Cap Willey gave the inspiration.
He celebrated President’s Day yesterday.
We used to celebrate Lincoln’s birthday on February 12th and Washington’s birthday on February 22nd. But wait a minute – if you check the historical records, it says that George Washington was actually born on February 11, 1731 under the old Julian Calendar. In 1752 Great Britain and its colonies switched the calendars by 11 days to the more accurate Gregorian Calendar making the revised date February 22nd. Under the Uniform Monday holiday act of 1968 Congress shifted most holidays to Mondays effective 1971. Presidents’ Day to celebrate all Presidents is now celebrated on the 3rd Monday in February.
Today is also Fat Tuesday, the final day of indulgences before Lent (forty days of fasting and abstinence). I have relatives in New Orleans, and it takes them 40 days to recover from Mardis Gras.
It is the start of the Chinese New Year – the year of the Horse.
And, it is National Random Acts of Kindness Day, National Cabbage Day, and National Cafe au Lait Day (Starbucks is open), and 31 Days until the first day of spring.
On Zoom
PJ Fox, Yani Hernandez, Paula Jagermann, Lew Hassell, Alexis Kutergian (colleague from the Holocaust Education Center)
Visitors
Matt Schmidt: future member
Paula Jagermann and Lexi Kutenplon-Rayess on Zoom
Announcements
Tent Suppers
Lots of availability to sign up
Mary Brewster shared that she joined Jane Berkowitz’s dinner this week, and she was reminded how much fun they are to spend time together and learn together. There is now a link on our website where you can donate to the project if you cannot attend a dinner
March 19th: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Rotary has purchased the house and is gifting tickets to our members. There will be a party beforehand with wine and snacks. Encouraged to bring guests! Reserve a seat with Liz
March 29th: Providence Bruins game to support polio
Happy Bucks
- Pete Brock is happy because he is just happy.
- Chris Stevenson is happy because his 3-month-old slept through the night.
- Mary Brewster is happy because she and Rob are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary.
- Matt Schmidt is happy because the Giants hired Jon Harbaugh, and many of his friends are moving back to Rhode Island.
- Rob Brewster is happy because they had a wonderful dinner at Jane’s house, and he loved hearing how Mike and Kathy Kelly met.
- Art Norwalk is happy because there are 9 volunteers for reading at the schools.
- Kris David is happy because she fixed the flooding inside due to an ice dam. She also took her 15-month-old grandson to Mystic Aquarium.
- Heide Abelli is happy because she has loved watching the Olympics take place in her husband’s home city. She has seen a Japanese couple skate at the worlds and they won a Gold medal yesterday.
- Cap Willey is happy because he was happy to donate to the Tent Supper fund even though he couldn’t make a dinner.
- Jenny Koehler is happy because her daughter - a senior at Tulane - is home safe after her 24-hour parade/party celebrations.
- Bill Applegate is happy because he finished his continuing education classes for real estate.
Speakers
Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center
Wendy Joering, Executive Director
She brings more than 15 years of nonprofit leadership in community-centered organizations across RI. Since 2008 she has been dedicated to building inclusive, responsive programs that strengthen community connections and support individuals and families facing vulnerability - ranging from those experiencing financial hardship to members of historically marginalized communities. She has worked closely with local, state and national law enforcement partners to strengthen community safety while fostering trust and collaboration. She has served as Executive Director of the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center since 2021, expanding educational programming and broadening the Center’s reach across RI.
Dr. Laura Auketayeva, Director of Education and Programs
She is a trained historian and educator specializing in Holocaust Studies. She has her PhD in History, where she focused her dissertation on Jewish refugees who survived the Soviet Union - supported by fellowships from the US Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Claims Conference. She has worked at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and conducted Russian-language survivor interviews for the USC Shoa Foundation. Most recently she served as the DIrector of Research for Nuclear Update, a joint initiative of the Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation and MIT, where she focused on public education around nuclear security and disinformation.
Their goal is to make sure that the lessons and history of the Holocaust are never forgotten. They teach these lessons not only to remember, but as a warning. Adolf Hitler came to power not overnight, but after a strategic campaign to gain popularity and power.
Wendy started with the following. Today, antisemitism is not fading, it is rearing its head in ugly ways. They have to hire police presence at all of their events. Hate speech is becoming normalized across the country and they are continuously getting threatening phone calls and hearing about threats made to students and individuals across the state.
History shows us that when we become comfortable dehumanizing people, democracy suffers. People were arrested at the mere suggestion of their affiliation with an “othered” group – these are not just history they are facts.
They have reached over 20,000 students across Rhode Island through in-person and online workshops. They provide educational materials to schools at no cost.
They have a few survivors who are still speaking, and many children of survivors who help with these educational efforts.
She shared the story of Lillian, who was never supposed to be born - her mother believed herself to be sterilized. She stood up for a girl at a parochial school and she prevented a fellow student from bullying. Later, when she was in the line for the gas chambers, this student was the attendant in charge. Because Lillian saved her, the other guard pulled them out of the gas line and saved their lives.
Laura continued the discussion stating she has focused her research on Jewish refugees who survived in the Soviet Union. She utilizes Yiskor books - memory books, written by people in small towns who documented the history of these areas so their memories can be preserved, as well as written documentation, letters and other stories that have survived the years.
She shared several examples of powerful stories of survival. One of the most surreal parts of this experience was going into hiding. These Jews had a better chance of surviving, especially if they were in their home area because they knew the area.
Something that is often overlooked is that there were a lot of Jewish and Polish organizations all over the world that were helping these people who were in hiding or fleeing.
These stories are very important to be told and the Education Center is a great place to learn.
