Our 3rd Annual Holocaust and Human Rights Symposium

"Women in Resistance"

Wednesday, May 12, 2004

In the Duckworth Centre
at University of Winnipeg

The Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada, with the participation of the University of Winnipeg, is holding its 3rd Annual Holocaust Education Symposium for high school students. Entitled Women in Resistance, the Symposium will take place Wednesday, May 12, 2004 at the University of Winnipeg (Duckworth Centre). Proceedings will commence at 8:30am and are expected to conclude at 2:30pm.

The proposed symposium is designed to provide information on how throughout the twentieth century, women have been caught in the crossfire of political oppression and social injustice, and how they have responded to these by adopting different forms of resistance (from armed resistance to spiritual resistance and the myriad of actions that lie between). The type of resistance is dependent on specific circumstances and conditions. While often associated with armed struggle, resistance is also manifested through cultural and grass roots organizational means (creation of underground newspapers and other forms of communication, literature of protest, human rights committees, lobbying groups, etc.). These themes will be reflected through the presentations of Judy Cohen, an expert on Women and the Holocaust (please see her website: www.womenandtheholocaust.com) and the Winnipeg Chilean filmmaker Cecilia Araneda who will present her award – winning documentary Chile: A History in Exile (best independent documentary at the 1999 Canadian International Film Festival, the Festival of New Latin American Cinema in Havana in 1999, and the 1999 Chicago Latino Festival).

The Symposium will also include a candle-lighting ceremony conducted by the students of the Asper Foundation Human Rights and Holocaust Studies Program, recognition of local Holocaust survivors, morning and afternoon vocal performances by the Sisler High School Choir, a vocal and instrumental performance by well-known Winnipeg Chilean folksinger Hugo Torresand a drama performance by Grant Park High School. Judy Wasylycia – Leis, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg North Centre will deliver closing remarks. Major funding has been provided by the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, the Winnipeg Foundation, and the Province of Manitoba (Department of Education and Youth).

Women in Resistance

Holocaust Symposium

Wednesday, May 12, 2004, 8:45 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

University of Winnipeg, Duckworth Centre

9:00 a.m. Official Welcome
(University of Winnipeg and Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada)

9:10 a.m. Opening Remarks: “Women in Resistance”
(Dorota Praski and Dana Hanuschuk)

9:20 a.m. Candle - Lighting Ceremony
(students from Asper Foundation Human Rights and Holocaust Studies Program)

9:30 a.m. Drama Performance: Grant Park High School

9:45 a.m. Keynote Speaker: Judy Cohen
(Introduced by Morris Henoch and Jill Hoban)

10:45 a.m. Recognition of Holocaust Survivors in our Community

Vocal Performance: Sisler High School Choir

11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Lunch Break

12:45 p.m. Musical Performance – Hugo Torres

1:00 p.m.            Introduction: “A Human Rights Credo”
                        Keynote Speaker: Cecilia Araneda
                        (Introduced by Pat Opitz and Jose Mondaca)

Documentary: “Chile: A History in Exile”

2:00 p.m. Closing Remarks: Judy Wasylycia-Leis
“What is Your Credo?”

Vocal Performance” “Imagine” by Sisler High School Choir

Judy Cohen, (nee Judit Weissenberg)

originator and editor of the web site: "Women and the Holocaust"

www.womenandtheholocaust.com

· Born in Debrecen, Hungary, in 1928.
· Youngest of seven siblings.
· 2/3 of her family was murdered by the Nazis and the Hungarian army, in various camps.
· Uncompleted high school education only -- at this point.
· Deported with most members of her family to Auschwitz-Birkenau in June, 1944.
· Survived subsequent camps: Bergen-Belsen, Achersleben-Junkers' slave labour camp and a forced march that turned into a death march.
· Liberated, on the road to Duben, (near Leipzig) on May 5, 1945, by the U.S. army.
· Spent 2 years in the Belsen DP camp, along with one surviving sister and one brother.
· Immigrated to Canada in June 1948.
· Arrived in Halifax, Pier 21, on the ship "Ernie Pyle".
· Initially worked in the garment industry in Montreal.
· Additional schooling in a business school - change to office work.
· Married, to Sidney Jessel Cohen, son of the late Nathan Cohen of Glace Bay, Nova Scotia
· Two children, Michelle and Jonathan.
· While raising a family, stayed at home. Further, non-credit education
ensued at various universities and colleges.
· Back to work for 12 more years.
1993 Retirement and Volunteer work at:
· Chair of Speakers' Bureau at the Holocaust Centre of Toronto
· Member of the Executive Committee in above organization.
· Member of the outreach committee: Christian Jewish Dialogue
· Active Holocaust and Anti-racism educator as a survivor-speaker.
· Speaking engagements in high schools, universities, and special gatherings.
· Former Chair of Israel Committee - Temple Emanu-El
· Member of Social Action Committee - Temple Emanu-El
· Member of Edult Education Committee - Temple Emanu-El
· Did work, for five years, with Alzheimer patients at the Baycrest Centre
for Geriatric Care.
· Participated in three March of The Living missions:
"Anguish-toHope" in 1997,
"Coast-to-Coast"group in1998 and International group in 2000.
· Personal confrontation with neo-Nazi group in 1993, prompted:
Immediate activism in the field of Holocaust education by public speaking and creating the web site.