Commemorating Kristallnacht: Human Rights Legacy

Oct. 21, 2012 - PRLog -- PRESS RELEASE

October 17, 2012

COMMEMORATING KRISTALLNACHT: HUMAN RIGHTS LEGACY, The Voyage of the SS St Louis and It’s Impact on the Roosevelt Legacy

AGADUTH SHOLEM SYNAGOGUE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SS ST LOUIS LEGACY PROJECT FOUNDATION

When: November 7, 2012 7:30PM

Where: Agaduth Sholem Synagogue, Stamford, Connecticut

On November 7 Agaduth Sholem Synagogue, Stamford, Connecticut will host an evening of commemoration; both for Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass) and for the voyage of the SS St Louis. Through dramatic video presentation, narrative, and testimony of surviving passengers of the ill fated SS St Louis, the Roosevelt legacy and human rights issues will be explored.

In 1939 the United States faced a moral dilemma.  The SS St Louis, a ship carrying over 900 Jewish refugees escaping Nazi terror, was refused safe haven by Secretary of State Cordell Hull.  What motivated the United States to deny political asylum to these desperate passengers is the subject of intense debate.  However, the result of the moral dilemma was the return of the ship to Europe where hundreds of the passengers were killed at the hands of Nazi persecution and the saga of the SS St Louis became a symbol of the world's indifference to the plight of Jews suffering under Adolf Hitler's regime.

On September 24, 2012 the US State Department honored survivors of the ship in an historic ceremony which called attention to the issues of human rights, refugee suffering throughout the world, and to the Roosevelt Legacy. Assistant Secretary of State William Burns apologized to passengers and officially welcomed them to the United States, 73 years after being denied entry. As part of the ceremony at the State Department in Washington, DC, Robert Krakow’s provocative play "The Trial of Franklin D Roosevelt", exploring the Roosevelt Legacy was performed. Agaduth Sholem Synagogue is proud to host Robert Krakow, Executive Director of the SS St Louis Legacy Project Foundation, and a group of surviving passengers of the SS St Louis in an evening of presentations and dialogue.

The SS St Louis Legacy Project is a Boca Raton based not for profit foundation whose mission is to bring "education through drama" presentations such as this to universities, synagogues, communities, and high schools throughout the country. The Foundation creates dialogue and discussions on the critical issues facing contemporary America such as human rights, refugee policy, and racism. The powerful docudrama programs create excitement and interest for audiences. The Foundation’s recent educational programs include theatrical performances at Georgetown University and Creighton University, included a panel of surviving passengers who discussed their views on the moral dilemma and human rights implications of the denial of safe haven by the United States of the SS St Louis.

For further information on this event and the SS St Louis Legacy Project contact Ruth Kalish, Associate Director SS St Louis Legacy Project, 954 592 5072 and visit stlouislegacyproject.org