Film Screening at Chapman
On November 13 at 7 p.m. Chapman University’s Holocaust Center will screen the award-winning documentary the Last Flight of Petr Ginz, followed by discussion with the film’s co-director, Dr. Sandra Dickson. This will be the first screening of the film in California. This event is part of The “1939” Club Lecture Series.
The film tells the story of Petr Ginz who died in Auschwitz at the age of sixteen. Petr’s brief life was one of extraordinary creativity — novels, short stories, drawings and paintings, and, in the Terezin concentration camp, an underground magazine. Israel’s first astronaut, Ilan Ramon, took Petr’s drawing “Moon Landscape” with him into space.
The film’s co-director, Dr. Sandra Dickson, professor in the Department of Communication and co-director of the Documentary Film Program at Wake Forest University, will speak following the screening. Dr. Dickson’s films have aired nationally on PBS, including a premiere on the critically acclaimed Independent Lens series. This summer the Last Flight of Petr Ginz was honored with the Avner Shalev-Yad Vashem Chairman’s Award in the Jewish Experience from the Jerusalem International Film Festival.
Local Author Speaking to ORT
On Wednesday, November 28, at 10 a.m., Fullerton/North Orange County ORT will hold a general meeting at Temple Beth Tikvah. Ben Berkley, president of Temple Beth Tikvah, who has written his fifth book, his first novel, will be the guest speaker.
A lawyer for more than 35 years, Berkley is the author of four self-help books, and now he has written Against My Will. Described as a “life-changing novel,” it is about Danielle, a victim of marital abuse, who gradually finds the strength to leave her husband and start to rebuild her life. During this time, she confides in Nana Rose, who helped raise Danielle and her brother. Nana Rose is a Holocaust survivor who lost her entire family. As we follow Danielle on her journey of terror and recovery, we see her story intersect with the diary entries of her Nana as a young girl held captive in a concentration camp. This is a story of survival, self-discovery, justice and ultimately......it’s about love. One of Berkley’s clients, an older woman with white hair, the kindest smile and an amazing story became the inspiration for one of his characters in this novel.
Berkley lives in Fullerton with his wife, Phyllis and their cat, Riley. He has two grown children and loves to brag about his two beautiful grandchildren.
Come and enjoy a continental breakfast, followed by a short meeting and the book discussion. Donation is $5 at the door. RSVP to Ethelyn at (714) 870-6856 or ethelynb@sbcglobal.net.
Saving a Life, Two Ways
Beth Jacob Congregation of Irvine will hold a blood drive and bone marrow registry sign-up on Sunday, December 2, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is a constant need for blood donations, and bone marrow transplants can save lives of people with a variety of diseases.
For more information, contact Beth Jacob at (949) 786-5230 x100 or bethjacob@bethjacobirvine.org.
