Recordings of several of our past events are available on our YouTube channel.
Upcoming Programs
Capitol Crimes: Protests, Policing, and the Future of American Democracy
Monday, January 18, 4pm
Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/capitol-crimes-protests-policing-and-the-future-of-american-democracy-tickets-136509949935
The recent riot on Capitol Hill – which some have called an insurrection, and which left five people dead, and dozens of police officers injured – demonstrates how fragile American democracy is. In the midst of the mayhem, law-makers from both parties found themselves huddled on the floor, away from windows or behind desks, wearing gas masks, hoping to escape harm, while the seat of American government was ransacked by White Supremacists who embraced a false narrative about a stolen election. This debacle raises some very serious and disturbing questions about racism, American exceptionalism and the future of American democracy. What social and political forces led to this tragic state of affairs? And what can we do to remedy the deep divisions in our country going forward?
This webinar will include a panel of activists, scholars and concerned citizens, and will be hosted by Daniel Burston on behalf of Duquesne University’s Social Justice Association. The event is sponsored by Duquesne’s McAnulty College of Liberal Arts, Social Justice Association, Cyril Wecht Forensic Institute, The Elsinore-Bennu Think Tank for Restorative Justice and The Schouver Initiative for Educational Equity. The event is also co-sponsored by the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh.
B’nei Mitzvah Info Session
Thursday, January 21, 6pm
Register: https://forms.gle/QWGTFTkodaa12ryY9
Becoming a Bar or Bat Mitzvah? Would you like to honor someone who was unable to live a life of mitzvot?
YOU can bring honor to their memory and carry on the strength and continuity of the Jewish People.
To learn more about the HCPGH Remembering the Children Bnei Mitzvah Project, Please join our info session on Thursday, January 21, 2021 6-7 PM
Learn more about the Remembering the Children B’nei Mitzvah program: https://hcofpgh.org/bnei-mitzvah
Voices of the Generations: An Evening with Julie Kohner
In Honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day
Wednesday, January 27, 7pm
Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/voices-of-the-generations-an-evening-with-julie-kohner-tickets-133376939015
This is a live event taking place on Zoom that will not be recorded. Registration in advance is required to gain access to the Zoom event.
In honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh is proud to present a special, one-night program with Julie Kohner.
Julie is the daughter of Walter and Hanna Kohner, both born in Teplitz Schonau, Czechoslovakia. Hanna survived four concentration camps during the Holocaust and was featured on the show This Is Your Life in 1953; this made her the first Holocaust survivor to share her story on national television. Walter and Hanna also wrote an autobiography called Hanna and Walter, A Love Story, which traces their journey from 1930s pre-war Europe to reuniting after the end of the war.
After Hanna passed away, her only child, Julie, established her nonprofit organization Voices of the Generations, with the goal of teaching the Holocaust as seen through her mother’s eyes. Since then, it has grown into her unique and personal approach to Holocaust Education, and she has been telling her mother’s story for over 30 years to groups around the world.
During this event, Julie will use her parents’ book, artifacts, and the landmark episode of This Is Your Life to bring to life the story of Voices of the Generations.
This event is free of charge; however, donations are appreciated.
To donate to the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh, click here.
To donate to Voices of the Generations, click here.
Celebration of Life for Shulamit Bastacky
Tuesday, February 2, 12:30pm
Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/136720860775
In Judaism, the Shloshim is an observance during the mourning period that marks 30 days since a burial. The Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh is honoring the life of our dear friend Shulamit Bastacky by holding a Shloshim in her honor.
All who knew and loved Shulamit are welcome to submit a short video with your memories of your time with Shulamit or the wishes you would like to share with her family. We will share as many of these as possible during the program, which we’ll be airing on February 2, 2021.
Videos can be submitted here: https://flipgrid.com/2640e51f.
We ask that videos please be submitted by January 26. In order to accommodate as many mourners as possible, please note that videos are limited to one minute in length.
Loved ones may also submit a written memory or tribute to Shulamit at this online guestbook: https://www.forevermissed.com/shulamit-bastacky/
Educator of the Year Interview: Dr. Joshua Andy
Tuesday, February 9, 3pm
Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/educator-of-the-year-interview-dr-joshua-andy-tickets-133377907913
This event is pre-recorded and will continue to be available after the premier.
The Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh’s Education Outreach Associate, Emily Bernstein, is conducting a series of interviews with the winners of Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh’s “Holocaust Educator of the Year” awards to learn more about their inspiring classrooms and advice they have for other educators on teaching this difficult topic.
Dr. Joshua Andy won the 2016-2017 Holocaust Educator of the Year award. He teaches history in the Upper School at Winchester Thurston. He holds a Ph.D. in Russian and East European Studies from Birmingham University.
Conversations Series: Jon Prince
Thursday, February 25, 3PM
Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/conversations-series-jon-prince-tickets-136719348251
This event is pre-recorded and will continue to be available after the premier.
Typically, after we lose survivors, it is their direct descendants–such as those in our Generations Speaker Series–who carry on their legacy. But local businessman Jon Prince is not a typical Generations speaker. His relationship with Holocaust survivor Helen Bayer was forged a few years ago from a chance meeting in a parking lot, blossoming into a close friendship that lasted until her passing in late 2020.
Jon and Helen’s friendship encompasses the Elie Wiesel statement, “Whoever listens to a witness, becomes a witness.” In this conversation, Jon speaks with Holocaust Center Director Lauren Bairnsfather about the beginning of his friendship with Helen, more about her and their special relationship, and his advice to others in building these once-in-a-lifetime kinds of friendships.
2021 Yom HaShoah Program
Thursday, April 8, 2021, 11am
Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2021-yom-hashoah-program-tickets-133378148633
The first major program under the auspices of the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh, established in 1980, was a Yom HaShoah commemoration. Throughout its 40 year history, the Center has held the commemoration every year thereafter, making it the cornerstone our yearly programming. In keeping with our 2020-2021 program theme of “40 Years of the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh”, this year’s commemoration will include photographs and mementos of the many commemorations the Center has held over the past 40 years.
About Yom HaShoah
Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day, is the day set aside to remember the approximately six-million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. In Israel, it is a national memorial day.
Yom HaShoah was inaugurated in 1959, anchored in a law signed by then Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion and Israeli President Yitzhak Ben-Zvi. It is held on the 27th of the Jewish month of Nisan. Because the 27th of Nisan changes each year on the secular calendar, the date of the commemoration varies year to year.
The 2021 Yom HaShoah program is underwritten by Agnes Rocher and Family, in memory of her husband George.