Elon joined theaters, universities and organizations across the country in participating in National Jewish Theater Foundation's 3rd Annual Holocaust Remembrance Day Play Readings
On Monday, April 24, the Elon community gathered to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust by participating in the third annual National Jewish Theater Foundation’s Holocaust Remembrance Day Play Readings.
A part of Elon’s Celebrate Week, the play readings honored Elie Wiesel, author and activist, by reading “dialogs,” three short plays that explore the themes of remembrance, loss and responsibility. This event joined Elon with more than 50 theaters, synagogues and communities across the country as people gathered to observe Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day.
The readings, which were sponsored by the Truitt Center for Religious Life and Hillel/Jewish Life at Elon, included the play readings and a panel discussion on the importance of remembering. The actors for the reading were Kirby Wahl, professor of performing arts and associate dean of Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences, Tres McMichael ’19, Kim Shively, assistant professor of performing arts and the and the coordinator of the event, Spencer Hodges ’17, George Whitaker ’17, and Emily Collins ’17. Susanne Shawyer assistant professor of performing arts, moderated the panel, which included Andrea Sinn assistant professor of history and geography, Rabbi Meir Goldstein, associate chaplain for Jewish life and the actors.
The panelists spoke to the history of the responses to the Holocaust and the power of theater and art to unify people around stories of humanity. The conversations centered around not only remembering, but each individual’s personal responsibility to respond and act in the face of intolerance and violence. This event felt particularly relevant in light of recent divisive rhetoric in the mainstream media and political climate.
The Elon Community is encouraged to continue the observation of Yom HaShoah with two upcoming events:
Thursday, April 27, at 7:30 p.m.: “Metallic Blues,” an Israeli movie about Holocaust memory. Turner Theatre, School of Communications
Wednesday, May 3 at 5:30 to 7 p.m., Zev Harel, 87-year-old Auschwitz survivor and professor emeritus, Cleveland State University, will share his story with the Elon Community. LaRose Theatre, Koury Business Center