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Holocaust Remembrance

»Evening of Holocaust Remembrance

Our annual Evening of Holocaust Remembrance draws some 800 to 1,000 people from throughout the community to an occasion of remembrance and reflection. Each year, survivors, often accompanied by first prize recipients in the Annual Holocaust Art & Writing Contest, light six candles in remembrance of the millions who perished.

Past Holocaust Remembrance Commemorations


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2020

An Evening of Holocaust Remembrance (A Virtual Commemoration) April 21, 2020

This program was a compilation of music and words—and, yes, even dance—from several of our past observances. Survivors were accompanied by students in lighting the six candles of remembrance. The centerpiece of our observance was the program of video, music, and dance created in 2011 by our graduating Holocaust history minors. It testifies to the abiding power of Holocaust memory and, in these dark times, it is a message of hope and humanity. 

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2019

An Evening of Holocaust Remembrance
(May 2, 2019)

An Evening of Holocaust Remembrance with guest speaker Dr. David Crowe, Presidential Fellow, Chapman University, and author of Oskar Schindler: The Untold Account of His Life, Wartime Activities and the True Story Behind the List.

2018

An Evening of Holocaust Remembrance
(April 12, 2018)

An Evening of Holocaust Remembrance with guest speaker Father Patrick Desbois, Founder and president of Yahad-In Unum, author of The Holocaust by Bullets, winner of the 2008 National Jewish Book Award, and In Broad Daylight: The Secret Procedures behind the Holocaust by Bullets, and recipient of the 2017 Lantos Human Rights Prize.

2017

An Evening of Holocaust Remembrance
(April 20, 2017)

An Evening of Holocaust Remembrance in Word, Music, Dance and Film with filmmaker Molly Blank and a screening of her short film Memory Keepers. This event is presented as a special tribute to Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peach Prize Laureate and Chapman University's Distinguished Presidential Fellow (2011-2015).

2016

Artwork by David Labkovski depicting the expulsion of Jews from their homes in a small villageAn Evening of Holocaust Remembrance
(May 3, 2016)

Images of Memory: The Vilna of David Labkovski with Leora Raikin—Artist and Grand-Niece of David Labkovski.

Musical tributes from David Lisker (violinist) and Daniel Alfred Wachs (piano), additional music by Cantor Chayim Frenkel, and reflections from Rev. Dr. Gail Sterns.

2015

An Evening of Holocaust Remembrance
(April 16, 2015)

The 70th Anniversary of Liberation: A Tribute in Words and Music - A Collaborative Program with the Department of theatre and The Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, College of Performing Arts.

2014

black and white photo of a Holocaust survivor showing his tattooAn Evening of Holocaust Remembrance
(April 9, 2014)

Screening of documentary Numbered directed by Uriel Sinai and Dana Doron. Comments following with Uriel Sinai, music by Cantor Chayim Frenkel, and reflections from Rabbi Heidi Cohen and Rev. Dr. Gail Sterns.

2013

An Evening of Holocaust Remembrance
(April 9, 2013)

An Evening of Holocaust Remembrance with guest speaker Greg Dawson, author of Hiding in the Spotlight and special guest appearance by Holocaust Survivor and pianist, Zhanna Arshankskaya Dawson.

2012

An Evening of Holocaust Remembrance
(April 19, 2012)

An Evening of Holocaust Remembrance with special guest, Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Distinguished Presidential Fellow, Chapman University.

2011

The words "Metaphor of Memory: A Witness Through the Arts" written in stylized letters against a black backgroundAn Evening of Holocaust Remembrance
(April 28, 2011)

Metaphors of Memory: A Witness through the Arts, a program of music, dance and documentary film presented by Chapman University Holocaust History Minors, Class of 2011.

2011

An Evening of Holocaust Remembrance
(April 13, 2010)

The Holocaust: Why We Remember with Dr. Michael Berenbaum, Gold/Weinstein Family Visiting Professor of Holocaust History and Jewish Studies, Chapman University and Director, Sigi Ziering Institute, American Jewish University

2009

An Evening of Holocaust Remembrance
(April 20, 2009)

Voices Recovered, Voices Remembered with guest speaker, Maestro James Conlon, Music Director, Los Angeles Opera, Initiator and Director of Recovered Voices(Recovering a Musical Heritage: The Music Suppressed by the Nazis)

2008

An Evening of Holocaust Remembrance
(April 25, 2008)

Excerpts from the documentary “And Crown Thy Good: Varian Fry in Marseille” with words from award-winning documentary filmmaker, Pierre Sauvage

2007

An Evening of Holocaust Remembrance
(April 17, 2007)

“The Unyielding Message of Daniel Pearl” With guest speaker, Professor Judea Pearl, President, The Daniel Pearl Foundation.

2006

An Evening of Holocaust Remembrance
(April 25, 2006)

Tribute in Dance, The Unbroken Spirit, choreographed by Jessica Wanstreet, Major in the Department of Dance Procession and Dedication of Sefer Torah

2005

An Evening of Holocaust Remembrance
(May 5, 2005)

Commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Camps and V-E Day Screening of the documentary “About Face: The Story of the Jewish Refugee Soldiers of WWII”

2004

An Evening of Holocaust Remembrance
(April 15, 2004)

“A Nation of Rescuers: Denmark and the Holocaust” Screening of the documentary “The Danish Solution” with remarks by Gustav Goldberger, son of the Chief Cantor at the Great Synagogue, Copenhagen, Denmark (1934-46) and Senior Litigation Counsel, United States Department of Energy

2003

An Evening of Holocaust Remembrance
(April 29, 2003)

“The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising: Choices of Courage” Commemorating the 60th Anniversary Screening of the documentary “Resistance”

2002

An Evening of Holocaust Remembrance
(April 9, 2002)

“Choices of Courage: The Rescuers of Le Chambon” Screening of the documentary “Weapons of the Spirit” with reflections from writer, producer, and director, Pierre Sauvage

2001

An Evening of Holocaust Remembrance: The Children of Terezin
(April 16, 2001)

A message of remembrance by Ela Stein Weissberger, original cast member of Brundibár Terezin, 1943

2000

Holocaust Remembrance Day
(May 2, 2000)

Screening of the documentary “The Last Days” with an introduction from Holocaust survivor, Bill Basch

Events Coming Up!

Throughout the year, the Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education hosts events, such as Commemoration of Kristallnacht, an Evening of Holocast Remembrance, and a series of lectures.