The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Happenings

Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center to Honor Author, Philanthropist at Annual Benefit on October 30

by

The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center (HHREC) will hold their annual Benefit on Wednesday evening, October 30th starting at 6:30pm at the Westchester Country Club in Rye, New York. This year HHREC will honor R. Derek Black and Elisha Weisel.

Derek Black (they/them) is the author of The Klansman’s Son, a book that  shares the story of being raised to take over the white nationalist movement in the US. Their father, Don Black, was a former Grand Wizard in the Ku Klux Klan and started Stormfront, the internet’s first white supremacist website.

 Elisha Weisel is Chairman of the Board of the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, a philanthropist and former Wall Street executive. Since retiring from a 25-year financial markets career at Goldman Sachs at the end of 2019, he served in 2020 as one of the lead technologists in Mike Bloomberg’s presidential campaign. Elisha became philanthropically active through his board service with Good Shepherd Services, where he raised millions of dollars for New York’s neediest by convening “Midnight Madness”, inspiring hundreds of finance professionals to stay up all night solving elaborate puzzles on the city streets. When his father passed, Elisha realized how many others missed his voice––and so, when opportunities for impact arise, Elisha shares his father’s message and continues his legacy by standing up for persecuted communities.

In the last few years, Elisha has spoken at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum about the need to protect the LGBTQ community; shone a light while speaking at Auschwitz on the plight of Syrian refugees being denied Western asylum; written for the Financial Times about the urgency of upholding DACA; organized a Washington DC rally against antisemitism – including anti-Zionism; spoken at the United Nations about the persecution of the Uyghurs, and taken his son to peacefully march for Black Lives. https://eliewieselfoundation.org/about-elisha-wiesel/

The program will feature the annual presentation of the HHREC Eugene M. & Emily Grant Spirit of Humanity Awards. To register for this event, or for more information visit hhrecny.org email benefit@hhrecny.org or call 914.696.0738.

About The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center

The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center (HHREC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in White Plains New York that serves schools, synagogues, colleges, churches and civic centers in Westchester and the greater Hudson Valley area. The HHREC Mission is to enhance the teaching and learning of the lessons of the Holocaust and the right of all people to be treated with dignity and respect. HHREC works with teachers and students to help schools fulfill the New York State mandate that the Holocaust and other human rights abuses be included in their curriculum. Since 1994, the HHREC has brought the lessons of the Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations to more than 3,000 teachers, and through them to thousands of students. For more information visit www.hhrecny.org call 914.696.0738 email info@hhrecny.org

 

The 48th Westchester Jewish Music & Arts Festival Brought Community Together in Both Rain and Shine

by

The 48th Annual Westchester Jewish Music & Arts Festival was held on Sunday, August 18, 2024 at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla, New York. The festival was presented by The Westchester Jewish Council and in cooperation with Westchester County Parks as part of their 2024 Cultural Heritage Festivals.

Although the day began with torrential downpours, this did not stop the performers and vendors from performing and setting up, nor did it stop the crowds from visiting. By mid-afternoon, the rain had stopped and the attendees were able to sing, dance and shop. This year’s performers included The Levins, Ohh-Lam Collective, SIX13, Elijah and the Not-For-Prophets and Kol Hazzanim Kumsitz – Cantors of Westchester. There were over 50 vendors, a WonderSparks Puppet Show, Israeli Dancing with Leng, Juggler Ned Gelfars and more.

In addition this year, we had a special presentation by Executive Board Member Stu Seltzer to musician John Ondrasik who received the Alfred and Constance Weissman COURAGE award. “John Ondrasik is not a silent bystander and the Jewish world is better off because of that. Alfred and Connie Weissman were never silent bystanders and were always strong supporters of Jewish causes and American causes. Alfred was a decorated US Army veteran who served in World War 2 and remained supportive and involved in the US Army 10th Mountain Division. Alfred and Connie were also strong supporters of many Jewish organizations including AIPAC, Friends of the IDF, UJA Federation and many others.

The Westchester community was blessed to have their leadership and we are blessed to have their family members carry on the tradition of “not being silent bystanders” and being strong supporters and leaders of Jewish and Israeli causes. We are honored to present the Alfred and Constance Weissman COURAGE award to John Ondrasik.” This free event is always a community favorite and it did not disappoint this year.

News courtesy of the Westchester Jewish Council

 

Agi Keleti: The Jewish Olympian’s Story of Survival and Triumph – Exhibit and Speaker Michael Gyory on July 18

by

On Thursday, July 18th the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center (HHREC) in partnership with the Desmond-Fish Public Library in Garrison, NY will host a talk and presentation on the oldest living Olympian Champion and Holocaust survivor. Agi Keleti: The Jewish Olympian’s Story of Survival and Triumph will be presented by HHREC Board Chairperson and GenerationsForward Speaker Michael Gyory.

Born in Budapest, Hungary on January 9, 1921, Keleti’s journey is a tale of courage, survival and historic accomplishments. She survived the Nazis and outlasted the Communists to become the greatest female Jewish Olympian of all time winning 10 medals in women’s gymnastics for her native Hungary. The program will also feature an exhibition that illustrates the story of a young girl’s survival during the Holocaust and drive to leave a legacy of courage, strength and will to win. This exhibit of 6 individual panels chronicle her life story.

“I am looking forward to sharing the amazing story of survival and success of my father’s cousin.” said Gyory. “With the upcoming Olympic Games this summer, I hope to shine a light on how she set an example for generations of aspiring athletes to pursue their dreams and overcome any hardship or hurdles they meet along the way.”

The program will commence at 6:30 pm, and the event is free and open to the public. Registration is required. For more information visit the HHREC events page at hhrecny.org 

Global Grains: Celebrating Bread from Africa to the Americas Event to Take Place on July 13 at Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow

by

Cooking demonstrations, food trucks, hands-on activities to highlight the experience

Sleepy Hollow, NY  – Bread enthusiasts and culinary adventurers are in for a treat at Global Grains: Celebrating Bread from Africa to the Americas on Saturday, July 13, from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow.

The celebration will showcase the rich and diverse bread-making traditions from around the globe, offering visitors the opportunity to meet local bakers, watch cooking demonstrations, indulge in delicious samples, and engage in hands-on craft activities.

Bread-making demonstrations will feature a variety of cuisines and techniques. René León, chef and owner of Leon’s Latin Café in Thornwood, will showcase empanadas and quinoa crisps. Pam Nyambi will demonstrate the preparation of akkara fritters. Buffalo Jump NYC will showcase Indigenous frybread, while Hudson Oven of Croton-on-Hudson will re-create ship’s biscuits from the 18th century. Voila Afrique will offer samples of eba, introducing visitors to this African staple’s flavors.

Representatives from Tarrytown’s Warner Library will be on site to lead engaging bilingual English and Spanish story time sessions. Visitors will be able to get creative with hands-on activities such as salt dough and paste paper. Tours of the manor house and grist mill will be available throughout the day.

Food and beverage options include beer from Montclair Brewery and sandwiches from Kinwich.

Admission to Global Grains is $14 for adults, $12 for seniors and young adults 18-25. Children 17 and under and Historic Hudson Valley members attend free. Tickets are available for purchase online at hudsonvalley.org.

About Philipsburg Manor
In 1750, Philipsburg Manor was home to 23 enslaved individuals known to have lived and labored there. It is the country’s first living history museum that focuses on the history of northern slavery.

Philipsburg Manor is at 381 North Broadway (Route 9) in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., two miles north of the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. Information: 914-366-6900, www.hudsonvalley.org.

About Historic Hudson Valley
Historic Hudson Valley, Westchester County’s largest cultural organization, educates and entertains more than 325,000 visitors a year through school programs, tours of five National Historic Landmarks, and large-scale popular entertainment events like The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze and Spirits of Sleepy Hollow Country. From its lower Hudson Valley base of operations, the organization focuses on delivering quality educational and entertaining experiences, striking a balance between tradition and vision, from preserving the past, to contextualizing it for 21st-century audiences. For information: www.hudsonvalley.org

 

HHREC Dedication Ceremony to be Held June 11 for Planting of a Sapling from Anne Frank’s Tree

by

The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center (HHREC) will hold a dedication ceremony on Tuesday, June 11th at the Garden of Remembrance in White Plains, NY for the planting of a sapling grown from a tree referenced in Anne Frank’s Diary. The ceremony will begin at 12 p.m., and it is open to the public.  

HHREC was chosen to receive the plant by the Anne Frank Center USA, an organization honoring the legacy of Anne Frank. Other locations receiving a sapling include: Anne Frank LA, Los Angeles, CA; College of Saint Mary, Omaha, NB; Community Day School, Pittsburgh, PA; Gratz College, Melrose Park, PA; and Raritan Valley Community College, Branchburg, NJ.

“We are truly honored and grateful for being selected to receive a sapling from Anne Frank’s beloved chestnut tree.” HHREC Executive Director Millie Jasper said. “It is a privilege to be entrusted with this living memorial, and we look forward to sharing it with our community at the Garden of Remembrance as an eternal symbol of courage, resilience and hope.”

Anne Frank Center USA will plant saplings at key locations for each recipient in the spring of 2024, with plans to launch an extension of the program, the Anne Frank Garden Initiative, in 2025. Each sapling will become an integral fixture of the location where it grows and thrives.

With each sapling planted, Anne Frank Center USA is sharing Anne Frank’s love of nature with organizations across its coalition that have a common commitment to honoring Anne Frank’s memory through education, free expression, and belief in humanity.

The Tree in Anne’s Diary

From her only window to the outside world, Anne Frank could see the sky, birds, and a majestic chestnut tree. “As long as this exists,” she wrote in her diary, “how can I be sad?” Anne Frank wrote about her beloved chestnut tree in three separate diary entries in 1944, marking the changing of the seasons as she and others hid from the Nazis.

Project History

The Sapling Project began in 2009 with the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam’s efforts to preserve the original chestnut tree by gathering and germinating chestnuts and donating the saplings to organizations dedicated to Anne Frank’s memory. Despite efforts to strengthen the original chestnut tree, the aged, diseased tree toppled in a windstorm in 2010. It was one of the oldest chestnut trees in Amsterdam. Over the last 10 years, Anne Frank Center USA has awarded saplings to sites across the United States, including the U.S. Capitol, the United Nations Headquarters, and others. Taken together, these trees form a living memorial with branches reaching from coast to coast.

About Anne Frank Center USA

The Anne Frank Center USA traces its roots to the efforts of Otto Frank in the 1950s to raise funds to support the restoration of Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. He established the Anne Frank Foundation in New York as a fundraising organization dedicated to this purpose. The Anne Frank Foundation evolved into the Anne Frank Center USA, securing official 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in New York in 1977. AFC USA, which is still based in New York, functions as a decentralized organization. This makes it possible for the organization to remain nimble and responsive in a rapidly changing world. Over the past year, programs of AFC USA have reached hundreds of thousands of students in twenty-two states and the District of Columbia.

About The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center

The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center (HHREC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in White Plains New York that serves schools, synagogues, colleges, churches and civic centers in Westchester and the greater Hudson Valley area. The HHREC Mission is to enhance the teaching and learning of the lessons of the Holocaust and the right of all people to be treated with dignity and respect. HHREC works with teachers and students to help schools fulfill the New York State mandate that the Holocaust and other human rights abuses be included in their curriculum. Since 1994, the HHREC has brought the lessons of the Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations to more than 3,000 teachers, and through them to thousands of students. For more information visit www.hhrecny.org call 914.696.0738 email info@hhrecny.org