2008 Woodie Awards
Holocaust survivors share their stories of savior
Kate Giglio
Issue date: 4/8/04 Section: News
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This year, Marist College will host Helen and Kuba Beck as speakers at the 14 Annual Holocaust Remembrance Program.
Yom HaShoah, , the National Remembrance Day for the Holocaust and those who perished in it, is Sunday, Apr. 18.
"What we have done to parallel that is have an event on campus," Dr. Joshua Kotzin, coordinator of the Jewish Studies program at Marist and a key member of the Program's planning committee, said.
The Program will take place on Apr. 20, to coincide with Yom HaShoah. Yom HaShoah is set to coincide with the Warsaw ghetto uprising of 1943. It is not only meant to commemorate the deaths of Holocaust victims, but the heroic ways in which many people responded to the situation.
The theme for this year's program is "Saved by Schindler: The Story of Two Survivors." Married couple Helen and Kuba Beck both survived the Holocaust. Oskar Schindler saved them, though, ironically enough, they did not know each other at the time.
Kotzin said Mr. Beck is planning on doing the majority of the speaking, as Mrs. Beck recently suffered a stroke and communication is laborious for her.
"He'll tell both their stories," he said. "That'll be the centerpiece of the event."
Mr. Beck has also agreed to take some questions from students, Kotzin said.
Kotzin said that a commemorative version of Schindler's List was recently released on DVD, a movie that he said many students have seen either in class or on their own time.
"When I've taught literature and the Holocaust ... Schindler's List comes up repeatedly as a touchstone for students," he said.
Kotzin also said that the experience of the Becks could have a profound impact on people who have seen the movie.
"Having the opportunity to have two of the Jews rescued by Schindler, . . ., could be very powerful to students who have seen the movie and connected with it," he said.
Steve Sansola is a member of the Holocaust Remembrance Program planning committee, which consists of both faculty and students.
Yom HaShoah, , the National Remembrance Day for the Holocaust and those who perished in it, is Sunday, Apr. 18.
"What we have done to parallel that is have an event on campus," Dr. Joshua Kotzin, coordinator of the Jewish Studies program at Marist and a key member of the Program's planning committee, said.
The Program will take place on Apr. 20, to coincide with Yom HaShoah. Yom HaShoah is set to coincide with the Warsaw ghetto uprising of 1943. It is not only meant to commemorate the deaths of Holocaust victims, but the heroic ways in which many people responded to the situation.
The theme for this year's program is "Saved by Schindler: The Story of Two Survivors." Married couple Helen and Kuba Beck both survived the Holocaust. Oskar Schindler saved them, though, ironically enough, they did not know each other at the time.
Kotzin said Mr. Beck is planning on doing the majority of the speaking, as Mrs. Beck recently suffered a stroke and communication is laborious for her.
"He'll tell both their stories," he said. "That'll be the centerpiece of the event."
Mr. Beck has also agreed to take some questions from students, Kotzin said.
Kotzin said that a commemorative version of Schindler's List was recently released on DVD, a movie that he said many students have seen either in class or on their own time.
"When I've taught literature and the Holocaust ... Schindler's List comes up repeatedly as a touchstone for students," he said.
Kotzin also said that the experience of the Becks could have a profound impact on people who have seen the movie.
"Having the opportunity to have two of the Jews rescued by Schindler, . . ., could be very powerful to students who have seen the movie and connected with it," he said.
Steve Sansola is a member of the Holocaust Remembrance Program planning committee, which consists of both faculty and students.