Jewish Leadership in the Holocaust

Jan. 26, 2015

Jewish leaders serving on Nazi appointed Judenrat (Jewish Councils) in major cities such as Warsaw, Lodz, Kovno, Vilna and Budapest, faced horrendous choices in their efforts to keep their communities alive. Dominated by ruthless Nazi overseers they were forced to choose between defiance and collaboration; between sacrificing some in order to preserve the rest; between supporting the underground or repressing it; between trusting the Jewish police or despising them; between saving their own families or preserving the remainder of the Jewish community. Despite the extreme circumstances, most acted with courage and principle; others failed to meet the ethical test.Judaic Studies Visiting Scholar Sol Littman is scheduled to present five weekly, ninety minute lectures on “Jewish Leadership in the Holocaust” at the JCC, beginning at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 18. Littman, a sociologist and journalist has written and edited three Holocaust related books that received wide circulation. For 15 years he worked as Canadian Director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center.Five 90-minute sessions: February 18th, 25th, March 11th, 18th, 25th; 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.Register at JCC Welcome Desk or call 299-3000.$20 for non-members, $18 for JCC members.