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Berlin Holocaust effort praised
Lavundi: 'It took 7 non-Jews to hide 1 Jew per year' from police
By Samantha Arcieri
in NewsIssue date: 5/7/09 Section: News
OCC remembered the Holocaust with a series of five events dubbed "Holocaust Remembrance Week" recently.
One event, a presentation on Jewish history in Berlin and titled "50 Years Later: Reflections on and from Berlin," was presented by William Lavundi, professor of English and literature, who spoke about the city before, during and after the Holocaust.
According to Lavundi, Berlin has maintained a reputation of tolerance since the arrival of the Jewish people. The city began to grow following the development of a variety of new art forms created by the Jewish citizens.
"The Jews turned the village of Berlin into a city," Lavundi said. "They held leading positions in every enterprise."
Following an introduction to Jewish history in the city, Lavundi's speech on Berlin during World War II reminded the audience negative effects of the Holocaust still exist. Lavundi said Berlin Jews were convinced nothing bad would happen to them while the Nazi regime was in power.
"There were signs of horrible things to come," Lavundi said. "The Jews in Berlin were displaced from jobs. They lost everything."
Lavundi praised Berlin for the city's efforts to hide Jewish citizens from the secret police. "It took seven non-Jews to hide one Jew per year." Lavundi said. "Berlin was not composed of traitors. They always had to keep one step ahead of the Gestapo."
Lavundi said 30,000 Jews from Eastern Europe migrated into Berlin after the war. Judaism was later declared a third official "state religion" in Germany.
"Today there is tolerance in Germany for Jewish citizens but nothing like Berlin," Lavundi said. "The city reeks of ideas and tolerance."
Along with historic information, Lavundi's lecture stressed the importance of tolerance, respect for others and ways to ensure events like the Holocaust will never happen again.
"Prejudice begins with an innocent ethnic joke, but once you submit to it, you become part of a dangerous mix," Lavundi said. "People who live by hatred will die by hatred. People who live by love will be graced with love. That's the way life goes."
The five Holocaust events were held in either the Solar Lounge of the College Center or the Technology Building Lecture Hall.
One event, a presentation on Jewish history in Berlin and titled "50 Years Later: Reflections on and from Berlin," was presented by William Lavundi, professor of English and literature, who spoke about the city before, during and after the Holocaust.
According to Lavundi, Berlin has maintained a reputation of tolerance since the arrival of the Jewish people. The city began to grow following the development of a variety of new art forms created by the Jewish citizens.
"The Jews turned the village of Berlin into a city," Lavundi said. "They held leading positions in every enterprise."
Following an introduction to Jewish history in the city, Lavundi's speech on Berlin during World War II reminded the audience negative effects of the Holocaust still exist. Lavundi said Berlin Jews were convinced nothing bad would happen to them while the Nazi regime was in power.
"There were signs of horrible things to come," Lavundi said. "The Jews in Berlin were displaced from jobs. They lost everything."
Lavundi praised Berlin for the city's efforts to hide Jewish citizens from the secret police. "It took seven non-Jews to hide one Jew per year." Lavundi said. "Berlin was not composed of traitors. They always had to keep one step ahead of the Gestapo."
Lavundi said 30,000 Jews from Eastern Europe migrated into Berlin after the war. Judaism was later declared a third official "state religion" in Germany.
"Today there is tolerance in Germany for Jewish citizens but nothing like Berlin," Lavundi said. "The city reeks of ideas and tolerance."
Along with historic information, Lavundi's lecture stressed the importance of tolerance, respect for others and ways to ensure events like the Holocaust will never happen again.
"Prejudice begins with an innocent ethnic joke, but once you submit to it, you become part of a dangerous mix," Lavundi said. "People who live by hatred will die by hatred. People who live by love will be graced with love. That's the way life goes."
The five Holocaust events were held in either the Solar Lounge of the College Center or the Technology Building Lecture Hall.
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New Jersey Movers
posted 8/31/09 @ 5:07 PM EST
Hm, this is good to know. I never realized that Berlin was so tolerant of Jews.
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