join the webinar via Zoom, click here. The passcode is 000000.

11:00 AM - 12:15 PM: Lecture: "They Fought Back" with Sheryl Ochayon - PSU Room 201AB *

• One of the first questions your students will ask is, "Why didn't the Jews fight back?" After this session, you will be better able to say with confidence, "They did!" We will explore resistance in the ghettos, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and other forms of resistance as portrayed in Who Will Write Our History? We will also explore the brand new "Echoes & Reflections" teaching resources that deal with the subject of resistance. [Add to Google Calendar]
• This is a hybrid event. To join the webinar via Zoom, click here. The passcode is 000000.

12:15 PM - 01:00 PM: Lunch Break (On Own)

01:00 PM - 02:30 PM: Workshop: "What Happened After the Holocaust" with Amy Clark & Lee Holder - PSU Room 201AB

02:45 PM - 04:30 PM: Workshop II: "The Holocaust & Lessons for Today" with Amy Clark & Lee Holder - PSU Room 201AB

07:00 PM - 09:00 PM: Keynote Lecture: "Understandings & Misunderstandings of Contemporary Antisemitism" with Michael Berenbaum - Belk Library Room 114 *

• Rabbi Dr. Michael Berenbaum serves as the director of the Sigi Ziering Institute, exploring the ethical and religious implications of the Holocaust. He holds a professorship in Jewish Studies at American Jewish University. He was the executive editor of the New Encyclopedia Judaica, a second edition of the monumental 1972 work, which now consists of 22 volumes. For three years, he was president and chief executive officer of the Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation. In addition, he served as the first director of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM)’s Research Institute and, from 1988 and 1993, held the position of project director, overseeing the USHMM’s creation. His work in film has won Emmy Awards and Academy Awards. Dr. Berenbaum has authored and edited 20 books, scores of scholarly articles and hundreds of journalistic pieces. [Add to Google Calendar]
• This is a hybrid event. To join the webinar via Zoom, click here. The passcode is 000000.

Tuesday, July 11, 2023

09:00 AM - 09:15 AM: Reflections & Intentions - PSU Room 201AB

09:15 AM - 11:00 AM: Lecture: "Roots of Resistance: A Jewish Uprising in Ukraine" with Anne Parsons - PSU Room 201AB *

• In this interactive session, teachers will explore the history of the town Tuchyn in Ukraine, where the Jewish community rose up against the Nazis in 1942. Teachers will learn about the "Holocaust by Bullets" in Eastern Europe and various forms of resistance and they will experience the digital exhibit "Roots of Resistance," a classroom teaching tool. [Add to Google Calendar]
• This is a hybrid event. To join the webinar via Zoom, click here. The passcode is 000000.

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM: Workshop III: "Holocaust & Lessons for Today" with Amy Clark & Lee Holder - PSU Room 201AB

12:45 PM - 02:15 PM: "To Repair the World" with Tikkun Olam - Gardens (Box Lunch & Transportation Provided)

02:30 PM - 03:45 PM: Workshop: "Incorporating Video Testimony of Survivors Who Called North Carolina Home" with Lee Holder - PSU Room 201AB

03:45 PM - 05:00 PM: Workshop: "Ravished Armenia & the Armenian Genocide" with Amy Hudnall - PSU Room 201AB *

• Leaders will provide an overview of the Armenian Genocide, how it can be related to the Holocaust and introduce the upcoming documentary "Aurora's Sunrise & Ravished Armenia." [Add to Google Calendar]

07:00 PM - 09:00 PM: "Aurora's Sunrise" Film Screening + Q&A with Dale Pollock & Amy Hudnall - Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts (733 Rivers Street) *

• Genocide survivor Aurora Mardiganian becomes a silent movie star. After losing her family, escaping slavery and enduring Hollywood greed, Aurora journeys far to tell the world about the Armenian genocide. [Add to Google Calendar]
• This event is part of the Appalachian Summer Festival. For more information, visit appsummer.org/event/auroras-sunrise.

Wednesday, July 12, 2023

09:00 AM - 09:15 AM: Reflections & Intentions - PSU Room 201AB

09:15 AM - 12:00 PM: Workshop: "The Role of Memorialization When Teaching the Holocaust" with Michael Berkowicz & Bonnie Srolowitz-Berkowicz - PSU Room 201AB

12:00 PM - 01:00 PM: Lunch Break (On Own)

01:00 PM - 02:00 PM: Lecture: "In Our Town Square" with Victoria Milstein - PSU Room 201AB *

• This presentation will explore how erecting a Holocaust memorial to women and children expressed a community’s response to antisemitism, racism and the history of genocide. The artist will discuss how socially engaged art practice through collaboration between public and private partnerships can create sacred spaces to educate and allow for reflection and the renewal of our values. We will discuss the plight of Jewish women and children from the Liepaja Massacre and the photograph that inspired the sculpture while reviewing the educational opportunities that developed as a result. History shows us that acts of hatred emanate from our town squares and not in far off places with few witnesses. Recognizing the timely need to memorialize and teach the Holocaust as eyewitness survivors age, this project allowed our community to become witnesses themselves to the horrors of the Shoah. Please visit our website at womenoftheshoahjp.org. [Add to Google Calendar]
• This is a hybrid event. To join the webinar via Zoom, click here. The passcode is 000000.

02:00 PM - 03:30 PM: Meet Holocaust Survivors Margot Lobree & Lynda Moss - PSU Room 201AB *

• Margot Lobree is a Holocaust survivor who escaped from Germany alone on the Kindertransport. She speaks about her experiences in England where she lived for several years and her experiences in coming to America. Lynda Moss is the daughter of a Holocaust survivor and a member of the North Carolina Council on the Holocaust. Encouraged by Margot, she developed her talk about her family and their escape from Russia and Germany. Together, as friends and co-speakers, they speak or Zoom to and with students and teachers around North Carolina. [Add to Google Calendar]
• This is a hybrid event. To join the webinar via Zoom, click here. The passcode is 000000.

03:45 PM - 04:45 PM: Lecture: "Framing History & Censorship Through Youth Literature" with Margaret Gregor & Jewel Davis - PSU Room 201AB *

• This lecture will explore the impact of book censorship during the Holocaust and today and the vital role that youth literature plays in helping us to understand history, foster empathy and connect us to our past and present. Together we will discuss how youth literature can serve as a powerful medium for engaging young readers with the lessons of the Holocaust and other dark chapters of human history. [Add to Google Calendar]
• This is a hybrid event. To join the webinar via Zoom, click here. The passcode is 000000.

05:00 PM - 06:30 PM: "F.A.R.M. Café: How Fairness Feeds the Soul" - F.A.R.M. Café (617 West King Street) (Dinner Provided)

07:00 PM - 09:00 PM: "I Danced for the Angel of Death: The Dr. Edith Eva Story" Documentary Screening + Q&A with Rabbi Judith Schindler and Judy La Pietra - Belk Library Room 114 *

• In this Emmy award-winning documentary, Dr. Edith Eva Eger recounts her story of survival as a prisoner at the Auschwitz concentration camp, her struggle with survivor's guilt and how her work as a psychologist has helped her grow and heal. The film will be followed by a Q&A with the Director, Rabbi Judith Schindler, and Assistant Director, Judy La Pietra, of the Greenspon Center at Queens University of Charlotte. [Add to Google Calendar]
• This is a hybrid event. To join the webinar via Zoom, click here. The passcode is 000000.

Thursday, July 13, 2023

09:15 AM - 10:30 AM: Lecture: "Word Smugglers: A Story of Resistance in the Warsaw Ghetto" with Amy McDonald - PSU Room 201AB *

• Word Smugglers tells the story of the Oyneg Shabes Archive from the perspectives of Dr. Emanuel Ringelblum, Rachel Auerbach, Israel Lichtenstein, David Graber and Nahum Grzywacz. It is closely based on Professor Samuel Kassow’s monumental work, Who Will Write Our History? In addition, this presentation provides historical context for the Nazi invasion and occupation of Poland, the Warsaw Ghetto, and Jewish cultural, spiritual and armed resistance. It also provides ideas and guidance on incorporating Word Smugglers into middle and high school Social Studies and English/Language Arts curricula. [Add to Google Calendar]
• This is a hybrid event. To join the webinar via Zoom, click here. The passcode is 000000.

10:30 AM - 12:30 PM: Workshop: "Finish Your Memorial & Discuss Its Meaning, Purpose, Goals & Objectives" with Lee Holder, Amy Hudnall, Michael Berkowicz & Bonnie Srolowitz-Berkowicz - PSU Room 201AB

12:30 PM - 01:30 PM: Lunch Break (On Own)

01:30 PM - 02:15 PM: Concluding Presentation with Amy Hudnall & Lee Holder - PSU Room 201AB *

• The concluding Symposium event will include a discussion and presentation on possible next steps for teachers. How do you take what was learned this week back to your classrooms, school systems and communities? What are some other possibilities to further your Holocaust education? [Add to Google Calendar]
• This is a hybrid event. To join the webinar via Zoom, click here. The passcode is 000000.