Elliott Katz Lecture Series

from Federation Star - July/August 2023

Summer of the Arts in full swing

at the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center

By Elliott Katz

Please join me for six more lectures that challenge the conventional view of many 20th-century events. Meticulous research supports critical assessments made, utilizing archival and original documentation to demonstrate that history is often recorded or revised to fit political, public and media prejudices and predilections.

Mark your calendars and sign up for the entire series. Presentations are from 10-11:30 a.m., with Q&A to follow at the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center. Series tickets are $145 pp; individual tickets are $30 pp. Purchase series or individual tickets at www.jewishnaples.org.

Lecture lineup

Oct. 6: "Oh, Canada"

From 1933 until 1948, when it came to accepting Jewish refugees from Europe, no Western democracy exceeded Canada in its zeal to limit such immigration. When a Canadian official was asked "How many Jews should be allowed to immigrate to Canada," his reputed reply was "None is too many." Fifty years later, Canada apologized for its policies.

Oct. 13: "The Universities, The lvys and The Jews"

In the 1920s and ’30s, many Ivy League Universities were anxious to limit the amount of Jewish students allowed to study in their hallowed halls of learning. At the same time, they were rolling out the welcome mat for visiting Nazi officials and Nazi students. Harvard honored Hitler's closest confidant with a welcoming dinner.

Nov. 3: "Hooray for Hollywood"

Hollywood's film moguls decided they had to take some action against the West Coast Nazis who seemed hell bent on spreading their poison and infiltrating the movie industry. One man led the charge and Hollywood's biggest producers joined in. Soon Congress took note.

Nov. 17: "Casablanca"

Set in Morocco and Vichy, France, Casablanca was a city teeming with refugees, collaborationists, spies and the world's most famous entertainer. It was also the site where Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Winston Churchill met to determine the fate of Europe. What FDR said there about the Jews shocked those in attendance. You will be surprised.

Dec. 1: "Hitler's Jewish Princess"

Hitler called her "My Princess." He honored her with Nazi medals and invited her to dine with his friends and associates and spend the night at his mountain retreat, Berchtesgaden. He was enamored with this Jewish woman, FDR despised her. How did she end up?

Dec. 15: "The Farhud"

For thousands of years, Iraqi Jews prospered in their Mesopotamian homeland, arguably the oldest Jewish community in the world, and were respected and admired. Then the acknowledged leader of the Middle Eastern Arabs decided it was time for a pogrom. It happened. It was called The Farhud.