April 2007

April 3

  • Aristides de Sousa Mendez died in 1954. As the Consul of Portugal to Bordeaux, France, Sousa Mendes allowed the rescue of 30,000 people by providing them with visas. The Consul created a ”line of assembly” with his sons, his secretary and Rabbi Chaim Kruger. The free visa marathon lasted three days and included the Austrian Imperial family, the Habsburg. Sousa Mendes traveled together with the terrified crowd that ran way towards the south and while Salazar was sending officials to stop him, the Consul continued stamping his name in Biarritz and Hendaye, already on the border and even on the bridge. Once caught, Sousa Mendes was removed form office and his name prohibited for decades.

April 5

  • Ben Olander at Förenade Well Kappa AB Företag and Plönningegymnasiet, Halmstad Gymnasieskola, Sweden.
    Swedish folk musician Ben Olander will discuss the Holocaust and present Swedish diplomat, Raoul Wallenberg, as an example of courage and what one person can do to prevent everything that comes between harassment and genocide.

April 12

  • Lecture ”New trends in Raoul Wallenberg Research.” Budapest. Hungary. Commemorative Research Session by the Holocaust Memorial Center and Memorial Collection Public Foundation. Lectures include The Hungarian Relations and Connections of Raoul Wallenberg by János Botos and Colleague of Raoul Wallenberg – The Life of Vilmos Langfelder by Szabolcs Szita. A discussion will follow. 4 pm
  • Lecture ”Wallenberg memorial places.” Budapest, Hungary.
    A lecture with screenings by András Mink about Raoul Wallenberg statues, commemorative tablets and public squares in Hungary- 6 pm. To see the program. Both lectures will take place at OSA Archivum: Arany J. u. 32. – Budapest.

April 15

  • Yom HaShoah Film Marathon. New York. USA. The JCC and the IRWF honor Yom HaShoah 2007 with a special marathon of films remembering the righteous saviors of Jews during the Holocaust. This year the program will focus on resistance and honor these heroes with a unique series of films followed by special guest speakers.
    3:30 pm: ”Poumy.” FILM SCREENING, DISCUSSION WITH THE FILMMAKERS and DVD LAUNCH: Poumy, an acclaimed documentary, recounts the World War II adventure of a young Jewish mother who escaped the Nazis and joined the French Resistance. Andrée ”Poumy” Moreuil, 91-years-old at the time of filming, reflects on how the very act of resisting oppression transcends isolation and fear. Directed by Sam Ball of Citizen Film. Produced by Marian Scheuer Sofaer. Special offer for high school and JHS educators: FREE copy of the film on DVD (a $99 value with discussion and research guides, maps, graphics and more) and free admission for the first 20 rsvp’s to     poumy@citizenfilm.org
    6 pm: ”The Darien Dilemma.” The saving of 1000 Jews from Vienna. Special NY screening with Director Erez Laufer from Israel! For tickets and information, call 646.505.5708 or visit jccmanhattan.org/film. The Jewish Community Center in Manhattan – The Samuel Priest Rose Building – 334 Amsterdam Ave. @ 76th St.

April 16

  • Yom HaShoah Film Marathon. New York. USA.
    3:30 pm: ”Poumy.” A young mother fights in the French resistance.
    7:30 pm: ”Weapons of Spirit.” The story of a unique conspiracy of goodness. Pierre Sauvage’s award-winning documentary, Weapons of the Spirit, tells the story of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon, a French village whose residents saved the lives of 5,000 Jews during the German occupation. German-born Rudy Appel was 16 years old when he found shelter in this Huguenot village in Southeastern France and will join us for this Yom HaShoah program to speak about his years in this extraordinary village. In lieu of an admission fee, Rudy has requested a donation to the Le Chambon Foundation.
    For tickets and information, call 646.505.5708 or visit jccmanhattan.org/film. The Jewish Community Center in Manhattan – The Samuel Priest Rose Building – 334 Amsterdam Ave. @ 76th St.
  • Survivor shares her story with students on Yom Hashoah. New York, USA. Kayla Kaufman, saved by Raoul Wallenberg when she was only a young girl, will share her experiences with students of Yeshiva Har Torah during the school’s commemorations of Yom HaShoah. A candlelight ceremony will take place following the presentation. Yeshiva Har Torah, 250-10 Grand Central Parkway, Queens – 1:30 pm.
  • Luiz Martins de Souza Dantas died in 1954. During twenty years Souza Dantas was in charge of the Brazilian diplomatic mission in France. Moved for what he later called ”a Christian feeling of mercy”, he challenged both dictatorships at the same time. He granted diplomatic visas to enter Brazil to hundreds of people who, from the point of view of the Brazilian immigration policy, were considered undesirable. They were Jews, communists and homosexuals who were running away from the horror of Nazism. With his actions, Souza Dantas saved about 800 people from extermination.
  • Remembering Luiz Martins de Souza Dantas. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Rabbi Darío Bialer will give a lecture about Luiz Martins de Souza Dantas on the anniversary of his death and on the day in which the Holocaust is commemorated around the world. Rabbi Bialer hopes to inspire a critical debate among Jewish and non Jewish students about the Holocaust, as well as elevate the value of life and civil courage above the indifference, violence and corruption of contemporary leaders. ORT Rio de Janeiro – 7:30 pm.
  • An Homage to João Guimarães Rosa. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Brazilian diplomat and writer, whose centennial will be commemorated in 2008 saved the life of hundreds of persecuted people during his appointment at the Consulate of Brazil in Hamburg. Liturgical ceremony conducted by the Rabbis and Cantors. A panel discussion ”While the majority remained in silence, a righteous acted” with Vilma Guimarães Rosa Reeves, daughter of the writer; Rabbi Sergio Margulies and Arnaldo Niskier, member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters will follow. The event will take place at Asociacion Religiosa Israelita (ARI) – 7:30 pm.

April 18

  • Hofstra Hillel dedicates its Yom HaShoah commemoration to Raoul Wallenberg. New York. USA. Kayla Kaufman, saved by Raoul Wallenberg when she was only a young girl, will share her experiences with Hoftra University students. Hofstra Hillel, Student Center 213-A, 200 Hofstra University, Hempstead , NY 11549.

April 19

  • Inauguration of exhibition about Spanish diplomats and the Holocaust. Madrid. Spain. On occasion of the 90º anniversary of the first Synagogue of Madrid, the exhibit ”Visas for Freedom: Spanish diplomats and the Holocaust” will be inaugurated, with the participation of Ana Salomón, Director of Casa Sefarad-Israel. The exhibit was curated by Arancha Gorostola and produced with the support of Casa Sefarad-Israel and of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – 7:00 pm. The opening of the exhibit will followed by the screening of the documentary ”Visas for Freedom” – 8:30 pm. CJM: Balmes, 3 Madrid. Spain.

APRIL 26

  • Tribute to Raoul Wallenberg. New York. USA. Nachas Health and Family Services, 1310 48th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11219 – 11:00 am.