Latest news with #HolocaustSurvivors
CBS News
03-06-2025
- General
- CBS News
Massachusetts Jewish community concerned after recent attacks
They are headlines that send chills through a community. An attack on a peace march in Boulder, Colorado with a flamethrower, and two people shot outside of a Jewish museum in Washington, D.C. Recent violent incidents on the Jewish community now have people locally concerned for their safety. "For us the Jewish community right now, we see ourselves as every one of those people," said Miri Bar-Hapern, a psychologist and trauma director at Parents for Peace. Bar-Halpern grew up during the Second Intifada in the early 2000s. She read newspapers to see if she knew any victims. Her grandparents told stories of surviving the Holocaust. "My father-in-law died in 9/11. I live and breathe terrorism. My whole dissertation, my doctorate is about that, so seeing it come to your front door is scary," said Bar-Halpern. Parents for Peace has been fielding calls from concerned members of the Jewish community who see what is happening around them. "What we are seeing started in K-12. We are seeing the result on college campuses and now you see what globalized Intifada means. D.C. London. The recent event in Colorado. We were waiting for it to happen because we knew it was going to happen," said Bar-Halpern. "This is not a competition" She says her community now hides their Jewish identity, even taking off the Star of David. "Part of what I am doing is helping people find a language and say, 'what happened to me right now, what I'm feeling right now is valid,' because the rest of the world is telling us your feeling doesn't matter right now," said Bar-Halpern. She says supporters of Israel and Palestine have turned both sides into what she calls a competition of pain. "This is not a competition. As a Jewish person, I can absolutely acknowledge that what's happening in Gaza is awful. Not only as a human being, but as a trauma expert," Bar-Halpern said. "Right now, in we are talking about Jewish lives matter. This isn't instead or a competition." Police work with places of worship The battle has sparked attacks globally and at home leaving some people nervous as they head to places of worship. "What we were mostly in fear of here is the lone extremist acting out, and that's what we have been seeing," said John Carmichael, the former Newton chief of police. He says the department has long gone to Jewish centers of worship to aid in prevention. "On many occasions we would go into different organizations and help them train or come up with security protocol," said Carmichael. The training may include levels of security protocols from exterior to interior, and the creation of limited access areas. "Here, any time there was an event we made sure that we had a very significant operations plan," explains Carmichael. "These situations we deal with now have to start globally and end locally, so we know what is going on in the Middle East, but those extend to our country." If you or a loved one needs support visit or call their helpline 1-844-49-PEACE (1-844-497-3223).
CBS News
29-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Post-WWII Germany's first Jewish cabinet member on embracing her roots, countering rising antisemitism
Berlin — When Karin Prien's mother brought her to Germany as a little girl in the late 1960s, she gave her one urgent warning: "Don't tell anyone you're Jewish." Nearly six decades later, Prien is now post World War II Germany's first Jewish federal cabinet member, having been selected as the Minister for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. Prien told CBS News she intends to use her platform to confront the rise of antisemitism in Germany and further afield, and the fragility of democracy in a country still reckoning with its past. "Well, in a way, I'm proud," the minister told CBS News in a candid interview. "Proud to be a minister in the federal government, but also that I'm recognized as Jewish and that German society is now so far [advanced] as to accept that Jewish people have a right to be a self-conscious part of this society." Prien's political career, and her personal story, represent an arc of conflict, tension and reconciliation that echoes that of post-Holocaust Germany itself. Karin Prien, Germany's federal minister for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. Christoph Soeder/picture alliance via Getty Images "A question of responsibility" Born in the Netherlands to Holocaust survivors, Prien moved to Germany at the age of 4. Even as a child, she was heavily aware of the silence surrounding her family's identity. Her mother's warning that it was still too dangerous to talk about being Jewish — more than two decades after the war ended — shaped her early years. "There was always fear. My mother was afraid that there were too many Nazis still around," Prien said. "It wasn't taken for granted that you could talk about being Jewish. It was something you kept inside the home." But that silence eventually became intolerable. As a young teen, she said she began to understand that the democratic values she cherished — freedom, human dignity, anti-discrimination—- required defending. "I decided, 'I have to do something about it. Democracy is not something you can take for granted,'" she said. But Prien still waited decades before publicly acknowledging her Jewish identity. The turning point came in the early 2010s, when she was already a member of state parliament in Hamburg. Prien began pushing for systematic documentation of antisemitic incidents in schools. When a journalist asked why the issue mattered so much to her, she paused and then told him: "Because I'm Jewish." "That was the moment I realized I had a political voice," she recalled. "I had some kind of influence. And for me, it was a question of responsibility." Lessons from the past for the threats of today That sense of responsibility weighs heavily on Prien in today's Germany, where she said antisemitism is no longer confined to the political fringes. "We see rising antisemitism all over the world," Prien said. "They dare to be openly antisemitic. I think it's now more than after the end of World War II. They dare to be openly antisemitic, and that's also in Germany getting stronger and stronger. That has changed. And so we have antisemitic tendencies on the margins, but we also have it in the middle of society." While Germany once appeared to be a model of historical reckoning, Prien said she fears complacency is setting in. After some "honest decades," during which Prien says Germans confronted themselves with the stark realities of their country's history, "now, people are dying. And now we have to find new ways to talk about that." Prien thinks that should include a shift in Holocaust education. She wants German schools to expand from their current focus on the atrocities of World War II to also teach the history of Israel, the cultural contributions of Jewish Germans, and the origins of antisemitism. "Jewish identity is part of German identity," she told CBS News. "Young people need to know that Jews are not only victims. Jewish people are diverse. They have a voice. They are part of this society." Prien said she draws inspiration from figures including Margot Friedländer, a Holocaust survivor who famously coined the phrase: "Be Human." That, Prien said, should be the foundation of any education system in a democracy: teaching empathy and human dignity. But it's not only historical facts and universal dignity that need defending, she said, it's also Germany's democratic fabric. "We are an immigration society," Prien said. "But we're not very good at having fair and equal chances for children who start with more difficult conditions." She sees educational equity and national democratic resilience as intrinsically linked. Prien is now leading efforts to limit mobile phone use in German elementary schools, warning that parents and policymakers have been too naive about the risks of digital exposure for young people. "We are anxious about the real world. We drive our kids to school and into the classrooms but we are not anxious about the stuff online," she said. "That has to change." Asked what message she has for young Jews with political ambitions in Germany today, Prien didn't hesitate: "Stay. Don't pack your luggage. This is a different Germany. This is a country where you can live safely. And it's our job to make that promise true every day."
Washington Post
25-05-2025
- General
- Washington Post
They gathered to turn ‘pain into purpose.' Then gunfire shattered their peace.
They had gathered in a D.C. museum lobby to hear stories of hope and action. A young aid worker with the Multifaith Alliance, perched beside a vase of white flowers, spoke about efforts to save lives in war-ravaged Gaza. Her group, founded by the daughter of Holocaust survivors, is run by a Syrian refugee, and their success has hinged on building trust in terrible situations.
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Scarlett Johansson's directorial debut Eleanor The Great premieres to mixed reviews as critics brand it 'wobbly' and 'unconvincing' - though audience react with 'tears and cheers' in five-minute ovation at Cannes Film Festival
Scarlett Johansson 's directorial debut Eleanor The Great has premiered to mixed reviews at Cannes Film Festival. The Hollywood star's hotly-anticipated film was shown for the first time at a special screening held at the 78th iteration of the star-studded festival on Tuesday afternoon. The movie, which stars June Squibb in the leading role, was met with great praise at the festival as it received a five-minute standing ovation and prompted 'tears and cheers' from the crowds. However, critics were less convinced as it received very mixed reviews, with some branding it 'wobbly' and 'unconvincing' while others were more impressed by the 'powerful' and 'touching' release. Eleanor The Great sees June's character, who converted to Judaism upon marriage, join a Jewish seniors social group, before discovering it is specifically for Holocaust survivors. Hoping to find companionship, Eleanor tells her friend Bessie's devastating story about her family's time in Auschwitz as if it is her own, before her lie spirals away from her in a very public way. The film, which Scarlett directed from Tory Kamen's screenplay, was met with a positive reception upon its premiere at Cannes, receiving a five-minute ovation. Scarlett described her directorial debut premiering at the film festival as a 'dream come true' and 'surreal' as she emotionally soaked up the positive reaction. Leading star June, 95, 'was greeted with whoops and cheers as the credits rolled', according to The Hollywood Reporter, while other audience members were reduced to tears. However, critics appeared somewhat underwhelmed by the release as it was met with a notable range of reviews from global publications, including some tough criticism. The Hollywood Reporter led the charge in branding Scarlett's debut as 'wobbly' and 'unfulfilled' as its critic concluded that the film 'struggled to find its groove' despite a hopeful character-driven plot. 'The film lurches between comic set pieces and more dramatic beats, and while Johansson proves a competent helmer, it's not enough to overcome some dizzying tonal imbalances,' they wrote. The Playlist was also left divided as it questioned whether viewers 'expected more' from Scarlett following her decades-long career as it described the plot as 'episodic'. 'Considering the lineage of filmmakers Johansson has worked with over her 25-year career, we dared to expect something more?' they asked, before praising June for being the film's saving grace. ELEANOR THE GREAT: WHAT THE CRITICS ARE SAYING Variety 'There's no denying that as a character, Eleanor plays, giving Squibb an opportunity to strut her granny-with-an-attitude stuff. But you're always aware that the movie is trying to squeeze a laugh out of you.' The Hollywood Reporter 'The film lurches between comic set pieces and more dramatic beats, and while Johansson proves a competent helmer, it's not enough to overcome some dizzying tonal imbalances.' The Playlist 'Considering the lineage of filmmakers Johansson has worked with over her 25-year career, we dared to expect something more?' The Times: Four stars 'Johansson and her excellent cast nail the big moments and revel in the small ones.' Deadline 'Scarlett Johansson's wonderful and richly textured feature directorial debut is a small but beautifully realized story of a 94-year-old woman.' Variety described the release as an 'unconvincing crowd-pleaser' and, though they praised June's performance, it ultimately received a mixed verdict. 'The movie is an awards-season wannabe in every sense,' critic Owen Gleiberman noted, adding that the movie is always 'trying to squeeze a laugh out of you'. But it wasn't all bad news as the movie also received considerably more positive reviews from a range of other outlets, who praised its 'power' and raw emotion. Deadline gushed over Scarlett's 'wonderful and richly textured' debut and described Eleanor's story as 'beautifully realized' as they were overcome with emotion. 'There won't be a dry eye in the house for this one,' Pete Hammond wrote. The Times were won over by Scarlett's debut and critic Ed Potton insisted it hit 'the jackpot combination of being tear-inducing and laugh-out-loud funny'. Giving it an admirable four-star verdict, he concluded: 'Johansson and her excellent cast nail the big moments and revel in the small ones.' Eleanor The Great features a star-studded cast including the likes of Bridget Jones' Chiwetel Ejiofor, Willow's Erin Kellyman and Friends star Jessica Hecht. Scarlett was supported at the premiere by her husband Colin Jost and the couple were seen sharing a kiss in the audience First-time screenwriter Tory Kamen based the leading character Eleanor on her late grandmother Elinore who passed away, age 99, in 2020. 'This is so beyond anything I'd hoped for this script over the last eight years of writing and rewriting and rewriting it,' Tory previously shared on Instagram. 'I only wish my grandma Elinore were here to see this but famously, she did not read the trades.'
ABC News
15-05-2025
- ABC News
CCTV shows moment Melbourne synagogue firebombed
Police have released CCTV footage of people they suspect fire bombed a Melbourne synagogue last year. The Adass Israel synagogue was established by Holocaust survivors and its destruction devastated the Jewish community and was condemned by political leaders. The investigation being conducted by a counter terrorism taskforce set up by federal and Victorian police is still yet to make an arrest.
