COMMUNITY NEWS

Durban Holocaust Centre

By Alana Baranov

Adult Education Programs – Zoe-Life Visit 

Given the shocking upsurge in hate crime and hate speech since the start of the year, our Centre has created a new portfolio of workshops based on social justice issues and adult education. By using the history of Nazi Germany and the Holocaust as an example of how a democratic society can descend into unspeakable atrocity through propaganda and prejudice, we are able to examine current issues of racism, discrimination and intolerance in ourselves and our society today. 

Our adult education programs can be tailored to the specific interests and needs of our visitors, and usually consist of a tour of our exhibition followed by a workshop dealing with relevant themes or topics. We have welcomed various groups from corporate diversity training to the medical and legal fraternity and even civil society NGOs engaged in social upliftment. For more details on these workshops, please contact coordinator Alana Baranov on alanabaranov@gmail.com. 

One of our first social justice focused adult education workshop was held with Zoe-Life. Zoë-Life is a professional and innovative South African Capacity Building and Development organization, working in the field of Public Health and Social Transformation. The refugee and asylum seeker team from Zoe-Life spent a powerful morning at our Centre last month. 

“Learning how in the face of brutal persecution and trials people discovered inner strength and resources to survive and even help others. It is this that we need to empower our persons of concern to discover”. Mike

The Circle Café 

The Circle Café was definitely the place to be during the Winter Holidays! We welcomed scores of holidaymakers to our Café and Gift Shop, all of whom enjoyed our delicious meals and scrumptious cheesecake, not to mention the Food-To-Go meals from ‘Judy’s Freezer’.

Some recent rave reviews from our customers:

“Professional service and great food. Perfect for meal requirements on a business trip. Thanks to the friendly staff!”

“I am blown away by your professionalism and service. You guys are lifesavers. Thank you!” Moshe Lichtenstein, delegate at the Aids Conference.

For bookings, to place your takeaway order or to arrange kosher catering for your event, please call Carol on 031 3681766.

Upcoming Events

On September 15th the DHC, together with the Greek and Jewish communities of Durban, will be holding an event in honour of Greek Jewish life before World War 2 with a screening of the film ‘Shira’s Journey’. 

Dubbed a ‘Greek Jewish Odyssey’, the film follows the story of a young Jewish woman who explores the history of Greek Jewish communities before the Holocaust. For this special evening combining both the Greek and Jewish communities, will have the creator of the film, Carol Gordon, as our special guest. Carol will do a Q&A session with the audience after the film. An event not to be missed!

COMMUNITY NEWS

Durban Holocaust Centre

By Alana Baranov

“People have to know what has happened and that it is evil to be prejudiced against a group of people – we are all equal. All human beings deserve a decent life”. This message is at the heart of the international traveling exhibition ‘Eva’s Story: The Promise’, based on the experiences of Eva Schloss and her family during the Holocaust.

The Durban Holocaust Centre held the premier launch of the exhibition on Wednesday evening April 13th and was privileged to have the inspiring Eva Schloss, Holocaust survivor; author; and step-sister of Anne Frank, as the guest of honour to officially open the exhibition.

The launch event attracted many members from civil society and the media, as well as the local Jewish community. Messages were given by the Director of the Durban Holocaust Centre Mary Kluk, who had championed the creation of the exhibition alongside the founder of the Cape Town Holocaust Centre Myra Osrin, as well as Richard Freedman, the Director of the Cape Town Holocaust Centre and the Director of the South African Holocaust and Genocide Foundation. Eva then recounted her family’s story for the spellbound audience, expressing her hope that the exhibition would teach people the dangers of discrimination and the need to treat refugees with dignity. “I hope that my story of being a refugee encourages other people in bad situations that there is hope”, she said.

Eva also shared the poignant motivation behind the exhibition. “When my brother Heinz was 12 he became very scared about what happens when we die, and so we decided to ask our Father. My Father said that there is nothing to be scared of, that we all die but you live on in your children. Then Heinz asked Father, but what if I don’t have any children? Father reassured Heinz, you will achieve something in your life and someone will remember you”. Eva continued, “Today Anne Frank is immortal, but what about all the children who died in the Holocaust? Seeing this exhibition, I feel that I have kept father’s promise that Heinz will be remembered”.

The exhibition would not have been possible without the incredible generosity of our donors and the DHC would like to thank our sponsors the Victor Daitz Foundation, the Beare Foundation, the Harold and Beatrice Kramer Foundation and the Letschert family. 

The exhibition will run at at the DHC until July, where it will then move to Johannesburg and Cape Town. Plans are underway to raise funds to send the exhibition overseas.  

COMMUNITY NEWS

Durban Holocaust Centre

- By Alana Baranov

‘Unless the world learns the lessons these pictures teach, night will fall. But, by God’s grace, we who live will learn’ - from the documentary German Concentration Camps Factual Survey (1945)

On Tuesday March 22nd the DHC hosted a screening of the powerful film ‘Night Will Fall’. 

When Allied Forces liberated Nazi concentration camps, their terrible discoveries were recorded by army cameramen, revealing for the first time the horror of what had happened. Using British, Soviet and American footage, the Ministry of Information’s Sidney Bernstein collaborated with Alfred Hitchcock to make a film that would provide evidence of the Nazi’s unspeakable crimes. Yet, despite initial support form the British and US governments, the film was shelved. In this compelling documentary, the full story of the filming of the camps and the fate of Bernstein’s project, which has now been restored and completed by the Imperial War Museum, can finally be told.

Although the film came with a warning of graphic footage and an advisory for viewer discretion, a large audience joined us on the evening to watch this important footage that bears testimony to what took place in the camps and how important the lesson of ‘Never Again’ truly is for all humanity.

HAPPY 8TH BIRTHDAY!

The DHC recently celebrated its 8th birthday in style.

We are so proud of how our Centre has grown in both the scope and depth of our work and look forward to many more years of Holocaust and tolerance and human rights education in the future.

Son of Saul’ Screening – Support the DHC and buy your ticket today!

The DHC, through the generosity of The Fugard Theatre in Cape Town, will be hosting a special one night only screening of the Academy Award winning movie ‘Son of Saul’ at our Centre on Wednesday 18th may at 7.30pm. Tickets are on sale for R180 each and all proceeds go towards the educational programs, for both schools and adult groups, as well as our public events and social justice initiatives. 

This is your chance to support the work of the Durban Holocaust Centre so secure your seat today. RSVP to Maureen on dbnholocaust@djc.co.za or call 031 3686833.

October 1944, Auschwitz-Birkenau: Saul Ausländer is a Hungarian member of the Sonderkommando, the group of Jewish prisoners isolated from the camp and forced to assist the Nazis in the machinery of large-scale extermination. While working in one of the crematoriums, Saul discovers the corpse of a boy he takes for his son. As the Sonderkommando plans a rebellion, Saul decides to carry out an impossible task: save the child’s body from the flames, find a rabbi to recite the mourner’s Kaddish and offer the boy a proper burial...

The film, winner of the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Award Son of Saul premiered in South Africa at The Fugard Theatre Bioscope as part of the 2015 & 2016 Fugard Bioscope World Arts Season earlier this year.

The Fugard Theatre is proud to bear the name of Athol Fugard, one of South Africa’s most significant and internationally acclaimed playwrights, and will honours him by providing a crucible of creativity and beacon of humanity for all South Africans regardless of race, colour, gender or creed.

Circle Café and DHC Gift Shop – new stock

The Circle Café and Gift Shop will reopen after Pesach with some wonderful new stock – stop by today to pick out something something for your home or a unique gift for a loved one.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Durban Holocaust Centre

BY ALANA BARANOV

On Thursday March 3rd the DHC was privileged to host a fascinating and topical evening entitled #WhatElseMustFall. 

We were delighted that Thomas Hagspihl, Headmaster of Durban Girls College, shared his insightful impressions from a recent tour of Germany and Poland with South African university students.

Hagspihl participated in a recent study tour facilitated by the Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre in conjunction with the management and Student Representative Council (SRC) of the University of the Free State entitled “Monuments, Memorials and Memory: what can South African Students Leaders learn from the German experience?” 

Following his overview of the memorials visited in Poland and Berlin – including aspects such as the history on the Warsaw Ghetto, Schindler’s factory, topography of terror, Majdanek and other death camps, the Berlin Wall, communism in Eastern Europe etc. – Mr Hagspihl shared his observations on the how the UFS SRC students reacted to what they saw and how they see the #RhodesMustFall and #FeesMustFall campaigns, and how they see the future of South Africa. Questions such as: Can there be reconciliation without justice? How did it work in Argentina where there was blanket amnesty? Was the TRC enough? Mandela sold us out? Land redistribution?

The powerful PowerPoint presentation was then followed by Q&A and a lively discussion on the current state of South African society with students and parents of learners present. We were also delighted to have learners from both Clifton College and Kloof High School with us on the evening, all of whom thoroughly enjoyed the presentation and discussion.

School Programme

Our schools programme for 2016 has begun with groups of learners visiting our Centre almost every day to view our exhibition and participate in our specialized workshop. 

We recently hosted Kloof High School at our Centre where they spent an illuminating morning with us. 

COMMUNITY NEWS

Durban Holocaust Centre

COMMUNITY NEWS

Durban Holocaust Centre

By Alana Baranov

77th anniversary of Kristallnacht – ‘The Future of Jewish Memory in Central Europe’

The DHC, together with the Victor Daitz Foundation, the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung and the Austrian Embassy, marked the 77th anniversary of Kristallnacht with a talk by Edward Serrota on the topic ‘The Future of Jewish Memory in Central Europe’.

Centropa, a Vienna-based historical institute, has sought out the oldest living Jews in 15 Central and Eastern European countries and asked them to tell stories about the entire century – as they lived it. Digitizing 22,000 old photographs, they asked their 1200 interviewees to talk about their lives through pictures. 

Wonderful feedback on our Schools Programme

We received the most wonderful note from a teacher at Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School, who recently visited our Centre with her learners to view our exhibit and participate in one of our workshops.

Dear Maureen

I would just like to thank you and your team for an excellent tour of the Durban Holocaust Museum last Tuesday. Our girls really had an informative experience and learnt a lot. Thanks for accommodating us and for your excellent staff members and volunteers. Please thank each one of them for us, they did a great job. Our girls benefitted a lot from their expertise. Your museum has really touched lives.

Yours sincerely, Debby Joubert History teacher.

Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School.

Treblinka’s Last Witness

On Wednesday December 2nd, the DHC hosted a screening of the documentary ‘Treblinka’s Last Witness’, a first hand account by Samuel Willenberg who is the last living survivor of the Treblinka death camp.

The film was both riveting and harrowing as Willenberg, now 92 years old, details his life during the Holocaust and as a forced labourer in Treblinka, where an estimated 900,000 Jews were murdered during World War 2. 

Samuel’s story is one of survival against staggering odds, and although heart-rending, is ultimately a story of triumph. We were privileged to have this remarkable man as our special guest on the evening and to hear his story in person.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Durban Holocaust Centre

- By Alana Baranov

Carl Lutz: The Forgotten Hero

On Tuesday October 20th the DHC hosted a screening of the film ‘Carl Lutz: The Forgotten Hero’. This acclaimed documentary provides a fascinating look at the life of Carl Lutz, a Swiss diplomat who saved tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews during World War 2. Despite his humanitarian action being considered the greatest civil rescue operation of Jews during the Holocaust, Lutz’s story is relatively unknown. The film follows this incredible story at the original locations, including statements from witnesses from all around the world who survived the war due to the heroic actions of Carl Lutz.

The evening, held in conjunction with the Victor Daitz Foundation and the Consulate of Switzerland in South Africa, was very well attended and included a special address by Mr Hans Graber, the Honorary Consul of Switzerland in Durban.

Business and Civil Society Leaders Visit the DHC

The following evening, Wednesday October 21st, the DHC hosted business and civil society leaders from the Indian community in Durban for a special guided tour of our Centre and its exhibits as guests of Mr Ray Mehta. 

DHC and Circle café featured in the ‘Durban Routes 2015’

The DHC and Circle Café are thrilled to have been featured in the latest edition of the ‘Durban Routes’ –the ultimate tourist map publication published by the Durban Tourism Office and Durban Chamber of Commerce.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Durban Holocaust Centre

- Alana Baranov

Yeshiva College in the DHC Sukkah

The DHC celebrated Sukkot in style with our wonderful sukkah in the Garden of Remembrance being used by both locals and holidaymakers. 

We were delighted to have a visit from a group of matric learners from Yeshiva College, who were in Durban recently and spent the day at our Centre viewing the exhibition and enjoying lunch at the Circle Café.

Exciting plans for DHC Resource Center

The DHC has exciting plans to replace our current library with a world-class Resource Centre. To be a part of this important project, email Maureen on dbnholocaust@djc.co.za

UJW Sandwich Project

The UJW Sandwich project continues to grow! After an increase in visits by rural schools from the Eastern Cape to view our exhibit and take part in our learner workshops, the DHC partnered with the UJW to launch the Sandwich project.

The project ensures that these learners, many of whom arrive at our Centre after travelling since before daybreak and having only eaten a meal the night before, are provided juice and sandwiches so that they can learn on a full stomach. 

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the Sandwich Project and, with your support, we hope to feed many more learners.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Durban Holocaust Center

by Alana Baranov

‘Political, Polish Jew: The Story of Pinchas Gutter’

The DHC was privileged to screen the documentary ‘Political, Polish Jew: The Story of Pinchas Gutter’ on Sunday 30th August with special guests Pinchas and Dorothy Gutter in attendance.

Pinchas Gutter was only 7 years old when the war broke out. As a child he witnessed the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising before being deported to Majdanek, where his entire family was murdered. Pinchas managed to survive imprisonment in slave labour camps and later a death march. He was liberated in Thereisenstadt in May 1945. Sixty years later he returns to the sites of his childhood, and this story makes up the remarkable film on his life.

Pinchas lived with his family in Cape Town for 28 years where he was an active member of the community and played a significant role in the formation of education programmes at the Cape Town Holocaust Centre. He is now based in Toronto.

The audience was deeply moved by the film and honoured to ask Pinchas more about his experiences after the screening.

Pinchas Gutter and the Hologram Project

The following morning, on Monday August 31st, the DHC hosted a special breakfast in honour of Pinchas and his wife Dorothy, where Pinchas shared more poignant stories of his survival as well as a first-hand account of an extraordinary project which promises to, years from now and after the last Holocaust survivor has passed on, enable people to listen to a survivor and ask their questions directly.

Pinchas was the survivor recorded in the New Dimensions in Testimony Project, part of the Shoah Foundation in the United States, where hologram technology preserves personal histories for future generations.

It was an amazing morning and everyone present left inspired by Pinchas’ tale of hope and the plans for the future of Holocaust memory.

Santa’s Story comes to Durban!

The DHC was proud to host the fabulous Opera Diva Aviva Pelham’s spectacular performance of her acclaimed onewoman show as the feature of our fundraising event on August 15th 2015.

‘Santa’s Story’ is based on the memoir of 90 year old Santa Pelham, brought to life by her daughter, and detailing her journey through Europe to Africa. The performance was held at the Loft Theatre at the Durban Playhouse and was followed by decadent refreshments. The evening was a sold-out success!

COMMUNITY NEWS

Durban Holocaust Centre

- Alana Baranov

Santa's Story - coming to Durban!

The DHC is proud to be hosting Opera Star Aviva Pelham’s spectacular one-woman show ‘Santa’s Story’ at The Playhouse on August 15th 2015. Book your tickets with Maureen today on 031 368 6833.

Our unique 'Anne Frank Workshops' off to a great start!

We are thrilled to announce that our ‘Anne Frank Workshops’ for Grades 4 to 7 have begun with great success! We recently welcomed learners from Durban Girls College to the DHC to participate in this interactive programme, created by Maureen Caminsky and our team. The workshop is designed to foster social responsibility in the youth and includes quizzes, word searches, worksheets, and inspiration which focus on identity issues and the value of keeping journals. Whilst younger learners are encouraged to make connections between the Frank family and their helpers, older learners focus on identity in relation to Anne Frank’s experience in the Secret Annex.

'Germany's Confrontation with the Holocaust in the Global Context'schools workshop

Over the past few months, visiting schools have had the opportunity of participating in a special workshop around our latest international exhibition ‘Germany’s Confrontation with the Holocaust in the Global Context’.

The workshops, run by our intern Daniela Wegrostek, focused on Germany’s process of recovery and reconciliation after the Holocaust. Daniela will be leaving the DHC to begin her Master’s degree as a student of one of the creators of the exhibition at Leeds University. We would like to thank Daniela for her hard work whilst she was at the DHC and wish her all the best with her studies!

COMMUNITY NEWS

Durban Holocaust Centre

DHC Schools Programme 

Our unique ‘Schools Programme’ is at the heart of our work at the DHC. Every day we have the privilege of hosting learners from schools across the province, and beyond, viewing our permanent exhibition and taking part in our engaging workshop for learners on key lessons of the Holocaust. This three and a half hour programme gives young people an insight into history as well as ways to apply the lessons we learn from the past in their daily lives, whether being an ‘upstander’ against bullying in class or speaking out against xenophobia in their communities.

We recently received the most wonderful feedback from a teacher who visited our Centre with her learners from Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School:

Dear Maureen

I would just like to thank you and your team for an excellent tour of the Durban Holocaust Museum last Tuesday. Our girls really had an informative experience and learnt a lot. Thanks for accommodating us and for your excellent staff members and volunteers. Please thank each one of them for us, they did a great job. Our girls benefitted a lot from their expertise. Your museum has really touched lives.

Yours sincerely,

Debby Joubert

History teacher, Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School.

Anne Frank Workshops 

We are also excited to begin our ‘Anne Frank Workshops’ during the school week for Grades 4 and 5, as well as Grades 6 and 7.

Maureen Caminsky and our team have created an interactive programme designed to encourage social responsibility. We will discuss the extraordinary people who helped the Frank family while they were in hiding and will encourage learners to make connections to their own lives and to express their feelings, as Anne did, by writing their thoughts in a journal. For the older learners, we hope to focus on identity; relationships; and children’s’ rights – all in relation to Anne Frank’s experience in the Secret Annex.

WORKSHOP ON THE 

EXHIBITION ‘GERMANY’S CONFRONTATION WITH THE HOLOCAUST IN THE GLOBAL CONTEXT’

Visiting schools have recently had the unique opportunity of participating in a special workshop around our latest international exhibition entitled ‘Germany’s Confrontation with the Holocaust in the Global Context’.

The exhibition focuses on Germany’s process of recovery and reconciliation after the Holocaust, a topic often overlooked but vital to understanding Germany as a country today. Germany’s confrontation with its dark past is especially relevant to South Africa today as we continue to come to terms with our own painful history.

Our current intern, Daniela Wegrostek, is a student of one of the creators of the exhibition at Leeds University and is actively involved in incorporating the exhibition in the educational programme for schools visiting the DHC.

“We have had such a wonderful response from the schools that have engaged with it; not just from the teachers, who have all found it to be extremely relevant”, says Daniela, “but also from the students, who have independently bought up and thought about issues such as memorialisation and xenophobia in South Africa when discussing this exhibition with me”.

community news

Durban Holocaust Center

We are thrilled to welcome Daniela Wegrostek to our team for the next few months.

Daniela is currently conducting research for her Masters in Holocaust Studies at Leeds University under Stuart Taberner, who is one of the creators of our upcoming exhibition ‘Germany’s Confrontation with the Holocaust: In a Global Context’.  Her research will look at the institutionalisation of Holocaust memory in South Africa as well as in the United Kingdom, which fits into wider scholarly discussions about global Holocaust memory. Daniela spent a month interning at the Cape Town Holocaust Centre, but decided to join us here at the Durban Centre as this is her home city and she much prefers the beaches here. While working at the DHC, she will actively be involved with the inclusion of the ‘Germany’s Confrontation with the Holocaust: In a Global Context’ exhibition in the educational programmes for schools.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Durban Holocaust Centre

Tomi Reichtental ‘I Was A Boy In Belsen’

On Thursday March 5th, the DHC hosted a very special talk by Holocaust survivor Tomi Reichental. Tomi’s remarkable story of surviving the infamous Bergen-Belsen concentration camp as a young boy, captivated the 150 strong audience. Born in Slovakia in 1935, the same year that the Nuremberg Laws were passed, Tomi was only six years old when the Nazis forced Jews to wear the yellow star and realized he was different form the other children at school.

In 1944 Tomi was captured by the Nazis. Of the 13 members of his family taken that day only five survived, the other seven perished at Auschwitz. Tomi arrived in Bergen Belsen in November that year, and described the appalling living conditions and struggle to stay alive. Liberation in April 1945 brought its own challenges and Tomi spoke movingly of rebuilding his life after the Holocaust.

We felt especially privileged to hear Tomi speak in Durban as the opportunity to listen to survivor testimony in person is sadly becoming increasingly rare.

Adult Groups – DUT PhD Students Visit the DHC

The DHC continues to welcome diverse Adult Groups to our Centre to view the exhibition and participate in our workshop on the lessons of the Holocaust and combatting discrimination and intolerance in all its forms.

We were recently visited by a group of PhD students from the Department of Public Management at the Durban University of Technology, who are currently participating in a peace-building program.

‘Germany’s Confrontation with the Holocaust in a Global Context’ Exhibition

The fascinating exhibition, ‘Germany’s Confrontation with the Holocaust in a Global Context’ will be launched at the DHC on the evening of Thursday April 16th to coincide with Yom Hashoah. We are delighted to have an international guest Dr Victoria Nesfield from the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies at the University of Leeds, one of the creators of the exhibition, with us for this special event. The exhibition will run from April to June at the DHC.

The Circle Café – closing over Pesach

Please note that Circle Café will be closed from Friday 3rd of April and will be reopening on Monday the 13th of April. Our gorgeous DHC Gift Shop will only be open during Chol Hamoed on the 7th, 8th and 9th of April. Chag Sameach to all our friends!

COMMUNITY NEWS

Durban Holocaust Centre

UN International Day of Commemoration in Memory of Victims of the Holocaust 2015

Each year on January 27th, the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp, the United Nations commemorates ‘International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust’. 2015 was an especially poignant remembrance day as it marked the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

The DHC held a special event in our upstairs seminar room that evening where a full capacity crowd took part in a moving ceremony to honour those who perished; watched an emotional film on the personal stories of local survivors; and then had the opportunity to hear a fascinating lecture by our international guest speaker Yiftach Ashkenazy.

Yiftach Ashkenazy has a BA in history from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and is completing a Master’s degree in Cultural Studies. He began working at Yad Vashem in 2005 and joined the European Department of Yad Vashem’s International School of Holocaust Studies in 2008, where he is responsible for coordinating educational and professional activities.

Ashkenazy spoke with academic insight about the days preceding the liberation of the camp; victims’ experiences during the death marches; the moment of liberation, which many survivors consider the greatest moment of their lives but which others consider traumatic; the challenges facing Holocaust survivors after liberation; and the difficulties they experienced in rebuilding their lives. The pain of survival, particularly for the children of the Holocaust, was a large focus of his speech and a topic not often explored.

Karski & The Lords Of Humanity

On Thursday February 5th the DHC was treated to a screening of the superb film, ‘Karski & The Lords of Humanity’. The film tells the story of Jan Karski, a member of the Polish underground, who made it his mission to inform the Allied powers of Nazi crimes against European Jews in an effort to prevent the Holocaust.

The audience was not only privileged to have a pre-release viewing of this remarkable film, an unusual mix of archive interview footage with Jan Karski himself weaved together with ground-breaking animation, but also had the opportunity to interact with the film’s director Slawomir Grunberg and his wife, the film’s writer Katka Rezske.

This powerful testament to the courage of Karski left a profound impression on all those at the event.

“All of us probably, we have infinite power to do good and infinite power to follow evil… that’s how I see our nature… we can chose to be robbers or we can choose to do good” Jan Karski

COMMUNITY NEWS

Durban Holocaust Centre

- Alana Baranov

Nicky’s Family 

Together with the UJW, the DHC screened the film ‘Nicky’s Family’ at our Centre at the end of last year. ‘Nicky’s Family’ tells the nearly forgotten story of Nicholas Winton, an Englishman who organized the rescue of 669 Czech and Slovak children just before the outbreak of World War II. The film attracted a fantastic crowd who were all deeply touched by Winton’s tale. Each audience member donated packs of juice boxes to go towards the UJW Sandwich Project, an initiative which provides refreshments to learners from rural schools who travel for many hours to visit the DHC and participate in our workshops.

Visit of Hugo Marom

Exactly one week after the screening of ‘Nicky’s Family’, the DHC was privileged to host one of the children rescued by Sir Nicholas Winton. 86 year old Hugo Marom shared the remarkable story of his rescue as a young boy in Czechoslovakia with our guests. Those privileged to hear Marom’s testimony were spellbound by his words, deeply moved by his courage in the face of adversity and inspired by his triumph over incredible difficulties.

Save The Date – a taste of what’s to come in 2015!

March– Tomi Reichental

Tomi Reichental, survivor of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, will visit the DHC on March 5th and share his amazing story with us.

February - Karski

The DHC, in partnership with the Polish Embassy of South Africa, will host filmmakers Grunberg and Reszke who will screen their film Karski and the Lords of Humanity, the story of a Polish World War II resistance movement fighter.

Germany’s Confrontation with the Holocaust in a Global Context’ Exhibition

COMMUNITY NEWS

Durban Holocaust Centre

Alana Baranov

A Snake Gives Birth To A Snake

Last month the DHC, in partnership with the Hate Crimes Working

Group, screened the remarkable film ‘A Snake Gives Birth To A

Snake’. The film is an unlikely investigation into the limits of justice

and a journey in search of forgiveness. It confronts the incredibly

complex issues that surround conflict resolution, memory, and

healing in communities emerging from genocide and conflict. It is

also a story about a South African theatre troupe and the power

and possibility of art as a way into exploring these issues. After the

screening, guests were treated to a powerful panel discussion on

the reconciliation in South Africa after 20 years of democracy with

Fanie du Toit, Executive Director of the Institute for Justice and

Reconciliation, and Thembi Mtshali-Jones, activist and one of the

actors in the film.

UJW Sandwich Project

We have recently had an increase in visits by rural schools from

the Eastern Cape visit our exhibit and take part in our learner

workshops. Many of these children arrive at our Centre after

travelling since before daybreak and having only eaten a meal the

night before. Together with our partners, the Union of Jewish

Women Durban, we have launched a project to provide these

learners with a sandwiches and juice to ensure that they can learn

on a full stomach. S. Gomo of Middle Tyira JSS School said “I liked

the programme very much. We will come to this place more often

because it can change the way our learners think about life. People

are not afraid about doing bad things to others but through this

programme, everything can change”.

The Democracy Development Program visits the DHC

The Democracy Development Program (DDP) visited our exhibit

and participated in our workshop. The DDP is a non-partisan, nonprofit

organisation that supports capacity building on governance

and civil society levels to ensure that both are empowered for

meaningful participation in South Africa’s social transformation.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Durban Holocaust Centre

Alana Baranov

Grunberg and Reszke workshop at the DHC

Slawomir Grünberg is an award-winning documentary film producer, director and cinematographer. Katka Reszke is a writer, filmmaker, photographer working in the USA and Poland. They were in South Africa as guests of the South African Holocaust and Genocide Foundation. Slawomir and Katka were delegates at Limmud 2014 in Durban during August and while here they conducted a workshop “The Holocaust through Film” with the guides at the DHC. It was a very emotional and informative morning – a real privilege for us all.

Drakensberg Boys Choir Visit the DHC

The Drakensberg Boys Choir recently visited the DHC. Each year, this fantastic group takes time out of their busy schedule to partake in our educational program. This year 22 learners visited the DHC with their wonderful teacher Geoff Thompson just a week before they were due to perform in Austria.

Watch This Space! 

Nicky’s Family – 17th November

The film ‘Nicky’s Family’ is being screened in partnership with the Union of Jewish Women on November 17th. Nicky’s Family tells the nearly forgotten story of Nicholas Winton, an Englishman who organized the rescue of 669 Czech and Slovak children just before the outbreak of World War II. Winton, now 104 years old, did not speak about these events with anyone for more than half a century. His exploits would have probably been forgotten if his wife, fifty years later, had not found a suitcase in the attic, full of documents and transport plans. Today the story of this rescue is known all over the world. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 583 recognizing his remarkable deed.

Passion and Prejudice: Forbidden Composers – 25th November

On November 25th we will be hosting a concert, together with Friends of Music, called ‘Passion and Prejudice: Forbidden Composers’ – a programme of music by major Jewish composers whose music was banned by the Nazis: Mahler, Schoenberg, Berg, Zeisl and Weill. Performed by acclaimed South African tenor Peter Lurie, the programme will focus on works written in Germany and Austria from the turn of the 20th century until the start of World War II. This intensely rich cultural period was a time when the social order was undergoing radical transformation, ending with the subsequent rise of fascism.

Commemoration of the Deportation of Greek Jews

To commemorate 70 years since the deportation of the Greek Jews, the DHC together with the Council of KwaZulu-Natal Jewry and the Greek community, will be holding a function addresses by Dr Benjamin Albalas. Dr Albalas is the Chairman of the Jewish Community in Greece and will share his own poignant Holocaust story.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Yom Tov Gifts at the DHC Gift Shop

The DHC Gift Shop, located at the Circle Café, has a special selection of gifts perfect for the upcoming holidays. 

Be sure to stop by and browse our selection of goods. You can even place orders for beautifully wrapped and individualized gift baskets!

COMMUNITY NEWS

DHC Educator - Mduduzi Ntuli

- Alana Baranov

This month we thought we’d let you get to know our energetic, enthusiastic and effervescent Educator, Mduduzi Ntuli.

Born and bred in Durban, Mdu is an only child and grew up in the Esplanade area. As a high school student, he excelled at debating and led the school team.

“I work very closely with the most amazing and consistently committed team of volunteers to facilitate the Holocaust education program which consists of learner workshops with grade 9 Social Sciences history learners who visit the Durban Holocaust Centre, also with grade 5 and grade 7 pupils where the story of Anne Frank is the focal point”, Mdu says.

“The over-arching goal of the program is to teach against prejudice and promote human rights in our society using the history of the Holocaust as a case study. Also to relate lessons from Holocaust history to the learners and empower them to have the courage to be upstanders not bystanders in real-life situations they might face or witness”.

“What I find most enjoyable about working at the DHC is the wonderful relationship I have with all members of the team and my interaction with the learners that visit the centre. Often as adults we forget to realize that children will become what we as society shape them to be, so I am glad to play a small part in the positive development of tomorrow’s future adults”.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Durban Holocaust Centre

- Alana Baranov

Exciting news from the DHC Library 

As the shelves of the DHC Library become increasingly packed with fantastic resources, we are growing in other ways too. We are delighted to introduce you to our new volunteer librarian who has recently joined the DHC team, Ms Heather Gale.

Heather retired as the Music Librarian from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in June 2009 after many years of service. In February 2010, she took the exciting step of moving to Israel to begin a two-year journey as a volunteer for Bridges for Peace in Jerusalem. This life changing experience fuelled Heather’s love not only of the Holy Land but also of the Jewish people. Heather recalls, “I was able to participate in all that is Jewish... to experience first-hand the joys, the sorrows and the unity that exists amongst the people of this tiny nation”.

Upon her return to South Africa, Heather took up the role of Durban representative of Bridges for Peace KZN and also began volunteering at the library of the Umhlanga Jewish Day School. A few months ago, Heather responded to the DHC’s request for the assistance of a retired librarian.

“I consider the Holocaust Centre to be a central component of the Jewish community in Durban and it is a privilege for me to be a part of developing the Media Centre”, she says. 

Heather has already put various professional systems and processes in place at the DHC Library, and has ambitious plans for this wonderful resource, open to the entire Durban community.

“My goal is to create a centre of excellence - one that is accessible to the readers and where scholars and interested persons can take advantage of the resources available, for study or simply for enhancing their knowledge”. Heather aims to ensure the Library is always a “comfortable, welcoming place where both young and old are able to read, ruminate and explore the stock of fiction and non-fiction books and DVDs”. She also hopes to bring new dimensions to the media centre by holding exciting events to meet the needs and interest of the Jewish and broader communities. 

We at the DHC are truly privileged to have someone as experienced, capable and enthusiastic as Heather on board at the DHC Library. We encourage you all to stop by soon and make use of this fantastic resource right on our doorstep.

World Refugee Day at the Durban Holocaust Centre

We, the Durban Holocaust Centre, partner with Refugee Social Services to commemorate World Refugee Day on 20 June every year. Our combined goal is to raise awareness of the plight of refugees, the hardships they encounter being displaced, and the challenges they face in their new countries - which is often not their first choice, but in most cases their only one!

We have on display in Seminar Room 2 at the Centre an exhibition entitled ‘Dialogue Among Civilisations’. It is on loan to us from ‘Art for Humanity’. We are privileged to have 18 of the 42 pieces- the others are split between Alliance Francaise and the Department of Home Affairs. This exhibition is to be displayed in public places throughout SA and invites the viewer to take ‘moral ownership’ of the values expressed through art and poetry and will be on display at our Centre until the end of July 2014

As part of the Mini Film Festival we re-screened ‘Harbour of Hope’ a documentary set in 1945, just after World War II, which shows the wonderful strides those refugees, who were absorbed and taken to Sweden, were able to make.

It highlights the plight of refugees and how we should all behave towards them.

The audience, many of whom have been refugees themselves, found it to be a moving and inspirational documentary.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Durban Holocaust Centre

Alana Baranov

Harbour of Hope 

On Sunday 1st June we screened Harbour of Hope, the story of how, in 1945, 30 000 survivors were rescued from German concentration camps and taken to Malmo in Sweden where they were able to begin their lives again. It was directed by Magnus Gertten and we were privileged to have him and Irene Krausz-Fainman, one of the survivors who featured in the documentary, with us on the evening. The large crowd found the poignant story very moving and enjoyed the question and answer session which followed. Jack Puterman also told the audience a little about how Sweden featured in his experience of the Holocaust. All in all it was a thoroughly moving and enlightening experience.

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Mary visited Washington in May where she spent a wonderful day at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and was privileged to spend some time with the Director Sara J. Bloomfield who was so interested in the work of the South African Holocaust and Genocide Foundation. Sara has led the USHMM for more than a decade, working to build a global institution that raises Holocaust awareness, deepens understanding of the lessons of the Holocaust, confronts denial, and advances genocide prevention.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Durban Holocaust Centre

Alana Baranov

No place on earth

A fantastic crowd came to the DHC on Wednesday April 2nd to watch the screening of the remarkable film, ‘No Place On Earth’.

In October 1942, five Jewish families seek asylum underground to evade being caught by pursuing Nazis. They remain hidden below for nearly a year and a half – the longest uninterrupted underground survival occurrence ever recorded. Their harrowing story is unearthed by accident when a cave explorer, Chris Nicola, stumbles upon remnants left behind by the cave dwellers. Through extensive research, Nicola locates some of the survivors and has them share their incredible story.

The screening was proceeded with a message from Janet Tobias, the film’s director, and also featured a video message from Zack Stermer, grandson of survivor Sam Sterner. 

Ghosts of the Third Reich

Thursday April 10th saw the screening of the moving film “Ghosts of the Third Reich” at the DHC together with WIZO, a documentary that brings together the poignant and anguished stories of descendants of the Nazis, who confront their family’s past and communicate their most profound feelings of guilt by inheritance. These individuals share a common desire to distance themselves from Nazi ideology and the actions of their ancestors; and to liberate themselves from the guilt, shame, and pain that continue to levy a heavy price seventy years later.

After the screening, the audience was privileged to share in a unique conversation facilitated by Thomas Hagspihl, whose father was a member of the Hitler Youth, and Tali Nates, whose father was rescued by Oskar Schindler. 

A fantastic crowd came to the DHC on Wednesday April 2nd to watch the screening of the remarkable film, ‘No Place On Earth’.

In October 1942, five Jewish families seek asylum underground to evade being caught by pursuing Nazis. They remain hidden below for nearly a year and a half – the longest uninterrupted underground survival occurrence ever recorded. Their harrowing story is unearthed by accident when a cave explorer, Chris Nicola, stumbles upon remnants left behind by the cave dwellers. Through extensive research, Nicola locates some of the survivors and has them share their incredible story.

The screening was proceeded with a message from Janet Tobias, the film’s director, and also featured a video message from Zack Stermer, grandson of survivor Sam Sterner. 

Ghosts of the Third Reich

Thursday April 10th saw the screening of the moving film “Ghosts of the Third Reich” at the DHC together with WIZO, a documentary that brings together the poignant and anguished stories of descendants of the Nazis, who confront their family’s past and communicate their most profound feelings of guilt by inheritance. These individuals share a common desire to distance themselves from Nazi ideology and the actions of their ancestors; and to liberate themselves from the guilt, shame, and pain that continue to levy a heavy price seventy years later.

After the screening, the audience was privileged to share in a unique conversation facilitated by Thomas Hagspihl, whose father was a member of the Hitler Youth, and Tali Nates, whose father was rescued by Oskar Schindler. 

The Circle Café

The Circle café has recently received glowing reviews on the local food review Facebook page ‘Durban Restaurants - the good, the bad and the nasty’. 

Just some of the wonderful comments:

“Felt at peace sitting in the garden...I can’t rave more about it...what a gem I have found”

“We had a lovely lunch there last week. Good variety from toasted sandwiches and chips for the kids, to that bagel, to delish fish cakes and salad. Unfortunately no room then for the legendary cheesecake. It’s also very moving to visit the well-presented exhibition in the Centre itself”

“I take the cheesecake as a takeaway - it’s a MUST!”

“Next time order cheese blinzes. Really special!”

“what a GEM”

‘Like’ our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/circlecafedurban and follow us on twitter @CircleCafeDBN

COMING SOON - Harbour of Hope on June 1st 

On June 1st 2014, the DHC will be screening the film ‘Harbour of Hope’ - a powerful, character-driven documentary that charts the arrival in 1945 of a ship full of camp survivors at the peaceful harbour town of Mälmo, Sweden. Interspersing rich archive footage from the voyage with present-day interviews from the leading characters, director Magnus Gertten - whose father witnessed the historic docking as a boy - weaves a poignant, human story about how even the most savage cruelty can be redeemed by the overwhelming kindness of strangers. 

‘Like’ the DHC on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dbnholocent, follow us on Twitter @DbnHoloCent and check out our website at www.holocaust.org.za 

COMMUNITY NEWS

‘Like’ and ‘Follow’ the DHC on social media! The DHC has social media covered!

‘Like’ us on Facebook
(www.facebook.com/dbnholocentre)
follow us on Twitter @DbnHoloCentre
or log onto our website at www.holocaust.org.za.

COMMUNITY NEWS

THE CIRCLE CAFÉ AND DHC GIFT SHOP

Alana Baranov

Join us for a delicious breakfast and lunch at the Circle Café,
with daily specials and the best cheesecake in town, all created
by well-known chef Judy Druck.

Take a moment to find a unique and special gift for any occasion,
including our Pesach selection, at our Gift Shop! All proceeds
from the Café and shop are used as tzedakah to support the
educational programs of the Durban Holocaust Centre.

Follow The Circle Café on Twitter @CircleCafeDBN and
on Facebook at www.facebook.com/circlecafedurban for all
our news, sales and specials.

COMMUNITY NEWS

French Expert Johann Chapoutot and 'Ideology and Crime in the Third Reich'

Alana Baranov

In March, the DHC together with the French Institute of South
Africa brought renowned French academic Johan Chapoutot
to Durban for a fascinating lecture at our Centre on the topic
‘Ideology and Crime in the Third Reich’.

Johann Chapoutot is a professor of contemporary history and
a lecturer at the University Pierre Mendes-France in Grenoble,
as well as Director of the History Collection of Contemporary
France. He specializes in the history of Nazi culture and political
and cultural history of the modern era.

Chapoutot’s ability to explain difficult historical concepts to
general audiences kept attendees spellbound. His engaging and
enlightening presentation was followed by a lively “Question
and Answer” session.

The morning of the lecture our volunteer guides were privileged
to participate in a one-on-one workshop with Johann, who
discussed ways in which complex concepts like ‘ideology’ and
‘crime’ could be used in our educational programs for learners
at the DHC.

COMMUNITY NEWS

DURBAN HOLOCAUST CENTRE

Alana Baranov

Exciting Upcoming Events!
2014 is off to a busy start at the Durban Holocaust Centre! We have a host of captivating film screenings and events taking place at the Centre in the next few months. We encourage the community to look out for more details on these events in the coming weeks to be sure not to miss out. All our events are made possible through the generosity of the Victor Daitz Foundation.

Here is a taste of what’s to come at the DHC …

Johann Chapoutot – March 5th 2014
Together with the French Institute, the DHC will be bringing renowned French academic Johan Chapoutot to Durban on March 5th 2014 for a fascinating lecture at our Centre.

Chapoutot is a professor of contemporary history and a lecturer at the University Pierre Mendes-France in Grenoble, as well as Director of the History Collection of Contemporary France. He specializes in the history of Nazi culture and political and cultural history of the modern era.

‘Harbour of Hope’

A powerful, character-driven documentary that charts the arrival in 1945 of a ship full of camp survivors at the peaceful harbour town of Mälmo, Sweden.

Interspersing rich archive footage from the voyage with present-day interviews from the leading characters, director Magnus Gertten – whose father witnessed the historic docking as a boy – weaves a poignant, human story about how even the most savage cruelty can be redeemed by the overwhelming kindness of strangers.
‘No place on earth’

In 1942, 38 men, women and children slide down a cold, muddy hole in the ground, seeking refuge from the war above in a pitch-black underground world where no human had gone before. These five Ukrainian Jewish families created their own society; surviving underground longer than anyone in recorded history. After 511 days the cave dwellers, ages 2 to 76, emerged at war’s end in tattered clothes, blinded by a sun some children forgot existed.

While exploring some of the longest caves in the world in southwestern Ukraine in the 1990s, American caver Chris Nicola stumbled onto unusual objects. Was the vague rumor true, that some Jews had hid in this cave during WWII and if so, had any survived to tell their tale? 67 years later, Chris leads four of the survivors back to Ukraine to say thank you to “the cave.”

‘Ghosts of the Third Reich’

"Ghosts of the Third Reich" documents the poignant and anguished stories of descendants of the Nazis, who confront their family’s past and communicate their most profound feelings of guilt by inheritance. These individuals, whose family members were supporters, officers, and elite of the Nazi regime, share a common desire to distance themselves from Nazi ideology and the actions of their ancestors; and to liberate themselves from the guilt, shame, and pain that continue to levy a heavy price seventy years later.

New addition to the DHC family

Our Director, Mary Kluk, welcomed her first grandson, Leo Arthur Gottleib, into the world at the end of last year. The entire DHC team would like to wish Mary, Graham and the entire family a hearty mazaltov on this special new addition!

Durban Holocaust Centre

Alana Baranov

Screening of the film ‘Lidice’
The DHC was honoured to partner with the Embassy of the Czech Republic to screen the powerful film 'Lidice'. The Czech drama describes the retaliatory Nazi massacre at - and destruction of - the Czech village of Lidice in June 1942 following the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, Deputy Reich Protector of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.
A small exhibition of the South African art work submitted as part of the International Children's Exhibition of Fine Arts Lidice was also on display at the DHC.

The Independent Projects Trust seminar for refugees with Childline South Africa
The Independent Projects Trust held a seminar for refugees and asylum seekers in Durban at the DHC with Joan van Niekerk from Child Line South Africa who presented on the topic 'Children of Migrants and Refugees in South Africa'.

Tal Bruttman and the history of the Holocaust in France
Renowned French Historian Tal Bruttman recently delivered a riveting lecture at the DHC entitled ‘How a Country Remembers its Past: the Holocaust in France’. The lecture, which was very well attended, was held in conjunction with Alliance Francaise de Durban and the Victor Daitz Foundation. The following day, Bruttman held a workshop at the DHC for our volunteers guides which provided new insights into well-known topics within the study of the Holocaust.

Social Media
‘Like’ the Circle Café Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/circlecafedurban and check out our new website for more information www.circlecafe.co.za

Durban Holocaust Centre

Volunteers Tea in the Sukkah 2013

Alana Baranov

On a sunny Wednesday 25th of September the DHC held a delicious ‘Tea in the Sukkah’ for all our active guides and volunteers.
The morning was a small token of our deep gratitude to all the hard-working individuals who have given freely of their time and energy, sometimes at only a moment’s notice, to assist us in the running of the Durban Holocaust Centre.

Durban Holocaust Centre

EXPERT ON THE HOLOCAUST IN FRANCE VISITS THE DHC

Alana Baranov

Save The Date – October 28th
We are thrilled to announce that renowned expert on the Holocaust in France, Tal Bruttman, will be hosted in Durban this month by the DHC in partnership with the French Institute and the Victor Daitz Foundation.
Bruttman will be speaking exclusively at the DHC on the evening of Monday October 28th at 7.30pm.
For more information and to reserve your seat, please contact Maureen at our offices on dbnholocaust@djc.co.za or call 0313686833. 

Durban Holocaust Centre

Investec Diversity Training Workshop

Alana Baranov

The DHC recently held another highly successful 'Corporate Diversity Training Workshop' with members of the Investec Durban Team.

Durban Holocaust Centre

Hate Crimes Workshop with Durban Magistrates

Alana Baranov

For the first time at the DHC, we were delighted to hold a workshop on the important issue of hate crimes with a group of Durban magistrates from across the KwaZulu-Natal province.
The idea of the workshop was to allow the Magistrates to spend time at the DHC and become sensitized to the way in which society can unravel if hate crimes go unchecked.
Judge Alan Magid conducted a session for the delegates who were then guided through the permanent exhibition and later enjoyed reflecting on the morning over lunch at the Circle Café.
Following the meeting, the booklet ‘The Criminal Justice System and You’ will be distributed from our Centre to raise awareness on the role of the criminal justice system in South Africa and how it can assist refugees and migrants in our country.

Durban Holocaust Centre

Introducing our first intern – Lena Morrison-van Velsen
For the first time at the Durban Holocaust Centre, we are delighted to have an outstanding intern supporting and helping us.  We are thrilled to introduce Lena Morrison-van Velsen from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. Lena is in South Africa as part of the study program ‘Seeking Justice’ and is completing her Master’s degree in Applied History with a major in Museum Studies and a thesis on memorialisation of genocide. Her task while she is at the DHC is to transform our collection of books and DVD’s from merely occupying the shelves to a functioning and growing library.
We are fortunate that one of our volunteers, Colin Plen, has already begun some of the initial work and will be assisting Lena in establishing this new and important resource for our city. 

 The Durban Holocaust Library
 The DHC has decided to create a permanent library space and resource centre for use by both the Jewish community and the wider public. This specialized library comprised of books; audio tapes; and DVD’s on the Holocaust, will be forged with the intention of complementing the existing mission of the South African Holocaust and Genocide Foundation to raise awareness of the Holocaust and its relationship to other genocides in history. We hope to achieve this by creating a safe space where people can learn about the dangers of prejudice, racism, xenophobia, and apathy. It is our hope that by becoming a free educational resource, this facility will encourage members of the public to engage further with the issues introduced by our exhibition.
Lena has already been in contact with the Gitlin Library in Cape Town as well as the Yad Vashem Library in Israel, and both institutions have agreed to assist the DHC with our collection by sharing their duplicate material and online research with us.

‘Friends of the DHC Library’ and how you can help!
We are excited to announce the fantastic opportunity available to members of the community to become a ‘Friend of the DHC Library.’ Membership, payable through EFT (REF: Library) or at our office, will cost an annual fee of R180 for the following benefits:
• A subscription to the DHC Libraries bimonthly publication, which announces the details of new additions to the library, and includes reviews and interesting articles and books to look out for.
• Fee-free loaning of items from the DVD collection.
• Advanced warning of new items in the collection.
• The knowledge that you are helping to stock, repair and otherwise support your community library.
We are also appealing to our community to donate any Holocaust or genocide related books that they may have at home to be a part of our new library collection. Any books that are surplus to our requirements will be sold at a reduced fee at the library, with all proceeds going directly to the up-keep and expansion of our resource centre. 

A request from the Circle Café
The wonderful support that we have received in recent months has necessitated an expansion of our kitchen and we are appealing to anyone who may have a ‘previously loved’ free standing stove and oven (or two!).
If you have a spare stove and oven in good condition, or know anyone who may be able to assist us, please be in touch with Maureen at our offices on dbnholocaust@djc.co.za or call 0313686833. 

Durban Holocaust Centre

One Family, One Walk - World Refugee Day

Alana Baranov

On Thursday June 20th 2013, World Refugee Day was celebrated around the globe.
In honour of this day, the Durban Holocaust Centre together with a fantastic array of partners organizations including Oxfam; Lawyers for Human Rights; Refugee Social Services;  Alliance Francaise; the  eThekwini Municipality; Refugee and Migrant Ministry; and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, held the ‘One Family, One Walk’ Event.
Every minute eight people are forced to flee war, persecution or terror. In solidarity with those who have been affected by these issues, a special walk was held along the Durban promenade to the Durban Holocaust Centre, where participants from the refugee community and the broader Durban society had a chance to meet each other, engage and share their personal stories first hand. Once the ‘One Family, One Walk’ event had reached the DHC, a special photographic exhibition on statelessness; poetry and music were all open to the public as well as some well-deserved refreshments.
A multitude of orange balloons, the colour of Refugee Day, were released at the DHC at the end of the event as a symbol of hope for a brighter, peaceful future. Various esteemed speakers had addressed the crowd just moments before, including a representative of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.  
The lesson from World Refugee Day was for all of us to stand in solidarity with the refugee community against xenophobia and for Durban and South Africa to unite as one to fight all types of prejudice and discrimination.

Durban Holocaust Centre

The DHC has social media covered!

Alana Baranov

‘Like’ us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/dbnholocentre), follow us on Twitter @DbnHoloCentre or log onto our website at www.holocaust.org.za.

Durban Holocaust Centre

July Events – ‘Children of Chabannes’ screening

Alana Baranov

The DHC, together with the Sisterhood of Temple David, the Victor Daitz Foundation and Alliance Francaise de Durban, showcased the film ‘Children of Chabannes’, which explores the untold story of how the people in a tiny village in unoccupied France chose action over indifference and saved the lives of 400 Jewish children.

Durban Holocaust Centre

Corporate Groups at the DHC

Alana Baranov

The Durban Holocaust Centre is fast becoming an important fixture in various corporate diversity workshops and programs.
In May, we once again hosted participants from Investec’s ‘Diversity Training’ week. The engaging group spent a powerful morning at our Centre, where they not only familiarized themselves with our exhibition of the Holocaust and took part in our challenging workshops, but also heard a variety of speakers address issues of tolerance and multiculturalism in South Africa.

Durban Holocaust Centre

Aimée & Jaguar

Alana Baranov

Aimée & Jaguar was screened at the Centre on the evening of May 22nd as part of an ancillary program for the "In Whom Can I Still Trust" exhibition - a powerful exposition of the persecution of homosexuals during the Nazi era and the prejudices faced by this community to this very day. This acclaimed exhibition left the DHC at the end of May 2013 but the issues that it raised, and the influence that it had on all our visitors, will be sure to leave a lasting impact.
Aimée & Jaguar is a 1999 German drama set in Berlin during World War II. Written and directed by Max Färberböck, and based on Erica Fischer's book of the same name, the film chronicles the actual lives of Lilly Wust and Felice Schragenheim during that time period.
In 1943, while the Allies are bombing Berlin and the Gestapo is purging the capital of Jews, a dangerous love affair blossoms between two women.  The film explores the lives of the characters Felice Schragenheim, a Jewish woman who assumed a false name and who belongs to an underground organization and Lilly Wust, a married mother of four children, unsatisfied with her philandering Nazi officer husband.

Durban Holocaust Centre

Our latest newsletter is out!

Alana Baranov

Expanded to a full six pages to capture all of our exciting news and interesting events, the DHC’s latest newsletter is out!
Be sure to stop by the DHC to collect your copy or alternatively, access it on our Facebook page
(www.facebook.com/dbnholocentre) or on our website www.holocaust.org.za.

Durban Holocaust Centre

Upcoming events “The Children of Chabannes” a documentary. DHC Centre July 3rd

Durban Holocaust Centre

The opening of our latest exhibition In Whom Can I Still trust?

Alana Baranov

The DHC’s latest and grounding breaking exhibition, ‘In Whom Can I Still Trust?’ opened at the Centre on April 17th and will be available for viewing all through May.
The exhibition, redesigned and developed for South Africa, makes use of archive photographs, personal testimonies and video clips which all relate the historical narrative of the prejudices faced by homosexuals during the Holocaust and today. Developed by Dr Klaus Mueller, who visited our shores a few months ago, on behalf of the Homosexual and Lesbian Archive in Amsterdam, the exhibition highlights the largely untold history of the persecution of homosexuals in Nazi Germany. Through additional panels, the exhibition aims to highlight the progress made in ensuring the protection of sexual minorities in South Africa
After World War II, homosexual survivors were still considered criminals and there was no compensation for them. It was only in the 21st century that they were finally recognised as survivors of Nazi atrocities. Homosexuals during the Holocaust were systematically worked to death, experimented on and castrated. Of the 100 000 homosexuals arrested, between 10 000 and 15 000 died in camps.
The exhibition’s stylish, tonal panels are thematically arranged into various categories, including: trust, love, identity and death. There is also a collection of short videos for LGBT youth directed by Andrew Barry titled It Gets Better which forms part of a global campaign to discourage homophobic bullying and provide messages of hope for affected youth.
In Whom Can I Still Trust? raises relevant and critical questions around why so many co-operated and voluntarily supported the persecution of homosexuals friends and family members.  Although Nazism was defeated, the persecution of homosexuals continues to take place the world over and is an important issue which each and every one of us should speak out against.

Durban Holocaust Centre

‘The TimeKeepers’ comes to Durban!

Alana Baranov

The most performed piece of Israeli theatre in the world, ‘The Timekeepers’ was brought to Durban by the DHC, together with Tararam. Two evening performances at the Seabrooke’s Theatre at Durban High School were both brilliantly supported, and the wonderful cheese and wine receptions that followed allowed the audience a unique opportunity to get to know the cast of talented actors.

‘The TimeKeepers’ is the story of two men, a gay German and a straight Jew, in a concentration camp who bond through lessons in watch repair and a love for opera. The play is a moving and intense portrayal that looks beyond the relationship between the main characters to question isolation and understanding in communities. The men, confined by time and space, touchingly rediscover their humanity together. This powerful performance will be remembered by Durban audiences for many years to come!

Both events were made possible through the generous support of the Victor Daitz Foundation.

Durban Holocaust Centre

Paragraph 175

Paragraph 175 was screened to a packed audience at the DHC on the evening of February 14th. This powerful documentary told the story of the widespread oppression of homosexual men during the Nazi regime where thousands were murdered in concentration camps. Narrated by Rupert Everett, Paragraph 175 presents for the first time the largely untold testimonies of some of those who survived.

The screening of the documentary was followed by a Q&A session with visiting scholar Dr Klaus Mueller, who conceived the idea for the film as well as being its Director of Research and Associate Producer. Dr Muller also held a fascinating workshop with our guides the next day at the DHC.

Durban Holocaust Centre

In Whom Can I Still trust?

Alana Baranov

An outstanding exhibition of archival photographs, testimonies and video clips which explore the persecution of homosexuals in Nazi Germany, ‘In Whom Can I Still Trust’ will soon be arriving on Durban shores. In honour of this exhibition, the DHC has hosted two preceding events dealing with the subject of the forgotten persecution of homosexual people during the Holocaust.

Durban Holocaust Centre

‘The Rescuers’ Exhibition at the DHC

‘The Rescuers’ Exhibition at the DHCThe evening also saw the unveiling of the nearly completed ‘The Rescuers’ exhibition at the DHC.Chronicling the stories of rescue and heroism from various genocides around the world during modern times, the exhibition pays tribute to the spirit of those who take a stand, put their lives at risk and act against evil.The exhibition, as well as so many of our other events and functions, is made possible through the generosity of the Victor Daitz Foundation.

Durban Holocaust Centre

Heroes of the past, role models for the future

Alana Baranov

futureUN International Day of Remembrance for Victims of the Holocaust 2013

“Many benefitted, there was a total moral collapse’, said Director of the DHC Mary Kluk, ‘but a small minority upheld moral values. These are not heroes of the past but role models for the future”.

On Monday January 28th, the DHC commemorated the UN International Day of Remembrance for Victims of the Holocaust with a special function held that evening. The theme for this year’s UN Holocaust Day was ‘Rescue during the Holocaust – the Courage to Care’.

This special event is marked around the world on January 27th, the day in 1945 when the Soviet army liberated the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camps.

Paul Goldreich, a Jungian analyst and son of anti-Apartheid struggle icon Arthur Goldreich, was the guest speaker for the evening and has spent over 25 years working with 1st and 2nd generation survivors of the Shoah.

Goldreich spoke with great insight on the effects and trauma of being ‘rescued’. He highlighted that whilst those who were rescued were very grateful to the rescuers, feelings of guilty, complicity and shame brought about by their experiences were deeply troubling for survivors. Goldreich also talked about the ‘Hidden Children’ and his work with such a group who had made it through the Holocaust by being hidden in their youth for years at a time.

Goldreich also touched on his own experiences of being a child and growing up at Lilliesleaf Farm in Johannesburg, then the underground high command for the banned African National Congress.

The evening was incredibly touching and the message from the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, read out on the night by Maureen Caminsky, perfectly encapsulated the tone and lessons of the evening. A different perspective on the concept of rescue and standing up to injustice inspired everyone lucky enough to be a part of the function.

Durban Holocaust Centre

Alana Baranov

Re-opening of the Circle Café

‘Like’ the Circle Café Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/ circlecafedurban and check out our new website for more information www.circlecafe.co.za

Durban Holocaust Centre

Alana Baranov

Remembering Raoul Wallenberg in Durban
On Thursday November 29th the Ambassador of Hungary Mr Bela Lazlo and the Durban Holocaust Centre, together with the Victor Daitz Foundation, held a commemorative exhibition and reception at the DHC to honour the 100th birth anniversary of Swedish diplomat. Raoul Wallenberg who bravely rescued thousands of Hungarian Jews during the darkest years of the Holocaust. His fate after arrest by the Soviets remains unknown to this day.

Durban Holocaust Centre

It’s been a busy few weeks at the DHC…

Alana Baranov

Christopher Nupen and Kristallnacht Film Festivals

The first two weeks of November saw the DHC host not one but two exciting mini-film festivals. On Monday 1st and Tuesday 2nd November, we had the privilege of having film director Christopher Nupen in town to present two of his truly moving films, ‘Everything is a present’ and ‘We want the light’. Mr Nupen spoke brilliantly on the motivation behind his films and even answered questions from the audience before and after each screening. The following week, in commemoration of the anniversary of Kristallnacht, we screened two  outstanding Holocaust films, ‘Journey to Justice’ on Monday November 5th and ‘Sarah’s Key’ on Tuesday 6th of November. All the screenings were very well attended and the audiences were visibly moved by the stories portrayed by the films.

Thank you!

On behalf of all the staff and volunteers of the DHC, we wish to thank you so much for all your incredible support for the Centre over the course of 2012.

This year, the DHC has gone from strength to strength in every way possible: from our informative learner workshops to extending our teacher training programs; the growth in popularity of our fabulous Gift Shop to all our exciting events and visitors.

Without your support, participation and contributions, we would not be able to do our important work! We look forward to a fantastic 2013 and many more exciting times ahead.

We’re connected!
Remember to follow us on Twitter @DbnHoloCentre and to ‘Like’ us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/dbnholocentre) and check out our website for all news and event updates!

Durban Holocaust Centre

Volunteer's Tea at the DHC

Alana Baranov

It was a lovely morning enjoyed by all who attended!

Durban Holocaust Centre

The Staff and Volunteers of the DHC have had very productive month, attending various conferences and running incredibly successful Educator and School Workshops.

SAGHF Conference and Educators Workshop

South African Genocide and Holocaust Foundation (SAGHF) Educators from Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town were privileged to attend the International Conference on Holocaust Scholarship entitled 'Personal Trajectories and Professional Interpretations' as observers. Alongside this conference, the Cape Town Holocaust Centre hosted and coordinated the South African Holocaust and Genocide Foundation's National Educator Workshops.

School Programs

The DHC has had a full schedule of schools visiting the Centre in recent months and participating in our workshop program.

The DHC’s September Newsletter is out!

To get your copy, stop by the Centre or download it from our website.

We have social media covered!

Be sure to join our Facebook page on www.facebook.com/dbnholocentre, follow us on twitter @DbnHoloCentre and visit our website www.holocaust.org.za for regular updates, news and resources.

Alana Baranov

Durban Holocaust Centre

Farewell

The Circle Cafe was the venue for a farewell to the staff of the Durban Jewish Centre complex by outgoing CKNJ President David Simpson. As a thank you for all their hard work during his Presidency, David treated everyone to a lovely lunch and those present had a chance to celebrate David's warm guidance and leadership over the past few years.

Alana Baranov

Durban Holocaust Centre

La Rafle screening with Alliance Francaise Durban

In August, the DHC together with Alliance Francaise Durban and the Victor Daitz Foundation hosted a screening of the Holocaust film La Rafle.
Based on meticulous research the film tells the story of a young boy and several families during the few weeks in July 1942 when more than 13 000 Jews, including 4000 children, were rounded-up in the infamous Vel d’ Hiv.

A capacity crowd, including members of the community as well as French students and members of Alliance Francaise and the French community, gathered at the Durban Jewish Centre to watch the moving film, which featured some of France’s leading actors.

Our Director Mary Kluk said a few words of welcome to the audience and commended Alliance Francaise for incorporating an event which represented such a dark time in their history into their French Season 2012. Sarah Doignon, Director of Alliance Francaise Durban, also spoke about how this interesting project showed the way in which France explored its own difficult history through art and the arts.

Be sure to join our Facebook page on www.facebook.com/dbnholocentre and visit our website www.holocaust.org.za for regular updates, news and resources.

Alana Baranov

Durban Holocaust Centre

Teacher Training Workshops

June and July were a particularly busy and productive months. Our educators, Janine Hamilton and Mdu Ntuli, hosted a series of very successful Teacher Training Workshops for Social Science teachers from around our lovely province.

Durban Holocaust Centre

Adult Groups Visit

Besides our regular school groups, various adult groups also visited the DHC recently. Investec brought their Durban team to the DHC as part of their Diversity Training. The group of young professionals was guided through our exhibition and had the honour of hearing both Holocaust survivor and DHC volunteer Carmela Heilbron tell her story of survival as well as an address from activist Ella Gandhi.

Durban Holocaust Centre

Our Volunteers - Our Tree of Knowlege

The DHC, is privileged to have an outstanding group of incredibly dedicated volunteers who freely give of their time and expertise to the visiting groups they guide through our centre. Without them, the DHC would not be able to carry out its invaluable work.

Durban Holocaust Centre

‘Leadership Lounge’ with Rabbi David Lapin

On May 19th the DHC held a very special fundraising evening. Our garden was magnificently transformed into a ‘Leadership Lounge’ where guests were treated to an inspirational address by internationally acclaimed speaker Rabbi David Lapin.

We would like to thank the outstanding organizing team who put so much love and effort into the preparations for this function. We would also like to thank all of our generous sponsors and those who helped contribute to making the evening the fantastic success that it was!

Mitzi Hess

The DHC would like to wish Marie (Mitzi) Hess all the best for her move to Johannesburg. Mitzi is a familiar face at the Circle Café and has always been so supportive of the work that we do at the DHC.

At the age of 13, Mitzi was part of the rescue operation known as the Kindertransport. Between 1939 and September 1939, some 10 000 Jewish children from countries under Nazi rule were brought on organized transport to foster care in Great Britain.

She is leaving Durban to take up residence in Johannesburg, where her two daughters are based, and we hope that Mitzi visits us at the DHC in the not too distant future.

DURBAN HOLOCAUST CENTRE

It’s been a busy first half of the year!

It is with a great deal of pride that we look back at the first half of 2012 at the DHC. From the unveiling of our new Children’s’ Memorial to hosting Elly Gotz at our UN International Holocaust Remembrance Day, from national educator workshops to teacher workshops – this has been a most productive and successful period. During term time, we are fully booked with school groups who continue to experience a valuable and meaningful educational morning.

Partnerships with the Department of Education

The DHC is strengthening its partnership with the provincial Department of Education in a bid to conduct more Educator Workshops throughout the province. This development comes after the DHC met with KwaZulu-Natal various Social Sciences Subject Advisers from iLembe, and several other districts in the province, to discuss ways in which our workshops could be brought to a wider audience of educators and learners.

Displaced Persons Exhibition

For the first few months of 2012, the Durban Holocaust Centre was honoured to display an exhibition of photographs of Holocaust refugees by photojournalist Clemens Kalischer entitled 'Displaced Persons'.

"In Displaced Persons, the story does not come from a neat blurb or pertinent quote, Kalischer gives us the portrait and lets the photo create the narrative; he lets the framing and the lighting and the expressions on their faces tell the story, which is where journalism falls into the arms of art. Their biographies are not missing from the exhibit. They are written in the image". Lauren Fiorelli, Colby Echo - February 22, 2011

Forthcoming Events

We have a host of public events planned for the balance of the year and encourage you to keep in touch and look out for more information as it is announced. We will be hosting an exhibition commemorating the 100th year since the birth of Raoul Wallenburg. A film, La Rafle, about the round-up by French police of Jews in Paris in July 1942, will be screened to coincide with the French cultural season in SA. We are also planning to host a wonderful new exhibition on Janus Korczak. To commemorate Kristallnacht in November we will host Yariv Lapid, who is responsible for the education infrastructure at the Mauthausen Memorial.

DHC Newsletter

The latest edition of the DHC Newsletter is out! To get your copy, stop by the Centre or download it directly from our website.

The DHC on Facebook!

‘Like’ the new Durban Holocaust Centre Facebook page at www.facebook/dbnholocentre and stay up to date with all the latest news and events from the DHC.