Did the Nazis make soap from the corpses of murdered Jews?
Fifty years after the end of World War II, impassioned Holocaust survivor Milton Saltzman battles Holocaust historians to include the atrocity of “soap” in their Holocaust memorials and museums. THE SOAP MYTH wrestles with the conflict between survivor memory and historical proof, as well as with the scourge of anti-Semitism masquerading as Holocaust denial. The play poses such provocative questions as: Who has the right to write history? Who determines the truth? How does a survivor survive surviving?
We invite you to watch PBS’s recording of Jeff Cohen’s gut-wrenching play, starring Ed Asner and Tovah Feldshuh, on your own and then to join us for a virtual discussion on essential questions about the shaping of history and the convenient hatred of anti-Semitism, with:
Ed Asner & Tovah Feldshuh, The play’s stars
Jeff Cohen, Playwright
Dr. Michael Berenbaum, Holocaust scholar
Ira N. Forman, President Obama’s Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating anti-Semitism
All who register will receive an email the night prior to the event with links both for the April 20th webinar as well as a link to watch the play.
This program is proudly presented by the Temple Emanu-El Streicker Center, the National Jewish Theater Foundation and the=Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center
Special introductions by Rabbi Joshua M. Davidson and Arnold Mittelman.
Questions will be taken via chat room and moderated by Rick Salomon,Vice President and Member of the Executive Committee of the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center
__________________________
The New York Times calls THE SOAP MYTH – “A pointed investigation of the politics of history… Forceful… Genuinely moving… A revelation!”
Williamstown Theatre Festival Artistic Director Mandy Greenfield said: “Our audience was reached, moved and transformed. The performance felt epic, historic, important and meaningful beyond words – an evening this Festival will not soon forget.”
William Shulman, President of The Association of Holocaust Organizations, wrote: “THE SOAP MYTH is a powerful confrontation between survivor memory and historical memory as well as a scathing depiction of the insidiousness of sophisticated Holocaust denial. It is a remarkably effective teaching tool.”