The Trump campaign has released an ad featuring a Holocaust survivor criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris for repeatedly comparing former President Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler. The survivor, 94-year-old Jerry Wartski, denounces Harris’ accusations and defends Trump’s character, calling him a ‘mensch’ and emphasizing his support for the Jewish community and Israel. The ad comes amid heated rhetoric in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election.
President Joe Biden has passionately condemned the resurgence of antisemitism in the United States and around the world following the Hamas terror attack on Israel. Delivering a somber keynote address at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum’s annual Days of Remembrance ceremony, Biden drew a parallel between the recent surge in antisemitism and the horrors of the Holocaust, emphasizing the enduring threat posed by hatred and intolerance. He urged Americans to uphold the rule of law and to stand against all forms of bigotry.
The University of Malaya has issued a public apology for hosting a lecture by US academic Bruce Gilley, who made controversial remarks accusing Malaysia of advocating for a “second Holocaust” against Jews. The university announced that it will take disciplinary action against those involved, prepare a report on the incident, and implement stricter background checks for future collaborations. Meanwhile, Professor Gilley has announced his departure from Malaysia amid the escalating controversy.
Amidst the horrors of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the poignant love story of Lali Sokolov and Gita Furman unfolds. The series, based on the book by Heather Morris, captures the complexity of their romance set against the backdrop of Nazi atrocities. As Lali, a Jewish prisoner tasked with tattooing identification numbers, meets Gita, a fellow prisoner, their bond offers a glimmer of hope in the face of unimaginable darkness. The portrayal of the camp, meticulously recreated for the production, serves as a chilling reminder of the Holocaust’s horrors.
The founder of Students Supporting Israel (SSI), Ilan Sinelnikov, is raising concerns about the rise of antisemitism on college and university campuses across the United States. Sinelnikov emphasizes the similarities between the current situation and the harassment and intimidation faced by Jewish people in Europe leading up to the Holocaust. He urges universities to address the problem of antisemitism and take strong action to protect Jewish students, who no longer feel safe on their campuses. Sinelnikov also expresses concern that the lack of leadership from university administrations is contributing to the problem.
Writer-director Jake Paltrow’s latest film, ‘June Zero,’ will be released in theaters in New York on June 28th, Los Angeles on July 5th, and nationwide on July 12th. The film, which had its U.S. premiere at Film at Lincoln Center’s New York Jewish Film Festival and was an official selection at several other festivals, is based on true accounts and told from the unique perspectives of three distinct figures: Eichmann’s Jewish Moroccan prison guard, an Israeli police investigator who also happens to be a Holocaust survivor, and a precocious 13-year-old Libyan immigrant. The film, which was shot entirely on 16mm film in Israel and Ukraine, delves into the complexities of the human experience during the pivotal trial of Adolf Eichmann, underscoring the notion that shared traumas have the power to forge strong bonds and unexpected moments of triumph.
The Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center has commissioned a trilogy of virtual reality films to shed light on lesser-known Holocaust experiences, including ‘Letters from Drancy,’ which follows survivor Marion Deichmann’s return to her native France. These films aim to provide a profound and accessible connection to history, particularly for younger generations. The museum has launched a mobile VR trunk program to bring the films to schools and communities across the country. The success of the films on the festival circuit has led to increased visibility for the survivors and amplified the museum’s message of empathy and authenticity in using VR for historical storytelling.
Four German citizens, two sisters and their partners, were arrested for laying white roses at Hitler’s birthplace in Austria. They posed in front of the building and one of the women gave a Nazi salute. Police found Nazi-themed messages and pictures on the phone of the woman who gave the salute. All four were reported to prosecutors for violating the law banning Nazi symbols in Austria.
The Cannes Film Festival has expanded its competition lineup with two international titles: Michel Hazanavicius’ animated feature ‘The Most Precious of Cargoes’ and Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof’s ‘The Seed of the Sacred Fig.’
‘The Most Precious of Cargoes’ is an auteur-driven film adapted from Jean-Claude Grumberg’s novel. Set during World War II, it follows the intertwined fates of a Jewish family deported to Auschwitz and a woodcutter couple who discover an abandoned twin baby.
Mohammad Rasoulof’s ‘The Seed of the Sacred Fig’ remains shrouded in secrecy, with its plot details under wraps. Rasoulof has faced government censorship in Iran and was prevented from attending last year’s Cannes jury due to travel restrictions.
These additions join a stellar lineup of iconic filmmakers competing at Cannes, including Francis Ford Coppola, George Miller, and George Lucas.
