Here is a calendar of upcoming events, up and down the country. Some are organized by us, others by like-minded organizations and groups.
We are pleased to welcome author, Lynley Smith to address the Society on December 1.
After finding a tenuous family connection to the mysterious and captivating Jane Haining, Lynley Smith crafted Jane’s fictionalized diary, a biography of a faithful servant and Scottish missionary who died at the hands of Nazi butchers in Auschwitz Concentration Camp during World War II, in the inspirational and bittersweet From Matron to Martyr.
One of Jane Haining’s best friends was Frances Warburton Lee, who ended up in the same prison cell as Jane in Budapest. Frances moved to Christchurch after the war and settled in Christchurch.
Jane’s story has had moved the hearts of many. In December she will be speaking at the Holocaust Centre for New Zealand in Wellington. The second largest publisher in Hungary has agreed to translate and publish the story, and sell it in their numerous bookshops throughout Hungary. The Budapest Holocaust Centre also plans to launch the book in June next year.
AS HANUKKAH ALSO STARTS AT THE SAME TIME, PLEASE BRING ALONG A PLATE OF APPROPRIATE FINGER FOOD TO MARK THE OCCASION
We are also raising funds for Moran (who will speak with us tonight). If you’d like to donate, please go to https://donorbox.org/donate-to-moran-stella-yanai
On the morning of October 7, Kibbutz Be’eri was struck by a devastating tragedy. Hundreds of Hamas terrorists invaded the community, unleashing a wave of unimaginable horror. Ninety-three members of the community had been brutally murdered. This horrific event claimed the lives of women, children, toddlers, and even an infant, amounting to 10% of the farming community’s residents.
Fire and gunfire destroyed thirty percent of the homes, leaving behind tales of survival marked by horror, abandonment, helplessness, and enduring pain. After capturing the kibbutz, the terrorists went from house to house, shooting or capturing residents while setting buildings on fire. They were accompanied by a camera team and a journalist who documented the attack. Many residents tried to hide in shelter rooms, but the attackers blew up the doors and killed everyone inside.
Nine members were taken into the Gaza Strip, five of whom have since died in captivity. 120 people are still held hostage, their fate uncertain.
The kibbutz is currently a closed military zone, off-limits to the general public. Created on February 7th, exactly five months after October 7th, this series has a significant historical value. In an era rife with disinformation, fake news and AI manipulated imagery, these documentary photos serve as a silent testament to that horrific attack.
Attendance by registration only, please click here to register.
Opening event: Saturday, June 22nd, 6-8pm with keynote speaker Juliet Moses
Exhibition Dates: Sunday June 23rd – Friday July 5th, 10am-3pm, excluding Friday, June 28th (public holiday)
Venue: Auckland Hebrew Congregation, 514 Remuera Road, Remuera
Phone: 09-373 2908