Holocaust Presentation story - April 2008

Presentation depicts plight of refugees
By Jasmine Stein

Staff Reporter

Publication Date: 04/10/2008

A television show portraying the accounts of Jewish refugees escaping into Palestine helped students reflect on the Holocaust.

Janet Afary, an associate professor in the department of history, showed the audience a controversial television show that chronicled the lives of a Palestinian man who falls in love with a Jewish woman whom he helps escape into Palestine.

"It was compelling and real," said Joseph Brian, a graduate student. "It didn't seem contrived in any way."

Many people in the audience of the Krannert Auditorium held their hands over their faces while the Jewish refugees were persecuted and gunned down during a presentation on the Holocaust debate inside Iran.

Afary spoke about the debate that many leaders in Iran have discussed: whether to recognize Jews in Iran during the Holocaust.

"I'm a history teacher, and I didn't even know Jews went into Iran," said Michelle Napoletano, a graduate student.

Afary ended with questions and a brief discussion about Iraq, Iran and United States relations today.

"It was really interesting hearing about this from an Iranian woman's point of view," Brian said.

The Holocaust Remembrance Conference ends today, but many students continue to reflect on the importance of remembering the lives that were lost.

"This is not the only genocide that has taken place," said Michele Sparks, a Lafayette citizen. "If you don't take the time to learn about it, history will repeat itself."