–Yahad - In Unum News

No. 4March 2010


Presentation at Yad Vashem

At the invitation of Yad Vashem, Father Desbois traveled to Jerusalem this month to deliver a lecture to Israeli historical researchers on the Holocaust by Bullets, in particular the “in broad daylight” nature of most of the killings. During his visit, Father Desbois and Yahad’s Executive Director, Marco Gonzalez, met with Yad Vashem Chairman, Avner Shalev, and Bella Gutterman, newly-named Director of the International Institute for Holocaust Research. Among the subjects discussed were additional areas for collaborative work between Yahad and Yad Vashem, similar to the valued relationship Yahad enjoys with the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington and the Shoah Memorial in Paris.
more on Yad Vashem

Safra Foundation provides new support for Yahad – In Unum

The Edmond J. Safra Foundation has signed a new agreement with Yahad – In Unum to provide additional support over the next three years in support of Yahad’s research efforts. The Foundation, established by the late Edmond J. Safra, and carried on under the stewardship of his wife Lily, is one of the world’s leading philanthropic organizations providing assistance to individuals and organizations in the areas of Education; Science and Medicine; Religion; and Humanitarian Assistance, Culture, and Social Welfare. The Foundation has been an important supporter of Yahad’s work since its founding. “We are grateful for the Safra Foundation’s steadfast commitment toward our work,” said Father Desbois. “Their continued support and that of other foundations, individuals and government organizations from around the world is absolutely critical in the race against time to identify the remaining mass grave sites in Eastern Europe.”
more about the Safra Foundation

Educating younger generation

One of Yahad – In Unum’s essential missions is contributing to the education and understanding of young people about the Holocaust to ensure that this history — and its lessons — is never forgotten. Throughout the year, Yahad team members visit schools, memorials and other sites making presentations and guiding tours of exhibitions about Yahad’s work. Last year, 23 such presentations were made to more than 1,800 students. A recent example was a conference and guided visit of “The Holocaust by Bullets” exhibition in Brussels given this month to two classes of high school students by Yahad team members.
Brussels exhibition

Artists and the Holocaust at April’s “Thursdays at CERRESE”

The fourth “Thursdays at CERRESE” is dedicated to artists’ perspectives on the Holocaust, continuing the treatment of contemporary views and questions about the Holocaust as viewed from multiple disciplines, including history, sociology, political science, geopolitics, art, literature and psychoanalysis. This month, Yahad welcomes lyric singer Hélène Delavault and composer Christophe Maudot, who participated in the production of “Verfügbar in Hell: an operetta-revue at Ravensbrück”, written by Germaine Tillion from a Nazi concentration camp, adapted and set to music.
Thursday, April 22 at 6:30 p.m.
more information

Mass grave protection initiative advances

Father Desbois and Yahad Vice President, Richard Prasquier, meeting with Petra Pau, Vice President of the German Bundestag.

Efforts to protect the mass graves of the Holocaust in Eastern Europe are continuing. In January, Yahad – In Unum joined the American Jewish Committee and other leading Holocaust remembrance organizations in calling for the graves to be protected and repeated the message last month in meetings with German Foreign Office officials. In a response to members of the German parliament that had urged support for the initiative, the Foreign Office said it “supports the work of Yahad – In Unum in documenting the locations of the crimes and securing statements of eyewitnesses so that they are available for generations to come and for the critical research of historians.”

Vinnista, Ukraine occupation focus of March CERRESE lecture

CUkrainian historian, Valeri Vassiliev, presented “Vinnitsa during the German occupation, 1941-1944,” for the March edition of the CERRESE lecture series. The Masters program, “Ecrire l’histoire de la Shoah,” (writing the history of the Holocaust) is sponsored by Yahad – In Unum in cooperation with the Sorbonne University. Information on the series and upcoming lectures is available on the web site
more information

Upcoming public events

• Beer Sheeva, Israel: Father Desbois will receive the Ladislaus Laszt Ecumenical and Social Concern Award at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev on April 12
  more information
• New York: “The Holocaust by Bullets,” a film by Romain Icard that follows the work of Yahad – In Unum, will be shown at Columbia University on the occasion of the 15th Annual Association for the Studies of Nationalities World Convention. A member of the Yahad team will introduce the film and present Yahad’s work. April 16 at 7:00 p.m.
  more information
• Rome: Father Desbois will participate in the inauguration ceremony and become a member of the Council for Dignity, Foregiveness and Reconciliation, part of the Ara Pacis Initiative organized by the Glocal Forum Italy Foundation from April 19-21.
  Glocal Forum
  
• Paris: “Thursdays at CERRESE,” welcomes lyric singer Hélène Delavault and composer Christophe Maudot, Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.
  more information