Survival in Sarajevo - SDSU Symposium addresses cooperation between Jews, Muslims & Christians

PRLog (Press Release) - Sep. 12, 2012 - The horrors of the war in Bosnia, a war fought with ethnic identity as a primary driving force, also brought out the courage of some to rise above ethnic and religious differences. Muslims, Christians and Jews joined forces to help each other even in the most harrowing circumstances.

This period is the focus of San Diego State University’s second annual Initiative for Moral Courage (IMC) symposium – a three-day event with a slate of award-winning films, lectures and a concert that are open and free to the public.

The IMC’s organizers hope to build on last year’s success and enthusiastic audiences. This year’s Initiative, sponsored by SDSU’s Jewish Studies Program, to be held on October 14 to 17, will focus on stories of courage during the Bosnian war that raged in the early 1990s.

The first day’s programs highlight the theme of Survival in Sarajevo: Jews, Muslims and Christians Working Together During the Bosnian War. A photography exhibition will be on display from mid-October through mid-November in SDSU’s Love Library. The exhibition is based on reporter Edward Serotta’s book Survival in Sarajevo about an aid society based in Sarajevo’s Jewish community center, La Benevolencija, and how its members, Christians, Muslims and Jews, came together during the war’s most harrowing days.

Serotta, a veteran reporter, will be on hand to open the exhibit and lecture about La Benevolencija’s incredible war efforts. The organization’s former director, Jakob Finci, will tell the incredible story of the Sarajevo Haggadah, a legendary, gorgeous and rare illuminated manuscript from the 1300s celebrating the Passover Feast. The Haggada was hidden, at great personal risk, first from the Nazis and then again during the Bosnian war, both times by men of Muslim descent who were willing to risk their lives to save a Jewish manuscript. Closing out the program on October 14th will be a screening of the award-winning film I Came To Testify by Pamela Hogan about a group of 16 women who had been imprisoned by Serb-led forces in the Bosnian town of Foca and who had the courage to break the great silence about the systematic rapes of women during the war.  Pamela Hogan will introduce and discuss the making of the film.

Dr. Risa Levitt Kohn, co-Director of the Initiative for Moral Courage and organizer of the event is moved by the courageous stories coming out of Sarajevo, “Choosing to act morally even when the choice involves great danger or other horrifying threats is a key element of moral courage. Our Initiative seeks to identify and present women and men who have made that choice. We seek to honor them and tell their incredible stories, but we also hope to learn from them and to reflect on the meaning of their actions.”

On the second night, October 15, the IMC will be presenting Berlin Film Festival’s Golden Bear winner Grbavica: Land of My Dreams followed by a talk by historian Dr. Lawrence Baron. An evening concert on Wednesday, October 17 by local musicians led by violinist and composer, Yale Strom, will offer music reflecting the mix of Jewish, Christian and Muslim influences on life in the Balkans and will close this year’s Symposium on Moral Courage.

All events are free and open to the public. For event times and locations, please visit http://moralcourage.sdsu.edu/.

Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/11973483/1