HONORING BULGARIA AND DENMARK FOR RESCUE OF JEWS DURING THE HOLOCAUST

On Sunday, April 7, 2002, The Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion will honor Bulgaria and Denmark with a formal reception, dinner, and program at the Omni Netherland Plaza Hotel in Cincinnati beginning at 6:00 pm. These two countries remarkably saved their Jewish citizens from Nazi persecution and this special evening will pay tribute to the heroism of the peoples of these countries with a culturally rich program featuring some of the Tri-state's finest performers.

The Cincinnati Arts Association Jazz Quartet will perform during the cocktail reception. Dinner will begin with the May Festival Youth Chorus performing a repertoire of Jewish Folk songs including "Blessed is the Match" based on a poem by Hannah Senesh. The Northern Kentucky University Choral Singers will be performing a collection of songs from musical theater that deal with the issues of racism and bigotry. And, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra will close the evening with Bulgarian-Jewish dances, the story of Danish people risking their lives to provide minorities a protected home, and the theme from Schindler's List.

Dinner guests will hear from His Serene Highness, Prince Karl-Boris Leiningen of Bulgaria. The Honorable Hristo Danov, Chief Justice, Constitutional Court of Bulgaria; the Honorable Elena Poptodorova, Ambassador of Bulgaria to the United States; and, the Honorable Ulrik Federspiel, Ambassador of Denmark to the United States will also be present at the dinner.

The dinner, part of the "Day of Recognition" honoring Bulgaria and Denmark, opens two weeks of Holocaust Awareness Weeks 2002 programming in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky areas. Carole Tyler Rigaud and Mary Hemmer are the co-chairs of the "Day of Recognition." Ms. Rigaud, a board member of The Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education, is a committed community activist serving on a number of boards including the Free Store/Food Bank, Advocates for Youth, and the May Festival. Ms. Hemmer, Managing Partner of Hemmer Communities, is a board member of the Kentucky Humanities Council.

The Honorable S. Arthur and Louise Spiegel and the Honorable Nathaniel and Lillian Jones have been chosen as the honorary co-chairs of Holocaust Awareness Weeks 2002 because of their tireless efforts in service to the community for over half a century.

In addition to the dinner, the "Day of Recognition" honoring Bulgaria and Denmark will include a public ceremony at the Cincinnati Art Museum where representatives from these two countries will receive honors. Throughout the day, a series of documentary films testifying to the heroism of these two countries will be shown in the auditorium of the Cincinnati Art Museum. And, two related art exhibitions will be on display at locations around the city. Prize-winning artist Karen Gunderson will display paintings and prints at the HUC-JIR Skirball Museum and the photography of Judy Ellis Glickman, Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain, will be on display at the Cincinnati Public Library downtown.

"Role Models from the Holocaust" is the theme for the Second Annual Holocaust Awareness Weeks to be held from April 7 to April 21, 2002. Two weeks of lectures, exhibits, films, and cultural events are offered to the public. Area bookstores and public libraries will feature exhibits and book signings and the Cincinnati Film Society will host film viewings across the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area. A series of speakers will give presentations and lead discussions in universities and high schools.

The Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education is an education and community resource center established by The Combined Generations of the Holocaust of Greater Cincinnati and Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. The Center offers workshops, professional training seminars, and graduate courses. Teaching Holocaust Studies from academic and theological perspectives, The Center promotes tolerance and social justice in a broad range of civic and cultural concerns. For dinner reservations or more information about the "Day of Recognition" call (513) 221-7373. For more information on Holocaust Awareness Weeks 2002 or to receive a calendar of events contact The Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education by phone: (513) 221-1875, ext. 355 or email: CHHE@huc.edu.