Dear Holocaust Educators,

 

State Senator Anthony H. Williams and State Representative Brendan Boyle have proposed legislation to mandate the teaching of the Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Violations in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for grades 6 through 12. The bill is currently in both education committees and may move to the floor of both houses after the first of the year. Representatives of the Consortium of Holocaust Educators of Greater Philadelphia have consulted with the legislative teams regarding the wording of the proposed mandate and have emphasized the need to include professional development and curriculum guidelines. If passed, Pennsylvania would be the sixth state to have a legislative mandate, joining California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, and New York.

 

Pennsylvania's House Resolution (1996) promoted education regarding Human Rights Violations, including Acts of Genocide, the Holocaust, Slavery, and the Mass Starvation in Ireland from 1845 to 1850. We will keep you informed of this process in extending these goals to a mandate.

 

Josey G. Fisher, Editor

Holocaust Education Consultant 

     

Sunday, November 4 

3:00 to 6:30 PM (registration 2:30 PM)

Gratz College

7605 Old York Road, Melrose Park, PA

 

Dr. Robert Jay Lifton, best known within the field of Holocaust research for his landmark book, The Nazi Doctors, will present the keynote address on "The Genocidal Mind." Two clusters of break-out sessions follow with ten options for further study.

 

Professional development hours are available for PA and NJ teachers and lawyers.

 

Download full brochure for further details and registration   or contact Mindy Blechman, 215-635-7300, ext. 154.  

 

Transcending Their Boundaries:  

The Children of Terezin

Through November 20

Free Library, 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia  

 

This collection of artwork, diaries, and newspapers of the children of Terezin is on loan from Beit Terezin in Israel. The exhibition is sponsored by the Philadelphia Holocaust Remembrance Foundation. Library hours. 

 

Suggested student readings prepared by the Free Library.

For docent-led tour and teacher's guide, contact Rachel Lithgow, 215-809-2474, ext. 101.

 

     

The Lesson Plan: A Documentary about  

"The Third Wave"

Sunday, October 21,  

9:30 AM to 12:15 PM

Har Zion Temple, 1500 Hagys Ford Road,  

Penn Valley, PA

Co-sponsored by Har Zion and ADL

 

 

Award-winning documentary examining the aftermath of the highly controversial Third Wave project implemented in 1967 by Palo Alto, CA teacher Ron Jones which simulated the indoctrination tools of the Third Reich. Jones and two former students who created the film will be in attendance. RSVP.     

 

 

Philadelphia Film Festival  

 

Portrait of Wally

Saturday, October 20, 12:00 Noon 

Prince Theater

1412 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia

Monday, October 22, 12:30 PM 

Ritz East 

125 South 2nd Street, Philadelphia 

 

Documentary illuminating the 70-year-old legal battle to determine the ownership of Egon Schiele's 1912 portrait of his mistress, taken from its original Jewish owner during the Holocaust. This international dispute between Austrians, Americans and Wally's descendants has become a prototype of the conflicts over art restitution from the Nazi era. 

Further information.     

 

 

Misa's Fugue

Monday, October 22, 12:00 Noon

Ritz Bourse

South 4th and Ranstead Streets  

 

This powerful documentary relates the childhood experience of Frank "Misa" Grunwald, his wartime journey through five concentration camps, and his resilience through his love of art and music. Created by the faculty and students of Fleetwood Area High School, the DVD, with a detailed teacher's guide, is now available at no charge to educators.     

Obtain film for educational setting (shipping charges only);

Educator's Guide.  

 

For group rates for 20+, contact ticketing office, 267-908-4733.  

    

 

Oma and Bella

Tuesday, October 30, 7:00 PM

Ibrahim Theater of the  

International House

3701 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia

 

An intimate glimpse into the world of two friends who live together in Berlin, both survivors of the Holocaust, who stayed in Germany after the war. Through the food they cook together, they remember their childhoods, maintain a bond to each other and answer questions of heritage, memory and identity. Created by Oma's granddaughter Alexa Karolinski, the film will be followed by a Q&A with the director. German and English. Further information.   

 

 

Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival

Gershman Y, 401 South Broad Street, Philadelphia 

 

Joanna

Monday, November 12, 7:30 PM

 

A haunting picture of everyday life in Warsaw under German occupation and a Polish woman's conflict over endangering her own life to save a Jewish child. Contains nudity. Guest speakers Dr. Michael Steinlauf and Polish survivor Alex Redner. Polish and German w/English subtitles. Further information. 

 

 

Free Men

Sunday, November 18, 3:00 PM

 

A young Algerian in Nazi-occupied Paris is coerced into infiltrating the Paris Grand Mosque and its insubordinate imam, suspected of aiding Muslim Resistance agents and North African Jews. Moving from his apolitical stance to a dangerous freedom movement, the film is both a spy thriller and document of religious tension and radical change in the Middle East during the war years. French w/English subtitles.  Further information. 

 

 

Six Million and One

Monday, January 21, 7:30 PM  

 

Director David Fisher delves into the wartime background uncovered in his father's memoir which he and his siblings discover after their father's death. Overwhelmed by details of their father's past, Fisher's siblings try to avoid further investigation while he continues to probe and eventually brings them back into the painful search to reclaim their

family history. Guest speaker Dr. Bea Hollander-Goldfein, Director of Transcending Trauma Project.  Hebrew, German, and English w/English subtitles.  Further information. 

 

 

 

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Online Exhibitions:  

Grade 9+