CUJF Holocaust Education Center June Newsletter
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The Auschwitz Experience in the Art of Prisoners
at McKinley Memorial Presbyterian Church from 6/22-29/2025
The traveling Holocaust exhibit, The Auschwitz Experience in the Art of Prisoners, will be displayed at the McKinley Memorial Presbyterian Church from June 22nd to 29th, 2025. This exhibit, created by the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, features artwork by 12 Holocaust survivors who documented their experiences in the Auschwitz Concentration Camp.
You can find more information about this exhibit below in the HEC Events section of the newsletter, or at cujf.org/hec
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HEC Events in April and May
April and May were very busy months for the HEC, with a major musical event to support Holocaust education, the awards ceremony for the Through Their Eyes: A Holocaust Art and Writing Contest, Champaign-Urbana's annual Yom Hashoah commemoration, and more!
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Musical Magic Live: $37,000 Raised to support Holocaust Education in IL
Through sponsorships, pledges, and ticket sales, Magical Music Live on April 6th raised over $37,800 for the Lilly and David Gingold Fund for Holocaust and Tolerance Outreach! This incredible success goes beyond a beautiful evening of music; it’s a powerful testament to what we can achieve together as a community.
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UIUC EDUC 201 Students Complete HEC Spring Volunteer Course
Every fall and spring semesters for the past 3 years, the HEC partners with the UIUC Education 201 class to offer a volunteer course on teaching the Holocaust in compliance with the 1990 Illinois state mandate. Students spend the semester learning from our own HEC volunteers, speakers from our community, the ADL, and beyond. They also participate in a number of volunteer opportunities. At the conclusion of the semester, students present a final project on a rescuer/resistor, along with lesson plans for their future classes.
This spring, the 7 students who completed the course gave wonderful presentations, and showed a tremendous effort when volunteering. All HEC educators were impressed by the level of work done throughout the semester, and are certain that students will use the lessons learned in this course in future university classes and when teaching their own students.
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Through Their Eyes: Student Art & Writing Contest Awards Ceremony
The 2025 contest awards ceremony was held at the Cohen Center on April 6th. The HEC Contest Committee was impressed by the artistic expression and creativity of all the students who participated. Entries came from Champaign, Effingham, Moultrie, and Vermilion counties.
Congratulations to ALL the students who participated in our contest and our sincerest gratitude to all of those who helped students enter our contest. We are proud to announce winners of Best In Show below.
BEST IN SHOW: ART - TIE
Sarayu Papi Reddy for her piece "Sophie Scholl"
Supporting Adult: Parent Shasikala Papisetty
Madison Flexser for her piece "The Silent Tears from History"
Supporting Adult: Teacher Lisa Bertetto
BEST IN SHOW: WRITING & FILM
Hannah Needham for her piece "Memory: The Story of Roald Hoffmann"
Supporting Adult: Teacher Yulia Cook
To read more about this contest, visit www.cujf.org/hec/tte
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The HEC is still busy this summer preparing for the fall, so stay tuned for more updates on the Through Their Eyes 2026 contest, available traveling Holocaust exhibits, and an exciting initiative in Vermillion County!
Until next month,
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Azer Matten (They/Them)
CUJF Community Engagement Coordinator
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Courtney Smith (She/Her)
Holocaust Education Committee Co-Chair
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Dr. Carrie Franke (She/Her)
Holocaust Education Committee Co-Chair
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Docent Training Workshop
Friday, June 13th, 2025
2:00 - 3:00 PM CST
email [email protected] for address
Are you interested in serving as a docent for one of our traveling Holocaust exhibits? Do you want to get some more background information about the Auschwitz Experience in the Art of Prisoners? Join the HEC for a special docent training workshop this Friday, June 13th at 2pm to get hands-on training with our team to prepare you to serve as a volunteer docent. Email [email protected] for the address and more information.
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The Auschwitz Experience in the Art of Prisoners
created by the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum
June 22nd - 29th, 2025
McKinley Memorial Presbyterian Church
801 S 5th St, Champaign, IL, 61820
This traveling exhibit features artwork by 12 Holocaust survivors who documented their experiences in the Auschwitz Concentration Camp, the largest German concentration and extermination camp during WWII. View these profound pieces of art, which include 60 paintings and drawings displayed thematically on 24-panels in docent-led small groups or independently.
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PUBLIC VIEWING HOURS
Sundays June 22 & June 29
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Monday, June 23 - Saturday, June 28
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
SPECIAL EVENTS
All events will take place at the McKinley Memorial Presbyterian Church.
Sunday Worship & Reflection
with Dr. Carrie Franke
Sunday, June 22nd, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Dr. William Gingold:
Child Holocaust Survivor
Monday, June 23rd, 5:00 - 7:00 PM
More than the Darkness:
Volunteering at Auschwitz
with Dr. Carrie Franke
Thursday, June 26th, 2:00 - 3:30 PM
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For more information, visit cujf.org/hec.
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CUJF Holocaust Education Center April Newsletter
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This Sunday, you are invited to Musical Magic Live: Music and Song of Jewish Artists Through Time. In addition to a wonderful array of live music, you will also be able to view the SHOAH: How Was It Humanly Possible traveling Holocaust exhibit, created by Yad Vashem. This exhibit is paired with personal stories of Holocaust survivors that are or were local to Champaign-Urbana. More information is included in the events section below!
This month, our newsletter is highlighting some of the incredible work that local community members are doing to support Holocaust education in Central Illinois.
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Local Student Wins International Competition
Hannah Needham of Jefferson Middle School has won the 2025 Chapman University Holocaust Art and Writing Contest, Middle School Division Film Category!! The HEC was proud to support Hannah's travel to California to attend the awards ceremony in March.
Click the button below to watch "She Taught Me How to Read in the Attic", Hannah's award winning film!
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Dr. Gingold Speaks to Hundreds
Dr. Gingold was invited to speak to what he expected to be one classroom of students at Johns Hill Magnet School in Decatur. Upon arrival, he was lead to a stage where he was presented to an entire middle school, including fourth and fifth graders. Students of all ages were captivated by his story, skipping part of their lunch period to stay and ask questions.
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The students and staff thanked Dr. Gingold for his time by giving him Hershey's chocolates and a card signed by students. Many also gave their thanks by coming up to shake his hand at the end!
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Monticello High School & Franklin Middle School Host Holocaust Museums
For the first time ever, Monticello High School sophomores created a Holocaust Memorial Museum as a final project for their WWII Unit. HEC members had a special opportunity to walk through the exhibit and were deeply impressed with the depth of research and variety of projects that were on display.
Franklin STEAM Academy in Champaign held their annual 8th grade Holocaust Museum project, with a focus on Rescuers and Resisters during the Holocaust. Students presented their posters with a 'artifact' made of recycled materials, along with their research paper on the topic. Getting to see how knowledgeable the students were on their subject of choice was so refreshing! It showed us, as Holocaust historians and educators, how important Holocaust education is to our youth.
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Do you want to showcase your classes' Holocaust unit projects? Keep reading for a great way to share your students work this month!
Until later this spring,
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Azer Matten (They/Them)
CUJF Community Engagement Coordinator
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Courtney Smith (She/Her)
Holocaust Education Committee Chair
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The work of the Holocaust Education Center is made possible by donations. Please consider a gift to support our work.
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Please remember the Champaign-Urbana Jewish Federation Holocaust Education Center with a gift in your will, trust, retirement account or life insurance policy.
Call us at 217-367-9872 or reply to this email.
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SUBMIT YOUR STUDENTS' WORK
Through Their Eyes
A Student Exhibit on the Holocaust
in Commemoration of Yom Hashoah
Would you like to share work that students have made during your Holocaust unit? We would love to display artwork, writing, and film from your class at this exhibit.
The exhibit aims to promote an understanding of this horrific era in our history and encourage tolerance.
Please submit student work digitally by Monday, April 14th to [email protected]. We will be in touch afterwards for physical copies to be displayed.
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Musical Magic Live
Music and Song of Jewish Artists Through Time
Musical Magic Live is an unforgettable fundraising event featuring three extraordinary musicians—Cameron Cornell, Angie Rouley, and Tamra Gingold. Through the timeless melodies of Jewish composers and performers, they’ll bring to life stories of hope, courage, resilience, and joy. The evening will be guided by our Master of Ceremonies, Elizabeth Hess, Editor-in-Chief of Chambana Today.
In addition to the concert, attendees will experience the traveling Holocaust exhibit SHOAH: How Was It Humanly Possible, created by Yad Vashem. This powerful exhibit provides a historical look at the Holocaust while also featuring personal stories from local Holocaust survivors, adding a deeply personal connection to our community’s history. We are incredibly grateful to Illini Hillel for making this exhibit possible.
Click the button below to purchase tickets and for more information!
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This event is sponsored by Phyllis & William Gingold, Ben & Jess LeRoy, Dana & Erez Cohen, Illinois CancerCare P.C., Stephen Downie & Deborah Katz-Downie, Susan Frankenberg & Lyle Konigsberg, Cecile & Ira Lebenson, The Libman Company, Cecile and Ira Lebenson, Alison Rosenblum & Yoni Kahn, David & Jan Sholem, Robert & Dottie Shapiro, Janis & Maury Topolosky, CU Elks Lodge #2497, The Meisinger Family, Darrold A Kennedy, Carl & Carol Belber, Chambana Moms, Mayor Deb Feinen, Natalie Frankenberg, Habeeb Habeeb, Sheri Langendorf, Janet & Michael LeRoy, Mayor Diane Marlin, Julia & Gene Robinson, Alex Scheeline & Alice Berkson, Rae Spooner, Courtney Smith, Kathryn Sweedler, Nancy & Ed Tepper, The Weinberg Family, Barry Weiner, Active Senior Options, Courtney Smith, Rae Spooner, and Watch Me Grow.
Promotional sponsors include the CUJF Holocaust Education Center, Illini Hillel, Illini Chabad, PrimeLife Times, the Program in Jewish Culture and Society, Sinai Temple, and WeLoveUrbana
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Screening of
COLLEYVILLE
To Commemorate Yom Hashoah
Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Sinai Temple, 3104 Windsor Rd
In January 2022, the Jewish community watched in horror as a gunman with antisemitic ideologies entered a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas and held Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker and his congregants hostage during an eleven hour standoff. The documentary film “Colleyville,” directed by award-winning filmmaker Dani Menkin, tells the story of that ordeal.
Sinai Temple and the CUJF Holocaust Education Center will host Dani Menkin for a showing of this film as our community commemoration of Yom HaShoah, with a discussion following the screening.
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Through Their Eyes:
A Student Art Exhibit on the Holocaust
April 24th & 25th, 2025
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Sinai Temple, 3104 Windsor Rd
This exhibit features original works on the study of the Holocaust created by students from Central Illinois. The exhibit aims to promote an understanding of this horrific era in our history and encourage tolerance.
Are you interested in hosting your students' projects in this exhibit? Email [email protected] to let us know!
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Where is Dr. William Gingold Speaking this Month?
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Dr. Gingold, Champaign-Urbana's local Holocaust survivor, makes a tremendous effort to help educate others about the Holocaust and to promote tolerance by sharing his families story. If you have not heard his story before, you can catch him at one of the locations below.
- April 2nd: USMC Journalists Association
- April 3rd: Armstrong-Potomac High School
- April 4th: Next Generation School
- April 8th: University High School
- April 15th & 16th: Centennial High School
- April 17th: UIUC Course with Rachelle Grossman
- April 22nd: Parkland College (open to the public)
- April 24th: Villas of Holly Brook (open to the public)
- April 30th: Effingham Library (open to the public)
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CUJF Holocaust Education Center March Newsletter
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The HEC was incredibly busy in February, with an exhibit in Tolono, the start of the volunteer course for UIUC students in EDUC 201, an author presentation by Jeffrey Gingold, and several appearances around town by his uncle Bill Gingold, who shared his families story with hundreds of individuals last month.
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Unity Schools Hosts Traveling Holocaust Exhibit
We had the pleasure of partnering with Unity Schools in Tolono to host the SHOAH: How Was It Humanly Possible traveling exhibit from February 10th-13th, which was viewed by nearly 700 people! This exhibit was accompanied by special presentations by child Holocaust survivor, Dr. Bill Gingold, and longtime HEC leader, Dr. Brian Kahn, to over 160 students. Over 150 adults stopped to view the exhibit during parent-teacher conferences, including the Champaign Chief of Police!
This exhibit was made possible by our incredible volunteers, who put in over 85 hours to support this project. We were blown away by the support of the school staff, from the principals, 18 teachers with student tours, to the custodial and kitchen staff.
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Jeffrey Gingold Presents Tunnel, Smuggle, Collect: A Holocaust Boy
Last Sunday, the Central Illinois community was privileged to hear Jeffrey Gingold share his families story as told in his book Tunnel, Smuggle, Collect: A Holocaust Boy, featuring Jeffrey's father, Sam Gingold. His presentation began with a bold introduction - "Have you ever thought 'I Don't Belong Here'? As in, you should not exist?" From there, listeners heard descriptions of a haunted reality for 7 year old Sam, and saw a video that emphasized the importance of Holocaust Education. Jeffrey's talk left a deep impression on everyone in the room, including many cousins who were in the audience. You can get your own copy of his book HERE.
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The HEC has plenty of upcoming teacher initiatives, events, and volunteer opportunities in March and April. You can find information about all these below!
Until next month,
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Azer Matten (They/Them)
CUJF Community Engagement Coordinator
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Courtney Smith (She/Her)
Holocaust Education Committee Chair
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The work of the Holocaust Education Center is made possible by donations. Please consider a gift to support our work.
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Please remember the Champaign-Urbana Jewish Federation Holocaust Education Center with a gift in your will, trust, retirement account or life insurance policy.
Call us at 217-367-9872 or reply to this email.
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CALL FOR STUDENTS WORK
Through Their Eyes
A Student Exhibit on the Holocaust
in Commemoration of Yom Hashoah
Would you like to share work that students have made during your Holocaust unit? We would love to display artwork, writing, and film from your class at this exhibit.
The exhibit aims to promote an understanding of this horrific era in our history and encourage tolerance.
Please submit student work digitally by Monday, April 14th to [email protected]. We will be in touch afterwards for physical copies to be displayed.
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Find the Holocaust Education Center at
Read Across America
Saturday, March 8th, 2025
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Lincoln Square Mall
300 S. Broadway, Urbana, IL
Join the Urbana Park District alongside the HEC, CUJF's PJ Library, and 40+ local businesses and organizations to celebrate literacy!
Stop by our table to check out some excellent Holocaust literature and other resources! We will also be joined by CUJF's PJ Library.
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EDUC 201: Open to the Community
Tuesdays March 11th, 25th, and April 1st
5:00 - 7:00 PM
Cohen Center, 503 E John St
The HEC offers a volunteer course as one of the options for UIUC students taking EDUC 201. Join this semesters volunteer cohort for specific sessions as they learn best practices teaching holocaust through lessons, interactive activities, events, and speakers. Sessions open to the public are listed below. Please respond to this email if you would like to attend.
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March 11th: Dr. William Gingold, child survivor of the Holocaust
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March 25th: Linda Bauer, child of Holocaust survivors
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April 1st: Erez Cohen, descendant of Holocaust survivors
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Where is Dr. William Gingold Speaking this Month?
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Dr. Gingold, Champaign-Urbana's local Holocaust survivor, makes a tremendous effort to help educate others about the Holocaust and to promote tolerance by sharing his families story. If you have not heard his story before, you can catch him at one of the locations below.
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March 3, 6, and 7: Urbana Middle School
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March 4: Rantoul Township High School
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March 10: Johns Hill Magnet School
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March 11: UIUC EDUC 201 Class (open to the public)
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March 30: Gibson City United Methodist Church (open to the public)
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Musical Magic Live
Music and Song of Jewish Artists Through Time
Musical Magic Live is an unforgettable fundraising event featuring three extraordinary musicians—Cameron Cornell, Angie Rouley, and Tamra Gingold. Through the timeless melodies of Jewish composers and performers, they’ll bring to life stories of hope, courage, resilience, and joy. The evening will be guided by our Master of Ceremonies, Elizabeth Hess, Editor-in-Chief of Chambana Today.
In addition to the concert, attendees will experience the traveling Holocaust exhibit SHOAH: How Was It Humanly Possible, created by Yad Vashem. This powerful exhibit provides a historical look at the Holocaust while also featuring personal stories from local Holocaust survivors, adding a deeply personal connection to our community’s history. We are incredibly grateful to Illini Hillel for making this exhibit possible.
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Click HERE to RSVP
This event is generously sponsored by Champaign-Urbana Elks Lodge, Darrold Kennedy, the Meisinger family, Carol and Carl Belber, Barry Weiner, Urbana Mayor Diane Marlin, Active Senior Options Inc, and Watch Me Grow. Promotional sponsors include Illini Hillel, Illini Chabad, PrimeLife Times, The Program in Jewish Culture and Society, Sinai Temple, and WeLoveUrbana. We are grateful to Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum for providing the traveling exhibit.
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CUJF Holocaust Education Center February Newsletter
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The Holocaust Education Center has had a very busy start to the year, with events in 6 locations during January! We had a wonderful time meeting parents at the Homeschool Expo, and were deeply moved by the performance, Songs From Testimonies, from Zisl Slepovich at the Spurlock Museum. Outside of Champaign-Urbana, local Holocaust survivor Dr. William Gingold traveled to Effingham and Charleston to share his families story. The HEC was also on the Eastern Illinois Campus in Charleston for the Courage to Remember (CTR) Exhibit, hosted at the Booth Library from Jan. 27th-31st. After two years of work from our dedicated volunteers, we were able to partner with Eastern Illinois University to share this traveling exhibit.
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The exhibit opened on International Holocaust Remembrance Day with special remarks from the EIU President, Jay Gatrell, and CUJF Executive Director, Ma'ayan Weinberg. The exhibit was viewed by over 130 attendees throughout the week, including students and community members alike. Thank you to our partners at the Booth Library for making this possible!
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The HEC won't be slowing down in February, with a traveling exhibit next week, an exciting author visit, and much more on the horizon. Keep reading for more information!
Until next month,
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Azer Matten (They/Them)
CUJF Community Engagement Coordinator
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Courtney Smith (She/Her)
Holocaust Education Committee Chair
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The work of the Holocaust Education Center is made possible by donations. Please consider a gift to support our work.
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Please remember the Champaign-Urbana Jewish Federation Holocaust Education Center with a gift in your will, trust, retirement account or life insurance policy.
Call us at 217-367-9872 or reply to this email.
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SHOAH: How Was It Humanly Possible
With CU Community Connections
February 13th, 2025
3:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Unity High School
1127 County Rd 800, Tolono IL
The Holocaust Education Center is partnering with Tolono's Unity Jr. and High Schools to host the Traveling Holocaust Exhibit, SHOAH: How Was It Humanly Possible, with CU community connections, at Unity High School on Thursday, February 13th from 3:00-9:00pm.
This exhibition displays major historical aspects of the Holocaust. Known in Hebrew as the Shoah, the Holocaust was a total and systematic genocide, between 1933 and 1945 in Europe by Nazi Germany and its collaborators. Their aim, complete annihilation of the Jewish people through mass extermination.
These large panels bring the past to the present and enable visitors to further understand the Holocaust and remember the victims, through first person accounts of not only persecution, but the resilience of survival.
This exhibit also contains special additions with stories of Holocaust Survivors from Champaign-Urbana. We are grateful to the Illini Hillel for the use of this exhibit. This exhibit was created by Yad Vashem.
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Author Presentation
Jeffrey Gingold
Sunday, February 23rd, 2025
at the Urbana Free Library
210 W Green St, Urbana
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM CST
Come to hear internationally acclaimed and award winning author Jeffrey Gingold as he speaks about his father Sam Gingold’s experiences during the Holocaust. After his presentation, Mr. Gingold will hold a Q&A followed by a signing of his book, Tunnel, Smuggle, Collect: A Holocaust Boy. Jeffrey is the nephew of Dr. William Gingold.
Click the button below for more information and to RSVP.
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Where is Dr. William Gingold Speaking this Month?
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Dr. Gingold, Champaign-Urbana's local Holocaust survivor, makes a tremendous effort to help educate others about the Holocaust and to promote tolerance by sharing his families story. If you have not heard his story before, you can catch him at one of the locations below.
- February 13th at Unity High School
- February 19th at Next Generation School
- February 25th at Mahomet Public Library (open to the public)
- February 27th at Rantoul Public Library (open to the public)
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