Holocaust Remembrance Day “Inter-Generational Community Read” Announced For Stamford

The Bureau of Jewish Education of the United Jewish Federation of Greater Stamford, New Canaan and Darien announces the first annual community read to promote inter-generational discussion of Holocaust related issues leading up to Holocaust Remembrance Day.  A Lucky Child, a memoir by Thomas Buergenthal, a child survivor of Auschwitz who became the American judge on the World Court, is the first book chosen by the committee to spearhead this new initiative.
 
Carl Rosen, a member of the Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) Commemoration Committee suggested the community read to heighten awareness and encourage a dialog.  “Remembrance should not just be an annual event.  With a community read leading up to the Yom Hashoah commemoration, we will engage our community across all ages, and retell a story that will have a lasting impact on the hearts and minds of children and grandparents alike.”  
 
Rhonna Rogol, Committee Chair, explained that, “this particular book was selected because the committee was striving for an excellently written, non-fiction piece that would be appropriate for a vast range of age groups. An added draw was the extent to which Buergenthal's experiences as a child survivor closely parallel those of the speaker for this year’s event, Anita Schorr. Significantly, both Buergenthal and Schorr also emphasize the theme chosen for this year's commemoration: that while it is crucial that we never forget the Shoah, it is also incumbent upon this generation to work to make sure it never happens again by steadfastly standing up for human rights.”
 
The community read is rich with opportunities for people young and old to participate. Parents are encouraged to read the book with their children, which is appropriate for middle school age and up. In addition, there will be informal book discussion groups facilitated by the Bureau of Jewish Education, to allow readers of all ages to gather and discuss issues related to the book. Finally, the committee is encouraging book groups, organizations and schools to choose the book as suggested reading in order to provide another forum for people to share their thoughts and opinions about the historical experiences it presents and the challenges it raises.
 
The Holocaust Remembrance Day Commemoration in Stamford will take place on Thursday April 19th at in Stamford at 7:00 pm. Anita Schorr, a child Holocaust survivor, will be the guest speaker. The community will also join in a candle lighting ceremony to keep the victims' memories alive and commemorate the day through music, art, poetry, the stories of survivors and the recitation of memorial prayers For more information please contact Elise Passy at elise@ujf.org or call 203 321-1373 or visit www.ujf.org.