Greater Indianapolis 2020 International Holocaust Remembrance Day Programs
International Holocaust Remembrance Day is a United Nations designated day that falls on January 27, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, to remember the six million Jewish victims and millions of other victims of the Holocaust and to help prevent future genocides. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation. Please see below the various events happening around Indianapolis
Sunday, January 26th
Nazi Anatomy: Restoring the Victims’ Biographies, 10—11:30 am
Laikin Auditorium, Arthur M. Glick JCC, 6701 Hoover Rd
Dr. Sabine Hildebrandt, associate professor at Harvard Medical School, will share her research on anatomical science in National Socialist Germany. Anatomists used the bodies of Nazi victims in education and research, even experimenting on living prisoners. Victims were buried in unmarked graves or “lost” in collections, without names and thus hidden from history. Dr. Hildebrandt will describe how historians and anatomists have brought these ethical transgressions to light and, equally importantly, have started to systematically restore the biographies of the victims, so that they are once again known to the world by name. Dr. Hildebrandt’s presentation is sponsored, in part, by the Dr. William S. Silvers Holocaust, Genocide, and Contemporary Bioethics Lectureship and the IU Center for Bioethics.
Monday, January 27th
IUPUI International Holocaust Remembrance Program,12- 1 pm
Location: IUPUI Campus Center Theater, 420 University Blvd
Dee Schwartz will share her family’s story of survival. The ceremony will also include a memorial candle lighting by community leaders and IUPUI students, faculty, and staff. Music from Brundibar & Vedem, partnership between Indianapolis Opera, the Indianapolis Children’s Choir and local Jewish community organizations will also be presented.
Monday, January 27th
Facing History Teaching Holocaust and Human Behavior, 4 pm (Closed Event)
Location: CJEL, Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis, 6705 Hoover Rd
Educators are invited to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day with this meaningful professional development opportunity. In today’s world, the urgency of sustaining democratic societies that are pluralistic, open, and resilient to violence is more relevant than ever. Studying the Holocaust using Facing History’s approach allows students to wrestle with profound moral questions raised by history about today while fostering their skills in ethical reasoning, critical thinking, empathy, and civic engagement – all of which are critical for sustaining democracy. This workshop, bridging Facing History’s Holocaust and Human Behavior resource with current event content, will enable educators to support their own adult learning and provide strategies that can be used with students. Dinner will be provided and 4 PGPs can be earned.
Monday, January 27th
Nazi Contributions to Anatomy: What do we do with this knowledge?, 7-8:30 pm
Location: IUPUI Campus Center Theater (CE OO2), 420 University Blvd
This presentation will describe how historian and anatomists brought ethical transgressions in medicine and the complicity of anatomists in Nazi Germany to light, as well as to show the work being done to systematically restore the biographies of the victims so they are once again known to the world by name.
The Jewish Faculty and Staff Council seeks to serve the Jewish faculty, staff, and students on the IUPUI campus by engaging with the broader IUPUI community, the Jewish community of Indianapolis, and the broader Indianapolis community.
Tuesday, January 28th
Screening of We Shall Not Die Now,6:30 to 9:30 pm
Location: Laikin auditorium, Arthur M. Glick JCC, 6701 Hoover Rd
75 years after the conclusion of World War II, 18 year old, Ashton Gleckman traveled throughout Europe and the US to produce, direct and film this well made, absorbing film that explores the Holocaust through moving interviews and images. His story is fascinating. Gleckman explores not only the horrific tragedy and the lessons we can learn, but also the reliance of those who rebuilt their lives in spite of experiencing the unimaginable.
Gleckman offers his work as an opportunity to remember and meditate on the lessons of the Holocaust on Holocaust Memorial Day.
Following the film, Ashton Gleckman, who has also scored films, will discuss his experiences. Joining Gleckman will be Frank Grunwald, a Holocaust Survivor who is in the film will take questions.
We Shall Not Die Now won the Audience Choice Award for the 2019 Heartland Film Festival.