Yom HaShoah observance includes viewing of ‘Who Will Write Our Story?’ documentary

May 3, 2019 By Francesca Norsen Tate

Director Roberta Grossman poses during the photo call of the movie "Who Will Write Our History?" at the Rome Film Fest in 2018. The documentary will be shown in Brooklyn this weekend as part of an annual observance of Yom HaShoah. AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino

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Jewish communities around the world will observe Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day, against the backdrop of last Saturday’s shooting at Chabad of Poway synagogue near San Diego, California.

Many people — including non-Jews, are haunted by what they see as a growing tide of anti-Semitism in the country and worldwide — the kind that led to the Holocaust. Several congregations are joining forces for programs commemorating Yom HaShoah throughout the week.

The East Midwood Jewish Center and the Madison Jewish Center have partnered for many years in their annual observance of Yom HaShoah, of which the formal name is Yom Hazikaron laShoah ve-laG’vurah (“Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day”).

The first part of this year’s observance is a remembrance service that was scheduled to take place on Wednesday, May 1, before this column went to press. Part 2 will take place on Sunday, May 5, at 3:30 p.m. with a viewing of a 2019 documentary titled, “Who Will Write Our History?”

This 95-minute film spotlights Polish historian Emanual Ringelblum, resistance efforts in the Warsaw Ghetto, and the creation of the “Oyneg Shabes Archives.” Roberta Grossman wrote and directed the documentary. The producer is Nancy Spielberg, the sister of acclaimed filmmaker Steven Spielberg.

Since its premiere earlier this year, “Who Will Write Our History” has received acclaim from The New York Times.

Dr. Louis Levine, Founding Director of Collections and Exhibitions at the Museum of Jewish Heritage (retired) will be the guest speaker at the film showing.

Levine, who is the father of EMJC’s Cantor Sam Levine, was responsible for bringing the first (and to date the only) major Ringelblum exhibition to the U.S. He will deliver some remarks at the showing and take questions afterwards.