University Of New Haven To Host Holocaust Remembrance Event

WEST HAVEN — The University of New Haven will sponsor its third annual Holocaust Remembrance Event on Tuesday, April 25, at 3 pm, in the Marvin K. Peterson Library on the UNH campus. The event is open to the public, free of charge.

This year’s keynote speaker will be Sydney Perry, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven.

In addition to remarks by Ms Perry, a program of remembrance will include the reading of names of persons who perished in the Holocaust and who have a relationship with a member of the UNH community. The ceremony will include the lighting of ceremonial candles, the chanting of a memorial blessing, a moment of silent contemplation, and musical accompaniment.

Ms Perry has been executive director of JFGNH for two years, after a 17 year tenure as director of the Department of Jewish Education, the educational arm of JFGNH. During her tenure, she has worked to improve the synagogue supplementary schools, served as consultant to the community on educational endeavors including the Anne Frank project, and now the 350th anniversary of the settlement of Jews in America.

Nationally, Ms Perry has been called upon to give workshops in various settings including this year’s General Assembly and has served as scholar-in-residence for several communities.

An honors graduate of Smith College, Ms Perry pursued graduate work at Hartford Theological Seminary in Islamics. She has taught Rabbinics and Bible at Ezra Academy for many years.  She has been nominated for national awards for educational initiatives and serves on committees of the Jewish Educational Society of North America and Bureau Directors Fellowship; and has been honored with a number of awards for her work in Holocaust education and prejudice reduction.

The mother of six children and grandmother of eight, Ms Perry lives in New Haven with her husband, Professor Theodore Perry.

For more information, contact Katherine Hinds at 203-932-7246 or Khinds@NewHaven.edu.