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HOLOCAUST MUSEUM & JANET G. AND HARVEY D. COHEN EDUCATION CENTER www.HMCEC.org / 239.263.9200
Dimensions in testimony and more Susan Suarez President & CEO
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coupled with high-tech image projection, makes it appear as though the survivor is in the room with you. I was fortunate enough to be able to see this in person. If you ever have the chance to do so, I highly recommend it. This is just one of the Foundation’s projects created by using state-of-the-art technology. The program also included a special, curated experience featuring our Southwest Florida Holocaust Survivors. In interviews, they spoke of their involvement with our Museum and the importance to them of continuing to carry out our mission — to teach the lessons of the Holocaust to inspire action against bigotry, hatred and violence. The preservation of survivor memories, testimonies and stories from the Holocaust and other genocides are why the work of Museums like ours and organizations like the USC Shoah Foundation are so important. Every day we lose more of these eyewitnesses to the Holocaust and World War II. We must continue to share the lessons of the Holocaust, so that students and the public will learn from the past and apply those lessons to their lives today.
hank you to all who took part in our annual Triumph fundraiser to benefit Museum Education programs. “Triumph of Memory and Hope for the Future,” the first virtual Triumph, had our largest Zoom audience to date. Considering that, a year ago, the phrase “to Zoom” primarily meant “to go faster,” this was quite an accomplishment for all of us! We are grateful for the support of all this year’s Triumph sponsors. We were so pleased to have Dr. Stephen D. Smith of the USC Shoah Foundation with us. He spoke of the Foundation’s work to preserve the testimonies and legacies of Holocaust survivors. Dr. Smith is also a well-known lecturer on issues relating to the history and collective response to the Holocaust, genocide and crimes against humanity. A highlight of his presentation was a demonstration of the Foundation’s unique “Dimensions in Testimony” series, developed using advanced technology. This amazYom HaShoah ing interactive program We look forward to your allows an audience to ask participation in this questions of the holomonth’s annual comgraphic image of a HoloDr. Stephen D. Smith munity commemoration caust survivor projected of Yom HaShoah. With in front of them. The surCOVID-19 mandates still vivor answers the quesin effect, the ceremony tions in real time, and can will be hosted on Zoom change facial expressions, by the Jewish Federation move, and even appear of Greater Naples. For to take time to ponder more information and to the question. RSVP for the Zoom link, This digital experience please visit HMCEC.org was created by interviewor JewishNaples.org. ing individual survivors in a TV studio, where they were surrounded by many Double your lights and cameras. They donation responded to hundreds of impact Dr. Amra questions asked by an offL a s t m o n t h , s e ve r a l Sabic-El-Rayess camera interviewer about anonymous benefactors their lives during and after the Holocaust. generously issued a “Challenge Grant” The careful editing of these interviews, to benefit our education programs. The
Dimensions in Testimony in Sweden grant will run through June 30, 2021, matching your donations dollar-for-dollar up to a total of $35,000.
Upcoming programs April is Genocide Awareness Month. In recognition of this, we will have a special Zoom program on Thursday, April 22, 2021 at 3 p.m. (EST U.S. and Canada) via Zoom. “Discussion with a Survivor of the Bosnian Genocide” will feature a conversation with Dr. Amra SabicEl-Rayess, a survivor of the Bosnian genocide. She grew up in Bihac, Bosnia and Herzegovina. After surviving ethnic cleansing and more than 1,100 days under the Serbs’ militar y siege,
Sabic-El-Rayess emigrated to the United States in 1996. By December 1999, she earned a BA in Economics from Brown University. Later, she obtained two master’s degrees and a doctorate from Columbia University. She is co-author, with Laura Sullivan, of “The Cat I Never Named: A True Story of Love, War, and Survival.” There is no charge to attend, but reservations will be required to receive the Zoom link. Email Info@HMCEC.org for more information. We also hope to present a Zoom program about the children’s book, “Hana’s Suitcase,” with a very special guest joining us. More information will be available shortly on our website at HMCEC.org.
Thank You for making “Triumph of Memories and Hope for the Future” A Great Success! Our special thanks to Dr. Stephen D. Smith, Executive Director of the USC Shoah Foundation, for his exceptional presentation; to our Holocaust Survivors for participating in the "Curated Experience" program of memories and hope; to everyone who “Zoomed” in to join us, and to our Triumph Sponsors (as of 3/17/21) below:
Remembrance Sponsors: Shelley and Steven Einhorn, Maureen and Arnold Lerner, Estelle and Stuart Price
Testimony Sponsors: Lorelei Meeker and Geoff Grodner, Fran and Rob Nossen
Hope Sponsors: Gracia Kuller, Michele and Rich Yovanovich
Inspire Sponsors: Felicia and Ken Anchor, Silvie and Herb Berkeley, Patti and Pete Bloom, Daniel Mann, Diane and Ron McGinty, Pam and Bill Ross, Sandy and Fred Roth
Patron Sponsors: Barbara and Hymie Akst, Nancy and Constantine Barbounis, Goldie and Lou Bertone, Aimee and Michael
naples senior center...continued from page 18 have a person to talk with during this completely tied up that not everyone can challenging time. get through. Of course, there are bumps in the At some point, I am sure this great road. Although we have added three need will diminish, but until then, we telephone lines and brought in temare proud to be part of the team that porary help to supplement staff and will help get us back to some semblance volunteers, many times, the lines are so of normalcy!
Clarke, Suzanne and Norman Cohn, Alicia and Michael Feldman, Shelli A. Halper, Susan and Nathaniel Ritter, Linda and Russ Southworth, Phyllis and Steve Strome, Nancy G. White, Barbara Winthrop
Thank you to our 2021 Triumph Event Committee: Rosalee Bogo, Maureen Lerner, Diane McGinty, Estelle Price, Nancy G. White
975 Imperial Golf Course Blvd.,
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