Terry Swartzberg: speaking in the USA in June 2023
June 11, 2 p.m.
Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center
and
Congregation Shalom
7630 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Fox Point WI 53217
June 14, 6.30 p.m.
Beth Israel Congregation
2000 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan
June 15, 7 p.m.
Zekelman Holocaust Center
28123 Orchard Lake Road
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
June 16, 7 p.m.
Temple Israel
5725 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield Township, Michigan
June 24, 9 a.m.
Society for the Advancement of Judaism
15 W. 86 Street, New York
Terry Swartzberg
Commemoration and courage and joyful Judaism: quintessence of Terry Swartzberg and his work. Born in New York and long-time international journalist based in Germany, Terry is a passionate advocate of individualized, person-to-person commemoration of the Holocaust.
Through the Stolpersteine (“stumbling blocks”) – the world’s project of Holocaust commemoration. 100,000 of these sidewalk-level plaques in 1800 cities in 31 European countries.
Through Faces for the Names and other forms of innovative commemoration created by Terry.
Through his “”kippa experiment”. Terry has been wearing a kippa in public in Europe for more than 10 years. To prove to himself and to all Jews that we are safe in Germany and Europe.
Through his staging “open-to-all” Shabbats on squares in Munich and elsewhere. To build bridges, to allay fear, and to mobilize support for Judaism.
Through his work with the young, whose creativity and commitment have revolutionized commemoration.
Terry’s advocacy of a joyous,vigilant and proactive Judaism has been honored by the government of Germany and by leading museums and Holocaust centers.
Commemoration of the victims of the Holocaust. Everywhere in Europe. All the time. By everyone.
A joyous, proactive Judaism for Europe
Get ready for two bits of amazing and heartening news!
At this very moment, in 1800 cities in Europe, stretching from Tromsö in northern Norway to Riga in Latvia and Barcelona and Athens, hundreds of thousands of people are learning about the victims of the Holocaust.
By reading the inscriptions on the Stolpersteine. These “stumbling blocks” are sidewalk-level plaques placed in front of the homes of the victims – Jews, gays, Sinti and Roma and others – persecuted and murdered by the Nazis.
There are 100,000 Stolpersteine and they have revolutionized commemoration. By getting all of Europe – and the world – involved. And especially the young.
This year, thousands of people – Jews and non-Jews – will flock to attend the “Shabbats for everybody” staged by Terry Swartzberg and his organization J.E.W.S. Jews Engaged with Society on squares in Germany’s cities. These “festivals of Judaism” are part of Terry’s advocacy of a joyous, proactive and vigilant Judaism. Another part: Terry has been wearing a kippa in Germany for more than ten years. The bottom line: 3800 days of wearing a kippa in 150 cities in 15 countries. Many heartwarming experiences. 0 bad ones.