BOSTON – Holocaust survivor Israel ‘Izzy’ Arbeiter of Newton, an eyewitness to the horrors of Nazi concentration camps, will be honored during a virtual community event on Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to all.
Izzy, 96, will receive the Stephan Ross Excellence in Holocaust Education Award, named for the New England Holocaust Memorial founder and Arbeiter’s lifelong friend.
The program, the second annual virtual tribute event for “Voices from the Past … Lessons for the Future,” is sponsored by the New England Friends of March of the Living . The theme is “A promise kept: Honoring the enduring impact of Israel ‘Izzy’ Arbeiter.”
The International March of the Living annually brings over 10,000 high schoolers from 50 countries to Poland and Israel to study the history of the Holocaust and learn about roots of antisemitism and prejudice. NEF MOTL provides $2,000 scholarships to qualified high school juniors and seniors who wish to participate. Irv Kempner of Sharon, chairman of NEF MOTL and son of Holocaust survivors, emphasized the importance of the unique program. “Prejudice and antisemitism are on the rise in the U.S. and worldwide. Now is the time to instill the lessons of the Holocaust in our youth, educating, encouraging, and empowering the next generation.” He pointed out 63 percent of Americans don’t know what the Holocaust was.
To view the virtual, free tribute event on Oct. 6, visit motlnewengland.org. Advance registration is requested. For questions or more information, email tribute@motlnewengland.org.
