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Entries in Holocaust (3)

Tuesday

01Dec2009

Seneca Valley Teacher Awarded Jewish Foundation Honor

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at 11:16AM

The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous (JFR) has selected Jim Lucot, Seneca Valley Senior High School social studies teacher, as the recipient of the 2009 Robert I. Goldman Award for Excellence in Holocaust Education.

Lucot, who is not Jewish, is one of only two educators worldwide to receive the honor this year.

The committee said they chose Lucot because of his work in the classroom and his commitment to furthering his own knowledge of the Holocaust.

Lucot will receive a $1,000 cash award, which will be presented to him at the foundation's annual dinner held on Dec. 1, at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. The JFR is also covering the cost of Lucot's travel, hotel and expenses for the event.

The JFR honors and supports Righteous Gentiles, non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. The Foundation provides monthly support to more than 1,000 aged and needy Christian rescuers in 24 countries. Through its national education program, the Foundation also preserves the legacy of the Righteous and educates teachers and students about the history of the Holocaust.

Toby Tabachnick |

Light shed on "Light"

Friday, November 13, 2009 at 12:07PM

The magnitude and significance of "Light/The Holocaust and Humanity Project" was illuminated last night at the Pittsburgh premiere of this unconventional ballet.

Prior to the show, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre held a tribute to those individuals instrumental in making this project happen, and to those survivors to whom the performance was dedicated.

Over the course of several weeks, about 21 arts and education events were held in the city of Pittsburgh, intended to encourage a community-wide dialogue about the Holocaust and genocide. This was a massive undertaking, and the PBT, The Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh, the Agency for Jewish Learning, and a host of other players should be congratulated for having the courage and creativity to engineer it.

Only one other city — Austin — has embarked on this project. Other cities across the country would serve themselves well to look to us, and to Austin, as models in proving the arts can educate and inspire, as well as entertain.

Toby Tabachnick |

Indonesian genocide shows parallels to Holocaust

Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at 1:29PM

Dr. Robert Lemelson, the director of "40 Years of Silence: An Indonesian Tragedy," was in town on Monday to speak at a panel discussion at Seton Hill University following a screening of his film. The event was part of the Ethel LeFrak Holocaust Education Conference at Seton Hill, and "Light/The Holocaust and Humanity Project." I had a chance to speak with him by telephone, before he boarded his plane to Pittsburgh.

Lemelson, an anthropologist, has worked in Indonesia every year since 1993. His documentary tells the story of four families affected by the mass-killings in Indonesia that occurred in 1965 and 1966, an event in Indonesia's history that is largely unknown.

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Toby Tabachnick |