Standing Against Racism, Intolerance, and Holocaust Denial
 Standing Against Racism, Intolerance and Holocaust DenialIn our effort to stand against the rise of racism, intolerance, hatred and Holocaust denial, The Survivor Mitzvah Project recently filmed award-winning artists at New York City’s Triad Theater, reading letters and testimony written by Holocaust survivors in our care. These readings were selected from over 33,000 handwritten documents in SMP’s Holocaust Educational Archive, which focuses on the Holocaust in the East (also known as the “Holocaust by Bullets”), and will be preserved at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. This is the first of many such readings planned in 2023 and 2024. The survivors, many of whom have been silenced for decades, shared for the very first time their Holocaust experiences with SMP’s founder, Zane Buzby. Each reading addresses a unique, personal Holocaust story as we hear first-hand from those who suffered in ghettos and gulags, fought in the forests as brave partisans, hid underground, escaped mass killings in their towns and villages, were forced into starvation camps, or those who escaped the advancing German Army and the mobile killing squads, only to suffer hunger, cold and hard labor in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Siberia – as well as those who still live in hostile countries and endure cruel antisemitism today. All survivors have one thing in common. The Holocaust decimated their families and their communities, leaving them isolated, alone and neglected. Their suffering could have been prevented had they lived in a kind, inclusive, and compassionate world. This is what The Survivor Mitzvah Project is working toward: A world without hate.  .  .  Michael Emerson Frankie Faison Richard KindWe salute these exceptionally gifted artists who donated their talent and time in standing against racism and Holocaust denial by bringing the words of survivors to life in moving and powerful performances.     Tom Leopold David Cross Peter Friedman Paul Shaffer Joining us to read letters to take his stand against racism and Holocaust denial is Peter Martin, owner of the Triad Theater, which he graciously donated for these readings. Also taking part in the readings are Executive Director Masha Pearl of the Blue Card and Elie Rubinstein, on the board of directors of the Blue Card, a wonderful organization which raised funds for our survivors in war-torn Ukraine.  .  .  . Peter Martin Masha Pearl Elie RubinsteinThese never-before-told stories are the survivors’ legacy to us and generations to come. They have thanked us for collecting their experiences and making them available to museums and educational institutions worldwide. They tell us they now feel they haven’t lived in vain, nor will they die in vain. A piece of them will be eternal, and most importantly, the truth about what happened to their families will be honored and remembered. It is their greatest wish that their experiences teach tolerance, so that future generations will live in a peaceful and just world. These readings will also be offered to schools and universities for use in classroom settings to inspire a dialogue about justice, human commonality, and the importance of standing against racism and intolerance wherever it may take hold. In the months ahead, videos of the readings will be sent to you via email as part of our fundraising efforts to provide survivors in Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Transnistria, and Ukraine, desperately needed food, medicine, heating fuel, shelter, and medical care, as well as emergency supplies for those impacted by Russia’s continued war on innocent civilians – crucial during the bitter cold winter. Currently, many survivors in Ukraine have no heat, no electricity, and no clean water. The suffering there is unimaginable and has been escalating for over a year and a half. The last survivors of the Holocaust need us to act now. It will take many generous hearts to make sure everyone has what they need to keep on surviving. Together we can do this and let our survivors know they have not been forgotten. Please donate generously to show survivors we care. Give what you can, and tell your circle of family, friends, and colleagues how they too can be a part of this urgent humanitarian effort. This is the last generation of Holocaust Survivors, and we are the last generation who can help them. We must accept this honor and duty now. Click to donate!Donate online at: www.survivormitzvah.org 800-905-6160 |
