This coming Wednesday, Aug. 22, at 7 p.m. we will be co-sponsoring an interesting program at Beth El Synagogue, Margate, titled “The Courage to Care,” which was nominated for an Academy Award in the Short Documentary category in 1985. The presenter at this program is a local scholar, Dr. Carol Rittner RSM, the Distinguished Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies and the Dr. Marsha R. Grossman Professor of Holocaust Studies at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey.
She is a member of the Board of Trustees of College Misericordia, a member of the Executive Board of Aegis Trust, the associate editor of the bi-monthly publication, “The Genocide Forum” and editor of the quarterly, “Perspectives on Genocide.” She has published a number of books, including “The Courage to Care: Non-Jews Who Rescued Jews During the Holocaust,” “Different Voices: Women and the Holocaust,” “The Holocaust and the Christian World,” “Pope Pius XII and the Holocaust” and “Will Genocide Ever End?”
The film being shown was co-produced by Sister Ritter. Participants will be able to meet Sister Carol and ask her questions after the film presentation.
“The Courage to Care” is narrated by Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor who was liberated from Buchenwald Concentration Camp. Wiesel received the Nobel Peace Prize and he is author of many books, including “Night.” The film tells the story of the Righteous Gentiles during World War II and the life stories of non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. The rescuers and survivors are from countries in Europe such as France, the Netherlands and Poland. They provided hiding places and escape routes for Jews. These non-Jews took huge risks because if they were caught their lives would be in danger. These Righteous Gentiles have been recognized by Yad Vashem as Righteous Among the Nations.
Last month in Warsaw, Poland, a gathering of rescuers took place. Dozens of Polish rescuers were celebrated and dined over a kosher lunch in an upscale hotel where Jewish representatives took turns praising them in speeches for their heroism. The rescuers themselves deny that they are exceptional. With each other, they discussed other things, often their failing health, avoiding memories of executions and other brutalities that they witnessed and which still bring them to tears. “We did what we had to do,” said Halina Szaszkiewicz, 89. “There was nothing heroic about it.” But the Jewish officials honoring them saw it differently. “You, the righteous of the world, think your behavior was ordinary, but we all know it was something more than that. It was truly extraordinary,” Stanlee Stahl, the executive vice president of the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous, the group that organized the luncheon told the group.
Israeli Ambassador to Poland Zvi Rav-Ner explained that many Jews today still remember anti-Semitism that their families suffered in Poland, not just from Germans who carried out the Holocaust but also from Poles, the people they lived among for centuries. Yet Poland also produced the greatest number of rescuers. To date, more than 6,350 non-Jews in Poland have been recognized by Yad Vashem, more than any other country in the world. Yad Vashem’s statistics show that after Poland, the Netherlands has the most number of “righteous,” 5,204, followed by France’s 3,513.
I hope you will be able to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to view the film “The Courage to Care” and have an opportunity to meet Sister Carol and discuss with her this important aspect of the Holocaust.
‘The Courage to Care’
“The Courage to Care” will be shown at Beth El Synagogue, 500 North Jerome Ave., Margate, Aug. 22, at 7 p.m. Dr. Carol Rittner RSM, co-producer, will be the presenter for the evening. Admission is free and seating is first come, first served. New Jersey educators will be offered 2.0 professional development hours. Anyone with questions about the program should call the Sara and Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center at 609-652-4699.
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