The Charlotte Jewish News - August 2015 - Page 16 Joint Session of NC General Assembly Honoring Survivors of Dachau on the 70th Anniversary of the Liberation Bernanke to Receive Leon Levine Medal for Life from Echo Foundation (Continued from page 1) By Jacob Katzenstein I was probably the youngest person partieipating in the joint session of the General Assembly on April 29.1 wanted to be present when a group of people I admire saw their lives eome full eirele. It was the 70th anniversary of the Liberation of Daehau and the leg islators were honoring members of the U.S. Army and Holoeaust survivors. Legislators read a spe- eial resolution making North Car olina a part of history. The Resolution stated, “The General Assembly of NC honors the eourage, memories, and saerifiees of vietims of the Holoeaust, in eluding those who perished in and those who survived Nazi eoneen- tration eamps, ineluding Daehau.” At the event I got to meet George Rose, who was among the first soldiers to walk through the gates of Daehau and reseue Jew ish survivors. He said, “We went through the main gate and that’s when we saw all the boxears and bodies thrown one on top of an other. Also a wall with bodies like rag dolls laying against it. At first it was quiet, but when the prison ers realized who we were they started shouting, ‘Amerieans’ and slowly started to eome out of the eells. I eouldn’t believe the eondi- tion they were in, barely skeletons in rags with distended stomaehs. SAVE THE DATE! lil, -j .A' >« Jacob Katzenstein with George Rose. We were only there a few hours and then we were relieved by Headquarters and the medies and moved on. I was 18 years old at this time. But it is something I will never forget.” I am 18 years old now. I am also Jewish, so this all meant a lot to me. Watehing my dear friend Morris Glass get very emotional was a bit overwhelming. Morris had been a prisoner at Daehau. He is a hero to me. I listened to Mor ris say that Mr. Rose is a hero to him. There was something so in- eredible about being a part of this reunion that’s hard to put into words. I just know that I’m fortu nate to be able to meet liberators and survivors and I feel a respon sibility to share their experienees with others who will not have an opportunity like this. Morris was a kid when the Nazis took him prisoner. He’s 87 now. I hope peo ple don’t forget what happened. I hope it never happens again. ^ Editor’s Note: Some people may remember Jacob from when he was a student at The Charlotte Jewish Preschool. He is now lives in Raleigh and will be starting his first year at East Carolina Uni versity in the fall. His father blows the shofar for High Holy Days at Temple Beth El every year. That evening, Thomas W. Ross, president of the 17-eampus University of North Carolina sys tem, will reeeive the Eeho Award Against Indifferenee for his unwa vering eommitment to justiee, equality, and open aeeess to exeel- lent edueation. Individual tiekets ($300 per person for the award eeremony and gala reeeption) are on sale now. A limited number of $65 tiekets for the Awards Ceremony only will be on sale August 1 through Blumenthal Performing Arts Center Box Offiee - 704-372- 1000 or .www.blumenthalarts.org. Sponsorships, ranging from $10,000 - $25,000 are available now by ealling the Eeho Founda tion at 704-347-3844. About Ben Bernanke Dr. Ben Bernanke is a distin guished fellow in residenee with the eeonomie studies program at the Brookings Institution. He also serves as an outside senior advisor to Citadel. From 2006 through 2014, he was ehairman of the Fed eral Reserve System. Bernanke is best known for helping avoid a global eeonomie disaster during the 2008 finaneial erisis. Before his appointment as ehairman, Bernanke was Chair man of the President’s Couneil of Eeonomie Advisers. He has taught eeonomies and publie affairs at Prineeton University, Stanford University, and the Massaehusetts Institute of Teehnology. Bernanke was bom in Augusta, GA, and grew up in Dillon, SC. He earned a baehelor’s degree in eeonomies from Harvard Univer sity (summa eum laude) and a Ph.D. in eeonomies from the Mas saehusetts Institute of Teehnology. Read more about Bernanke at http://www.brookings.edu/ex- perts/bemankeb. Sandra and Leon Levine Medal For Life The Sandra and Leon Levine Medal For Life honors those who unleash the powerful possibility of immense goodness as they eome to realize the impaet of dreams turned into aetion. They have ehosen to take risks within their own sphere of influenee - to ehallenge, nurture, and give life to produetive ehange thereby ex panding the dignity of all hu mankind. These visionaries have used their talent and resourees in the serviee of eompelling work designed to shape a more just and humane world. ^ presented by Fal 2015 CHARLOHE , JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL SUNDAY, OCTOBER II • 1:00PM The Outrageous Sophie Tucker A rags to riches story of an iconic superstar who ruled the worlds of vaudeville, Broadway, radio, television, and Hollywood from 1906 until her death in 1966. Producers Susan and Lloyd Ecker are scheduled to appear and will do a Q&A with the audience after the film. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18 • I:00PM The Farewell Party A unique, compassionate and unlikely funny story of a group of friends at a Jerusalem retirement home who decide to help their terminally ill friend and then suddenly find their assistance in great demand. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER I • 1:00PM Look at Us Now, Mother! An unflinching look at the complex bond between Mildred Kirschenbaum and her daughter, Gayle. Told through biting humor and raw honesty, this is an intimate story about family dysfunctions and forgiveness. Mildred and Gayle Kirschenbaum are scheduled to appear and talk about their relationship following the film. Early Bird Special August 1-30 FallFlicks Series Pass $21 ($30 Value) Individual Tickets $8 ($ 10 Regular Price) at charlottejewishfilnn.com Knight Foundation ^ Levin JCC Culture For All. Jewish Federation OF GREATER CHARLOTTE HAOASSAH THE I i.U.N : ;■ VI iM r I FOUNDATION All movies will be screening at Regal Ballantyne Village Stadium Theaters -14815 Ballantyne Village Way, Charlotte, NC28277

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