With the 80th anniversary of this momentous event upon us in April, Zachary Mazur, Ph.D., will reflect on the Warsaw Ghetto uprising in stark contrast against the stereotype of Jewish passivity during the Holocaust.

This presentation will draw upon some never-before- seen sources and images that were discovered in the process of preparing the POLIN Museum’s temporary exhibition Around Us a Sea of Fire on the civilian experience in bunkers and hideouts during the uprising. The exhibit avoids any use of sources from the perpetrators, either in text or photographs, focusing entirely on victims and bystanders.

Featured speaker: Dr. Simran Jeet Singh Dr. Simran Jeet Singh Executive Director of the Aspen Institute for Religion & Society on “The Light We Give, “ a book on the wisdom of Sikhism about overcoming racism and fear through optimism and connection. Simran is a public figure in interreligious engagement and a scholar. As turban-wearing Sikhs growing up in Texas, Simran and his brothers faced racism daily. On the soccer field, on the basketball court, and especially at the airport. Over the years, Simran learned that the same tradition that caused him to look different had unique wisdom for confronting the challenges of our time. Simran has studied and practiced these teachings and shares insights on how Sikh ideas can enrich us all.

In Afghanistan, Sohaila Kakar was a practicing surgeon; then, in 2021, the Taliban took over the country. Join us as Sohaila discusses life before and after the Taliban's takeover in Afghanistan–and the physical, economic, and psychological toll it had upon her family as they fled. Her story also highlights the compassionate work done by Upwardly Global, the non-profit agency that provided guidance to Sohaila’s family as they settled in the U.S.

This event is part of the 2022-23 Harriet & Kenneth Kupferberg Holocaust Center (KHC) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Colloquium, “Trauma, Remembrance, and Compassion.” The event is organized by the KHC at Queensborough Community College and is co-sponsored by the Ray Wolpow Institute at Western Washington University; the Holocaust, Genocide and Interfaith Education Center at Manhattan College; and the Center for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights at Rutgers University.