JUNE 24, 2021
Holocaust Survivor Day
Don't be indifferent
ABOUT HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR DAY
On March 6, 2021, Michael Berenbaum and Jonathan Ornstein published the following op-ed in The Jerusalem Post calling for the creation of a "Holocaust Survivor Day." In their words, "Holocaust survivors deserve a day of joy; a day of celebration. Not a day to share with condemnation of the Nazis, but a day to celebrate their lives they built in response to the Holocaust. Survivors represent the best in all of us, the best of the human spirit. They are our treasure and our light and we must shine that light into every dark corner of our world. We call on the world to join us and celebrate the inaugural Holocaust Survivor Day on June 26th."
Why June 24?
June 26th is Auschwitz survivor Marian Turski’s birthday which falls on Shabbat this year so we are celebrating on Thursday, June 24th. This date was chosen to acknowledge the importance and impact of the noted historian, journalist, and the moral conscience of Poland’s Jewish community, and especially his powerful speech at last year’s ceremony commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Mr. Turski had this to say:
"Auschwitz did not fall from the sky. It began with small forms of persecution of Jews. It happened; it means it can happen anywhere. That is why human rights and democratic constitutions must be defended. The eleventh commandment is important: Don't be indifferent. Do not be indifferent when you see historical lies, do not be indifferent when any minority is discriminated against, do not be indifferent when power violates a social contract."
Join us as and celebrate the lives of the survivors from your own community and the living legacies left by those who are no longer with us.
JOIN HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR DAY
For organizations:
Fill out the registration form below and let us know you're interested in joining the event in June. JCC Krakow will be in touch to answer questions and collaborate with you on comprehensive programming suited to fit the needs of your community.
International Advisory Committee
Meryl Ain
Author, The Takeaway Men: A Novel
Colette Avital
Chairperson, Center Organizations of Holocaust Survivors in Israel
Ellen Bachner Greenberg
Co-founder and President, Descendants of Holocaust Survivors (2G Greater NY)
Smadar Bar-Akiva
Executive Director, JCC Global
Anat Barber
Assistant Director, Capital Gifts and Special Initiatives, UJA Federation of New York
Staci Barber
Co-Chair, JFNA's Holocaust Survivor Initiative
Rabbi Avi Baumol
Rabbinic Representative of the Chief Rabbi of Poland in Krakow
Avi Benlolo
Human Rights Advocate
Michael Berenbaum
Director, Sigi Ziering Institute at the American Jewish University
Herbert Block
Executive Director, American Zionist Movement
Ulrika Citron
Board Member, USC Shoah Foundation
Joel Citron
Vice-Chairman, Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Foundation
Cheryl Fishbein
Chair, Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Phyllis Greenberg Heideman
President, International March of the Living
Rabba Batya Jacobs
Yerushalayim Torah Academy
Avi Jorisch
Author, Entrepreneur
Beth Kean
Executive Director, Holocaust Museum LA
Barbara Kirshenblatt Gimblett
Ronald S. Lauder Chief Curator of the Core Exhibition at POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews
Rabbi David Seth Kirshner
Rabbi of Temple Emanu-El, in NJ
Doron Krakow
President and CEO, JCC Association of North America
Hannah Lessing
Secretary General, General Compensation Fund for Victims of National Socialism
Mark Medin
Executive Vice President, UJA Federation of New York
Jonathan Ornstein
Executive Director, JCC Krakow
Rabbi Michael Paley
Senior Scholar, Joint Distribution Committee
Lord Eric Pickles
United Kingdom Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues
Menachem Rosensaft
General Counsel and Associate Executive Vice President, World Jewish Congress
Eli Rubinstein
Director of Education, International March of the Living
Rabbi Peter J. Rubinstein
Senior VP, Jewish Community
Managing Director, 92Y Bronfman Center
Stacey Saiontz
Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust Trustee
Scott Saunders
Founder & Chairman, March of the Living UK
Mariano Schlimovich
Executive Director, European Council of Jewish Communities
Rabbi Michael Schudrich
Chief Rabbi of Poland
Paula Slier
CEO and Founder, Newshound Media International
Rabbi Josh Spinner
Executive VP and CEO, Ronald S. Lauder Foundation
Dariusz Stola
Professor, Institute of Political Studies in Warsaw, former Director of the POLIN Museum
Elizabeth Szancer
Art Curator
Gideon Taylor
Board President, Claims Conference
Vicki Warner
President, Friends of JCC Krakow
Piotr Wislicki
Chairperson, Association of the Jewish Historical Institute of Poland
Maria Zalewska
Executive Director, Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Foundation