Program: A Conversation with Elie Wiesel at Chapman University

This document is a program for an "Evening of Holocaust Remembrance" held at Chapman University, featuring readings from the works of Elie Wiesel. It includes a detailed biography of Elie Wiesel, highlighting his life as a writer, teacher, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and human rights advocate, with a focus on his experiences during the Holocaust. The program lists the performers (singers, instrumentalists, and readers) and the creative and production team involved in the event. It presents selected texts from Wiesel's works, emphasizing themes of memory, the Holocaust, and the human capacity to remember and confront oblivion. The event, which included the lighting of remembrance candles, took place during the week of April 12-19, 2015, and aimed to commemorate the millions who perished in the Holocaust and honor survivors and rescuers, while promoting justice and human rights through the power of memory and storytelling.

This document is a program for "An Evening of Holocaust Remembrance" held at Chapman University on April 16, 2015. The event, presented by the Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Department of Theatre, and the Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education, featured a series of performances, readings, and reflections. Highlights included a welcome by Dr. Daniele Struppa, musical excerpts by various composers performed by artists such as Iman Khosrowpour and Summer Hassan, and readings from the works of Elie Wiesel by students and faculty. The program also included a lighting of commemorative candles and reflections by Dr. Marilyn Harran and Dr. Gail Stearns, with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Elie Wiesel present as a Distinguished Presidential Fellow. The document details biographies of the speakers, performers, and production team, emphasizing the event's focus on memory, justice, and human rights in the context of the Holocaust, commemorating the millions who perished and honoring survivors and liberators.

Lillian Wishnefsky, née Kupferberg, was born in Sosnowiec, Poland in December 1929. Her father was a merchant and her mother a professional pianist. Her family observed the Jewish holidays. She attended public school until fourth grade when Germany invaded Poland in September 1939. She describes the formation of the Sosnowiec Ghetto in 1941, the confiscation of her father’s factory, her clandestine education, life in the ghetto, her family’s move to the Srodula Ghetto; her mother obtained false papers and was hidden by Christians. She describes the Nazis taking her father in the middle of the night, murdering her grandparents and deporting her to a camp and later Auschwitz.

Even though she was only 12 ½ years old, she was not sent to the children’s camp in Auschwitz but was instead assigned to forced labor. Her barracks were across the street from the gas chambers. One and a half years later she was sent on the death march to Ravensbrück. She was part of a prisoner exchange arranged by President Roosevelt and traveled to Sweden via Denmark. She describes her experience on a Swedish farm and her move to Stockholm which was precipitated by a Swedish publishing company’s interest in her diary. She moved to the United States in November 1545.

This document is the program for the 21st Annual Canterbury Medal Dinner, held on May 12, 2016, at The Pierre Hotel in New York City. The event is hosted by The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and honors Armando Valladares, recognized as a poet, artist, human rights activist, and former political prisoner. The program includes an overview of The Becket Fund and the Canterbury Medal, profiles of the Master of Ceremonies (Kristina Arriaga de Bucholz), those giving opening remarks (William P. Mumma), invocation (Fr. Paul Scalia), tribute to the Medalist (Elie Wiesel), and benediction (Elder Gary E. Stevenson). It details Valladares's biography, highlighting his 22 years as a political prisoner in Cuba and his advocacy for human rights and religious liberty. The program also lists past Canterbury Medalists, Dinner Chairs (Tony and Christie de Nicola), honorary vice chairmen, Becket Fund Board of Directors, and various sponsors and contributors, including organizations like The Knights of Columbus, EWTN Global Catholic Network, The Heritage Foundation, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A dinner menu is also included.

Rebecca sends well-wishes to her friend Margaret (Peggy) and informs her of her planned trip to New York to see Maria Fenno Hoffman.

Rebecca updates her friend Maria on health news, remarks on the popularity of two star actors and the portraits of one of them, and discusses the voyages their respective brothers are taking.