Future Events

Yom HaShoah 2010

The annual commemoration of Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day) will take place Sunday, April 11th at 7:00 p.m. at Sinai Temple, 1100 Dickinson St. Springfield, MA

Community members will present readings from the “Shoah Scroll”, a moving literary work of poetry, prose and prayer chronicling individual histories from the Holocaust. The book was created by the Conservative Jewish movement to ritualize the observance of Holocaust Remembrance Day. They called it “Megillah Shoah” or The Shoah Scroll

The new liturgy represents the first attempt to address future commemorations. The goal was to have one central text, shared by Jews wherever they live, to unite people and make possible the perpetuation of the story of the Holocaust when there are no longer eyewitnesses to tell the story.

The event is co-sponsored by the Hatikvah Holocaust Education Center and the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts with support from the William and Lynn Foggle Holocaust Foundation

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“Karski” A play about the world of Jan Karski and his work in the Polish underground during WWII

When: Sunday April 25, 2010
Time: 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Place: Elms College - Berchmans Hall, Veritas Auditorium

Presented by: Blue Pumpkin Productions, Worcester, MA

Marc P. Smith's newest play, "Karski," tells the riveting story of Polish resistance hero, Jan Karski. Nearly 65 years following the end of World War II, stories of European resistance to the Nazis are just beginning to be told, including this compelling story of Karski, described as the man who tried to stop the Holocaust.

Trained as a diplomat, but imprisoned by the Red army, Karski escaped and joined the Polish underground. He was smuggled inside the Warsaw ghetto twice and inside a concentration camp once. He met with world leaders including President Roosevelt to tell them about the extermination of the Jews and others. He was unable to convince them to take military action against death camps. Years later he received many honors including being named a “righteous Gentile” by the State of Israel.

Co-sponsored by Hatikvah Holocaust Education Center: Elms College: The Kosciuscko Foundation; Mary Dooley Lecture Series and the Center for Polish Culture at Elms. 

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Watermarks

Date: Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: Goldstein Auditorium Jewish Community Center
1160 Dickinson Street
Springfield, MA

Hatikvah Holocaust Education Center and The Women’s Philanthropy Division of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts are co-sponsoring the film “Watermarks”. 

The award winning documentary is the touching true story of the Hakoah champion women’s swim team of Vienna.  Hakoah (“The Strength” in Hebrew) was founded in 1909 in response to an anti-Semitic environment that did not allow Austrian sports clubs to accept Jews.  Determined to prove their adversaries wrong, Hakoah rapidly grew into one of Europe’s most successful athletic clubs.  When the Nazis shut down the club in 1938 the swimmers managed to flee Austria. 

Sixty-five years later, film director, producer and writer Yaron Zilberman met members of the swim team in their homes around the world and arranged a reunion at their old pool in Vienna.  This heartwarming and poignant coming-of-age film celebrates the resilience, friendship, femininity and courage that kept this story alive, reuniting this impressive group of Jewish women. 

Guest speaker: Professor. Catherine Portuges, UMass Professor of Comparative Literature, Director of Interdepartmental Program in Film Studies and Curator for the Massachusetts Multicultural Film Festival. She will introduce the film and answer questions afterwards.

Admission: $5.00 Refreshments will be served.

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"Dr. Seuss Wants You" exhibit - May 1 thru May 31, 2010

Theodore Seuss Geisel, is best known for his children's books written under his pen name "Dr. Seuss", but he was a life-long cartoonist and served as chief political cartoonist for the New York newspaper PM from 1941-1943. During this period in which the Nazi regime reigned - Geisel created more than 400 editorial cartoons.

The unexpected and serious side of Geisel's work provides new insights into an America divided during that time. He focused on the concerns that America needed to address while World War II engulfed the world and demonstrated in simple truth how individuals must become aware, informed and involved in their surroundings to take thoughtful and decisive action.

His work continues to inspire people of all backgrounds and ages to think and care about the fate of humanity. "Dr Seuss Wants You" is a traveling exhibit created by The Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education in Cincinnati, Ohio and is based on the book "Dr. Seuss Goes to War" by historian Richard H. Minear.

View this exhibit in the Adult Lounge at the JCC during the month of May. Watch our website for related programs taking place during that time.