In this program, we will explore the lives of two remarkable individuals who, despite their many differences, profoundly shaped the lives of children during the interwar period in Poland and the Holocaust. We will examine their distinct approaches to education, as well as the leadership and courage they demonstrated in times of great hardship. Additionally, we will consider how their ideas continue to influence education today and why their legacy remains inspiring.

Special Musical Performance by: Margot Leverett and Rabbi Zoe B. Zak (Temple Israel of Catskill)

Eli Menasse, from Monsey, New York, has been interested in studying and sharing Jewish history since he was a young boy. He feels that knowing about and experiencing our past shapes our Jewish identity in the present and provides a sense of mission for the future. A social worker by trade but an artist at heart, Eli enjoys drawing, music, and photography, as well as a good joke.

This program is in partnership with:

The Janusz Korczak Association of the USA (korczakusa.com) has been promoting the legacy of Dr. Korczak in the U.S. for over 20 years through education and healing work with children, parents, and teachers, as well as exhibits, puppet plays based on Dr. Korczak's children's books, and a musical drama about his life. Mariola Strahlberg, founder of the Association, will share highlights of the organization's work after the talk.