Here is a calendar of upcoming events, up and down the country. Some are organized by us, others by like-minded organizations and groups.
Operation Entebbe after 40 Years: A personal recollection
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
In 1976, when an Air France place was hijacked and rerouted to Entebbe, Rami was the Operations Officer of the unit, under the command of Yoni Netanyahu.
In his capacity as Operations Officer, he was in involved throughout the week, preparing the unit for the Operation.
Among other things, he coordinated with Dan Shomron, the Commander of the Operation, and the Israeli Air Force.
Within the Operation, Rami was part of the 33 officers and soldiers who freed the hostages at the Entebbe terminal. He arrived with the first Hercules that landed in the airport, and was in the car that was driving behind the famous Mercedes.
After Yoni Netanyahu was injured, he drove him to the Hercules, where a team of medical professionals were waiting, but unfortunately they could not save Yoni’s life.
Later, Rami was the commander who led the rescued hostages to the Hercules.
Upon returning to Israel, Rami continued to serve in the unit, and was a Special Operations Commander until 1980.
After he was released from active duty, he helped establish the reserves unit.
Rami Sherman was born on 4 April 1953. His parents were Holocaust survivors and came to Israel in 1945.
Rami grew up on Kibbutz Lehavot Habashan, which is in the north of the country and was on the Syrian border until the Six Day War in 1967. He was educated in the Kibbutz system.
In 1972, Rami enlisted in the army and was accepted into an elite special forces unit, which today is allowed to be named – Sayeret Matkal (the Chief of Staff’s Special Forces). He successfully completed the combat soldier course and was sent to Officers’ School in order to return and receive command of a squad within the unit.
At age 50, he was released from doing reserve service.
Rami is married, has two daughters and grandfather to five grandchildren.
In 1990, Rami finished his studies in physiotherapy at the University of Tel Aviv, and since that time he has worked as a physiotherapist in various positions, including, among other things, as a physiotherapist for the Israeli Olympic team.
In 1993, Rami and his family moved to Kibbutz Ma’agan Michael, where they still live today.
RSVP – Limited Seating. Book ahead. SOLD OUT
2pm, Sunday, May 19.
NORTHWOOD VILLA CLUBROOMS, O’NEILL AVE, NORTHWOOD, CHRISTCHURCH
“In 1996, the historian Deborah Lipstadt was pursued in the UK courts by the notorious Holocaust denier David Irving, for calling him a falsifier of history in her book Denying the Holocaust: The Growing Assault on Truth and Memory. This movie version of those events, written for the screen by David Hare and directed by Mick Jackson, stars Rachel Weisz as Lipstadt and Timothy Spall as Irving; it has been coolly received by some on the festival circuit, its drama dismissed as stagey and flat. I disagree. For me, it has clarity, urgency and overwhelming relevance. Because denial is fashionable again. Irving himself is gloating at the way “alt–right” fascists are threatening to make him and his poisonous flat-earthery acceptable once more. The US president himself believes in “alternative facts”. So for me this film, telling its story with punchy commitment and force, was a breath of fresh air.” — Peter Bradshaw, Guardian
We are forming a group to go view this documentary on Sunday June 16. If you’d like to join up, call our Wellington Regional Coordinator, Joanna Moss on (022) 154 7865.
“…by the end, Keane and McConnell are tugging so hard at heartstrings that most viewers will be unable to resist, even the ones who can see the puppeteers in constant motion.” – Hollywood Reporter
It’s hard to imagine anybody living a normal life in the Gaza Strip. Frequently labelled as the world’s largest open-air prison, it makes an appearance on news reports every time a confrontation erupts between Israel and Hamas. On TV sets thousands of miles away, this tiny piece of land has been reduced to an image of violence, chaos and destruction.
The Gaza which is seldom seen is ordinary, everyday Gaza, a coastal strip smaller than Lake Taupō and home to an eclectic mix of almost two million.
So what do the people who live there do when they’re not under siege?
Gary Keane and Andrew McConnell’s atypical approach to their subject matter yields unexpected, unfamiliar stories of people plagued by conflict but not defined by it.
“We don’t wanna be killed or injured. We simply want to live.”
– Paramedic in Gaza
Gaza cannot be understood in a purely political context or by analysing tragic sound bites during conflict. It can only be understood by immersion, by living amongst its people and by recognizing and exploring its rich social diversity and cultural subtleties.
As the filmmakers travel through the physically broken and battered landscape, they allow their subjects to speak for themselves.
Through them, we gain a nuanced understanding of what life is really like for Gaza’s citizens. In Keane and McConnell’s tender portrait of beleaguered humanity, we experience familiarity and affinity with this unique community.
100% on Rotten Tomatoes
Folks
The NZ Institute of International Affairs (NZIIA) has invited us to their event:
Title: Who lives behind the Gaza blockade, and what can Aotearoa NZ (and we) do?
Speaker: Marilyn Garson
Date: Tuesday, Feb 25
Time: 5.30p-6.30p
Venue: South Arts Lecture Theatre A6, University of Canterbury Campus
Abstract: Marilyn Garson worked for 18 years with excluded communities affected by war. She has established locally owned social enterprises with Cambodians with disabilities, Afghan women and others.
In 2011, she was invited to move to the Gaza Strip. As the economic director of a large NGO programme, she led an ambitious Gazan team. In 2013, she became a consultant to the office of UNRWA’s then-Gaza director. They set about launching the GGateway enterprise to create technology-related jobs behind the Gaza blockade. Marilyn volunteered to stay in Gaza as part of the UN emergency response team that prepared to shelter 35,000 displaced Gazans – but 293,000 people needed shelter through 50 days of bombardment.
Marilyn recently published Still Lives – a memoir of Gaza, chronicling four years of work (2011 – 2015), and the lives being lived behind the Gaza blockade.
As a Jew, Marilyn has skin on both sides of the Israel-Palestine conflict. She discusses the conflict, and NZ’s aid policy, in the unifying language of law and human rights.
She asks, who really lives behind the Gaza blockade, and what can we do about it?
Shalom
NZ Friends of Israel Assoc Inc
Box 37 363
Halswell
Christchurch
New Zealand 8245
+64 (27) 433 9745
contact@nzfoi.org
www.nzfoi.org
This significant New Zealand-inspired and designed Memorial and public programme of events provides an opportunity to inspire and empower individuals to stand against prejudice, discrimination and apathy.
A memorial made by young people to honour other young people who were killed in their millions in another place and time.
We encourage you to visit this powerful and moving memorial to the children of the Holocaust to learn more and reflect on what must never be forgotten.
How many is 1.5 million?
The Germans and their collaborators killed as many as 1.5 million children during the Holocaust including children related to New Zealand’s Holocaust survivors and refugees.
When Justine Hitchcock (Principal of Wellington’s Moriah Jewish Day School) was teaching her young pupils about the Holocaust she decided to help the children understand the enormity of 1.5 million lives lost.
Justine initiated a project to collect 1.5 million buttons — one button for each child that perished. The children themselves managed the project, no child was more than 12-years old. Buttons were sent in from the local Wellington community, from across New Zealand and even from overseas. Many buttons came with personal stories and photographs.
The project evolved into a story of collective remembrance — a memorial.
The majority of the buttons will be contained in a truly unique design and installation by Matthijs Siljee of Massey University’s School of Design; the design includes a series of cascading metallic cabinets containing the buttons.
Strong education focus
The memorial has a strong education focus including an interactive educational section — especially relevant for school children.
The Holocaust in Services to School’s Topic Explorer tool also has curated online resources for students.
The focus of the memorial is to teach:
- what the Holocaust was
how children were affected by the Holocaust
the importance of being an ‘Upstander, not a bystander’ when you witness bullying, harassment and discrimination.
Programme of free events:
The story of the Children’s Holocaust Memorial
Discover the story behind the Memorial with Chris Harris, CEO of the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand and guests.
Tautoru / TSB Space, Hapori | Community, Level 1
Wednesday 22 July, 5pm for a 5.30pm start
Upstander Stories
An evening of stories and discussion about the importance in Christchurch to be Upstanders, encourage inclusivity and respect diversity in all its forms.
This is a special LinC Activator event in collaboration with Christchurch City Libraries as part of The Children’s Holocaust Memorial.
Speakers
Chris Harris – CEO Holocaust Centre of New Zealand
Jo Bailey, Zahra Hussaini and Rebecca Parnham – Uniting Canterbury Women
Tayla Reece, Rose Cook, Aporonia Arahanga and Ayesha Jones – LinC Puāwai Youth Programme
Tautoru / TSB Space, Hapori | Community, Level 1
Tuesday 11 August, 6pm, doors open 5.30pm.
Bookings required, click here to register
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Guided Tours
Personal tours of the Memorial with Chris Harris, CEO of the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand.
Tautoru / TSB Space, Hapori | Community, Level 1
Thursday 23 July, 6pm
Friday 24 July, 12pm
Tuesday 11 August, 12pm
Documentary Screenings
Screenings of NZ Survivor Stories and The Courage to Care, documentaries that profile Jews who were rescued during the Holocaust, rescuers from France, Poland and Holland and the questions raised about the moral and ethical dilemmas that the rescuers confronted.
Ngā Purapura / Activity Room, Hapori | Community, Level 1
Sunday 2 August, 2pm
Saturday 5 September, 2pm
Book Launch and Activities
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Join writer Elissa Weissman for launch of the paperback version of her novel The Length of A String. A novel about Imani, a young girl who is adopted, and ready to search for her birth parents. But when she discovers the diary her Jewish great-grandmother wrote chronicling her escape from Holocaust-era Europe, Imani begins to see family in a new way. There will also be lots of fun activities to enjoy.
Free, no bookings required.
Tautoru / TSB Space, Hapori | Community, Level 1
Sunday 13 September, 3pm
We are honoured to have Sarri Singer talk to the Zionist Federation of New Zealand direct from New Jersey.
Join us at 6pm on Sunday 7 March on Zoom (details below) to hear Sarri talk about her first hand experience of Palestinian terrorism and how from this she has set up the organisation Strength to Strength.
This will be a fascinating and no doubt emotional talk as Sarri recalls what happened as she boarded bus number 14 in Jerusalem.
To join the Zoom Meeting, please use the link below
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89508695325?pwd=eTR6Y2hEMUE3U0NudndjSlFhb2dZZz09
Meeting ID: 895 0869 5325
Passcode: 441936
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Sarri Singer, born in Lakewood, New Jersey, is the daughter of New Jersey State Senator, Robert Singer. Until 9/11, Sarri worked a few blocks away from the World Trade Center. Deeply moved by the tragedy of 9/11, Sarri decided to resign from her position in December 2001 and move to Israel to help victims of terror. While there, Sarri volunteered with various organisations working with victims of terror.
On June 11, 2003, Sarri was on Bus 14 in Jerusalem when an 18-year-old Palestinian terrorist dressed as a religious Jew boarded and blew himself up. 16 people were killed, including all those seated and standing around her, and over 100 people were injured. Sarri was hospitalized for two weeks and then returned to New Jersey to be with family. Her story became high profile. She appeared on television stations such as CBS, FoxNews, CNN and radio interviews. She spoke before Congressmen and Senators in Washington, D.C. and politicians in New York and New Jersey. In September 2003 she returned to work and volunteering in Israel. In June 2004, she returned to the United States to take care of ongoing medical issues associated with her attack.
Sarri is the Founder and Director of Strength to Strength (www.stosglobal.org), which focuses on bringing together victims of terrorism together from around the world and assisting with long term psychological needs. Sarri has addressed audiences throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, South America, and Israel and continues to share her unique insight into the ongoing struggle for victims of terror in Israel and around the world.
CHRISTCHURCH: IN THE WAKE OF THE LATEST GAZA-ISRAEL CONFLICT, WHAT’S NEXT?
20 June 2021, 2.30pm
Halswell Community Centre, 328 Halswell Rd, Christchurch.
GPS coordinates: -43.581902, 172.568741
- Why did the police storm the Temple Mount?
- What is Sheikh Jerrah?
- How was the conflict conducted by both sides?
- What was the reaction in NZ to the conflict?
- Why was there no public rally in support of Israel in Christchurch?
Please bring a plate of finger food. No seafood or pork based products, thanks.
- Resistance – How did people resist the Nazi Regime?
- Rebellion – Fighting back against Nazi atrocities
- Righteousness – Helping your fellow person against Nazi persecution
Students will learn how Jews and Europeans fought against the onslaught of Nazi aggression and antisemitism from 1933 – 1945. From resistance movements such as the Jewish resistance groups or the Maquis; Warsaw Uprising against Nazi deportations; Righteous peoples that helped Jews escape Nazi terrorism like Kingdom of Denmark and Kingdom of Bulgaria as well as individuals such as Irena Sendler, Reverend Bruno Reynders, and Miep Gies.
Common misconceptions around the Holocaust include, but not limited, to the idea that there was no resistance against Nazi aggression. During this programme, students will be exposed to the different ways in which Jews and Europeans resisted and rebelled against the Nazis. Students will also learn about how nations worked to protect or shelter Jewish communities from the atrocities of the concentration and death camps. The goal of this programme is for students to learn how passive and active resistance helped serve to protect the communities targeted by the Nazi regime. Students learn that resistance came in many forms and the illusion of passivity was part of the myth spread by the Nazi regime.
Links to school curriculum
- Level 6 Social Studies: Understand how individuals, groups, and institutions work to promote social justice and human rights.
- Level 6 Social Studies: Understand how cultures adapt and change and that this has consequences for society.
- Level 6 History: Understand how the causes and consequences of past events that are of significance to New Zealanders shape the lives of people and society.
- Level 7 Social Studies: Understand how conflicts can arise from different cultural beliefs and ideas and be addressed in different ways with differing outcomes.
- Level 7 History: Understand how historical forces and movements have influenced the causes and consequences of events of significance to New Zealanders.
- Level 8 Social Studies: Understand how policy changes are influenced by and impact on the rights, roles, and responsibilities of individuals and communities.
- Level 8 Social Studies: Understand how ideologies shape society and that individuals and groups respond differently to these beliefs.
- Level 8 Geography: Understand how people’s diverse values and perceptions influence the environmental, social, and economic decisions and responses that they make.