The Holocaust Memorial Program at Oregon State University is proud to present a panel discussion on the evolution of religious rights and their connection with, and impact on, human rights.
How has the promotion of religious rights figured into the larger effort to protect and advance human rights? On the one hand, we find many historical and contemporary declarations of rights coupling freedom of thought, belief, conscience, and religion. However, we likewise see examples of religious freedoms for some being yoked to religious (and other) oppression for others.
Our distinguished panel will explore the historical, philosophical, legal, and experiential dimensions of this complicated question. We welcome your contributions to the discussion that will follow.
Leading our panel will be the 2015 recipient of the Elie Weisel Award, a recognition granted annually by the United States Holocaust Memorial museum, Judge Thomas Buergenthal. Buergenthal will speak to us in a double capacity: first, as a survivor of Auschwitz, whose experiences during the Holocaust are chronicled in his highly acclaimed memoir, A Lucky Child; and second, as a renowned legal scholar who has labored to make international law an ever-more-effective tool in combating human rights abuses. He has also served as a judge on several international tribunals that deal heavily in human rights cases, including the International Court of Justice (a.k.a. “The World Court”).
Also participating in the panel discussion will be:
- Dr. Rena Lauer (specialties in medieval Europe and Jewish history) will speak on minority religions and their legal rights in the medieval Mediterranean.
- Dr. Amy Koehlinger (North American religious history and thought; American Catholicism) will address the issue of religion and human rights in the history of Oregon.
- Dr. Stuart Sarbacker (comparative religion; Indic religions and philosophical traditions) will focus on religious freedom in the context of Eastern faith traditions.
- Dr. Paul Kopperman (war and genocide; chair, Holocaust Memorial Committee) will discuss the value of Holocaust education in promoting respect for diversity.
After their individual statements, the panelists will join audience members in an interactive discussion of the core themes of the evening, Religious Rights and Human Rights.
At the conclusion of this event, copies of the new, expanded edition of A Lucky Child, Thomas Buergenthal’s Holocaust memoir, will be available for purchase courtesy of GrassRoots Books.
This event is sponsored by the OSU Holocaust Memorial Program, the Mittleman Jewish Community Center, the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education, the Institute for Judaic Studies, Grass Roots Books and Music, and the Harold and Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation.
Thomas Buergenthal will speak to us in a double capacity: first, as a survivor of Auschwitz, whose experiences during the Holocaust are chronicled in his highly acclaimed memoir, A Lucky Child; and second, as a renowned legal scholar who has throughout his career labored to make international law an ever-more-effective tool in combating human rights abuses. During his academic career, he has held a series of chairs in distinguished schools of law and is currently the Lobingier Professor of Comparative Law and Jurisprudence at the George Washington University School of Law. He has also served as a judge on several international tribunals that deal heavily in human rights cases, including the International Court of Justice (a.k.a. “The World Court”).
Professor Buergenthal is the 2015 recipient of the Elie Wiesel Award, a recognition granted annually by the United States Holocaust Memorial museum to honor “internationally prominent individuals whose actions have advanced the Museum’s vision of a world where people confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity.”
In his talk at Oregon State University, Professor Buergenthal will discuss his experiences during World War II and his perspectives on what international law has done, and what it can be expected to do, to combat persecution and protect human rights. As the conclusion of his talk, copies of the new, expanded edition of A Lucky Child will be available for purchase.
Havurah’s Dorot “Short & Sweet” Shabbat service was created to welcome families with young children, but the service and potluck are for all ages! Young ones look up to the older ones, and older ones enjoy the younger ones’ joy and singing. A casual, family-friendly and music-filled service, it begins with candle lighting, Kiddush and challah, and continues with prayers and music led by Havurah members.
After the service, we’ll enjoy a vegetarian potluck dinner. Please bring a kid-friendly main dish. For more information and to RSVP, please email dorot@havurahshalom.org. Feel free to invite some of your friends and family to join in as well–the more the merrier!
Havurah’s Chanukah Celebration offers fun for all ages. A potluck oneg of plate-free desserts at 6:30 pm will be followed by candle lighting, storytelling, and singing led by Beth Hamon, Aaron Pearlman and other Havurah musicians.
For all who are interested, we’ll have a few tables of dreidel playing too. If you have a dreidel, chanukiah and/or candles, please bring them with you. We’ll add lots of light and laughter to the night!
RSVP at http://tinyurl.com/ChanuHS
We invite you to join us on Friday, Dec. 30, to welcome Shabbat, spread the light of the Chanukah candles, and share our feelings, fears, and hopes for the difficult times we are facing as a country. For those of us who came together on the Sunday after the election, it was a powerful expression of community, and there have been requests to identify some next steps. It continues to feel premature to launch a specific action plan. Instead, it seems more appropriate to gather in community, listen to how we are doing, and continue conversations about our hopes and fears about areas such as immigrants and refugees, poverty and homelessness, climate change, equity, and gun control.
We will begin by lighting the Chanukah and Shabbat candles, sing some songs, and then spend our time talking and listening. There will not be a formal Friday night service.
What: A public lecture by Dr. Aviva Halamish, Open University of Israel
When: Monday, April 9, 6:30pm
Where: 238 Smith Memorial Student Union (SMSU 238)
Cost: Free and open to the public.
Contact: Stacey Johnston | judaicst@pdx.edu| 503-725-8449
Please join us for the 2018 Lorry I. Lokey Lecture featuring Dr. Aviva Halamish of the Open University of Israel titled, “Not What You Think: The Role of the Holocaust in the Establishment of Israel”
Contemplate and confront the widely accepted assumption that the Holocaust had a decisive influence on the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.
Explore questions like: Is there a link between the Holocaust and the establishment of Israel? Who promotes this claim? What really happened and how did the Holocaust impact the process of establishing a Jewish state in Palestine?
This event is made possible thanks to the generous support of Lorry I. Lokey. Cosponsored by the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education and the Middle East Studies Center.
Ruth Lindemann: Speaker, Author, Child survivor of the Holocaust.
Ruth will discuss and answer questions about the book she wrote, “To Survive is not Enough” which is based on the many stories she has heard from Holocaust survivors. She also tells what life was like for a Jewish child in fascist Austria.
This event is sponsored by Next Generations Group and Portland Hadassah.