PEOPLE

By Emily Williams get.” About one week later, Albright’s director of

Each year, the Birmingham Holocaust communications called and spoke with

Education Center celebrates life with its Silverstein for about 45 minutes about the

L’Chaim fundraising event, blending live enterorganization and event, leaving the call with tainment with a program to highlight its misthe promise that she would speak to Albright sion to provide Holocaust education while preHonorees for this about the opportunity. serving the stories of local Holocaust survivors. year’s event will be “The very next day, she called me and let

This year’s event, themed “Now More Than longtime BHEC supme know that (Albright) would make the

Ever,” will take place virtually on Aug. 23, porters Susan and opening remarks,” he said. “I just about fell out featuring performances that have been arranged David Silverstein. of the chair.” by Keith Cromwell of Red Mountain Theatre Though he has enjoyed attending L’Chaim

Company. Guest speakers will include former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Auburn University head men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl. Honorees for this year’s event will be longtime BHEC supporters Susan and David Photo courtesy BHEC in years past, when it mostly has been held at the Dorothy Jemison Day Theatre at the Alabama School of Fine Arts, Silverstein hopes that going virtual will allow more people to participate who haven’t previously been able to attend.

Silverstein. “(The center) is one of these behind-the

David Silverstein, president of the FiveStone Group and former principal at Bayer Now More Than Ever scenes organizations that people still may not know much about, yet the center does such

Properties, noted that his relationship with the important work – not just in Birmingham, but

BHEC has spanned more than a decade, having lent the center office space in one of his propL’Chaim 2020 to Honor David and Susan Silverstein, across the state,” Silverstein said. Education regarding the Holocaust is a serierties on Arlington Avenue. Feature Speakers Madeleine Albright and Bruce Pearl ous subject that requires the correct approach,

When asked to serve as the honorees for but it holds so many important lessons that can this year’s event, Silverstein said, he and his be connected to the world today, he said. wife were humbled. reading Albright’s new book “Hell and Other

“I’ve always been somewhat reluctant to be the honoree,” he said. “I’d rather do the work behind the scenes ... but I believe in the program and I believe in the mission.” Though the Silversteins have lent their names and faces to the event this year, he has still put in that behind-the-scenes effort to help nail down one of this year’s speakers. It Was Worth a Try Destinations: A 21st Century Memoir.” “I thought, I’ll just go and send her an email and see if she would be willing to participate virtually with L’Chaim,” Silverstein said. He reached out to her consulting firm in Washington, D.C., on a whim, believing it to be a longshot. “So, I drafted an email to the former secretary of state,” he said with a chuckle. “I think I worked on it for about a day and a half, makCharlottesville Was a Wake-Up Call Silverstein noted that the Charlottesville rallies conducted by neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups in August 2017 were a wake-up call for many, including himself. “Seeing those individuals carrying torches and walking around synagogues,” he said. “It really was so evil. It was so scary, and I can only imagine what it must have been like in 1941 in Europe, having someone knock on We Offer • In-Home Care, Including Bathing, Grooming, Housekeeping, Guest speakers will include former U.S. Journal file photo by Jordan Wald Photo courtesy BHEC Silverstein has been spending a decent ing sure every word was the right word. your door and take your family away and put Meal Preparation, Incontinence Care, Medication Reminders Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and amount of time at his lake house during the pandemic and spent some of the down time “I drafted the email, hit the send button and didn’t know what response, if any, I would and Transportation Auburn University head men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl. them on cattle cars for extermination,” he said. 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Silverstein, reinforced the work that the BHEC does in the state of Alabama and how important education is in promoting tolerance.

“The atrocities that occurred during the Holocaust have not been forgotten, and we are doing what we can to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” he said. “I think one of the key elements to ensuring that something like that doesn’t happen again is education.”

According to organization officials, both guest speakers at the L’Chaim event will, “share words of hope, empowerment and why Holocaust education is critical today.”

“Now more than ever, the BHEC is dedicated to preserving and sharing our Alabama Holocaust Survivors’ stories, which are powerful reminders to us all, of the consequences of hate, and silence in the face of hate. Even during this challenging COVID-19 pandemic, we are empowering teachers and our greater community through Holocaust education online workshops,” said the Rev. Melissa Self Patrick, executive director of Birmingham Holocaust Education Center.

The event will take place Aug. 23 online at 2 p.m. It is presented by Medical Properties Trust and is cochaired by Kate Cotton, Cathy O. Friedman and Jim Richardson.

For more information, visit bheclchaim.swell.gives or call 205-795- 4176.

Bruce Steps Down from Children’s Theatre, Interim Director Named

Birmingham Children’s Theatre Executive Artistic Director Brandon Bruce will be leaving his post, which he has held since 2016. Ashley Woods, who has been with the theater since 2017, will assume the title of interim executive director in early August.

Bruce will be moving to North Carolina, where his spouse has been offered a senior level position with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“The past 4 years at BCT Ashley Woods have been absolutely magical for me,” Bruce said in a statement from the theater. “I am extremely grateful to BCT’s board of trustees, staff and every single artist with whom I have collaborated since 2016. Most of all, however, I am grateful to the children, teachers and parents who have left a permanent mark on my life. I hope to work with BCT regularly in the future and will forever remain a friend and ally of this organization.”

Woods, who has been managing director of the theater, said she is excited to tackle her new leadership role.

“As we face one of the most unusual seasons in BCT’s 73 year history,” Wood said in the statement, “I am inspired by the creativity of our team and energized by the possibility of finding new ways to create and connect with our community. I am grateful to Brandon for his leadership and honored to carry forward BCT’s essential mission to educate, enrich and entertain the youth of Alabama.”

Members of the board said that, while they will miss Bruce, they are excited to see where the theater can go under Woods’ leadership.

“Our area is fortunate to have one of the nation’s oldest professional theatre companies for young audiences and is in a select group of cities to host such an organization,” Chris Cain, president of the theater’s board, said in the statement.

Vestavia Hills Rotary Club Announces New Officers

Vestavia Hills Rotary Club officers for 2020-2021 were installed July 7 during a virtual Zoom meeting.

Maury Wald assumed the presidency from outgoing President Steven Marmurek.

Other officers installed were: Joe Strickland, president elect; George Heinemann, secretary; Joe Perez, treasurer; Steve Marmurek, past president.

Also taking on leadership roles: Steve Odle, membership; Bruce Berthon, service projects; Don Wiginton, parliamentarian, David Whitt, Club Foundation and Mona Fisher, publicity.

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