One man’s battle against anti-semitism
Photo: Centropa
How to fight growing anti-semitism? Edward Serotta thinks he’s come up with a way.
Serotta, a charismatic American photo-journalist, has spent the last 15 years chronicling the lives of Jewish communities in Europe and the former USSR. While others (the Spielberg Foundation, Fortuny Foundation, etc) are chronicling the Holocaust and pogroms — in other words, how Jews died – Serotta’s mission is to explain how Jews lived. He and his team have recorded an oral history of survivors remembering their day to day existence before, during and after the second World War. Using family photographs and memorabilia as aide-memoire, more than 1000 elderly Jews still living in central Europe, Turkey and the Balkans have pieced together a fascinating account of prejudice and tolerance, persecution and celebration.
Centropa also organises seminars in which young people, as well as school teachers, curriculum-designers and educationalists from all over the world (and many of them not Jewish) learn about Jewish life.
Centropa provides a role model for all faith communities: as it disseminates the memories of a particular group, the centre not only strengthens their sense of identity; it also promotes tolerance.
Forget how Jews “lived” Edward. Instead, focus on how Jews ARE LIVING, especially the zionist apologists for Israel who get the rest a bad name.
It says here that you are “a charismatic photo-journalist.” Just what the world needs! A privileged posh boy with a camera playing the victim.
ismaila
February 18, 2013 at 11:58
Someone should tell contributor ismaila that Zionists are not members of a terrorist group and that Zionism is not a dirty word but a political movement for the establishment of a national homeland for Jews. Zionists contribute significantly to the development of the modern and democratic state of Israel.
We should kindly remind this contributor that in the 20th century nearly a million Jews were expelled from their homes in North Africa and the Middle- East. The wholesale destruction of Jewish communities in North Africa and the Middle- East was ethnic cleansing on a massive scale . Contributor ismaila is somewhat inclined to historical falsification. We are there to tell the truth.
Gilmas
March 23, 2013 at 16:16
Do you think the Jewish Community you live in is bold, innovative, and progressive? What is the definition of progressive? Progressive as in changing Halacha? Then I don’t think I would want this. Progressive as in open to new ideas? Then, I might be. Are we taking care of our people during these times when anti-Semitism is alive and well? Yes and no. It depends on where you are, and how well you can ask for help. Are we preparing our members to defend ourselves where and when necessary? Not at all. People, when confronted, with major anti-Semitism do not know how to react… Are you scared, when you read all the terrible things hurled at us? Yes. Yet fear can be a very good thing. If the Jewish community was feeling positive fear (aka not panic), it would be able to react more efficiently, better able to deal with any situation. Do we want to live in a bold community, or do we want to have the same thing our grandparents had?
Haguik
March 29, 2013 at 18:05