A group of Jewish refugee children wait in the port of Lisbon to board the SS Mouzinho, which took them to the United States in 1941. US Holocaust Memorial Museum, courtesy of Milton Koch
Fleeing terror at home, searching for safety and shelter. During the Holocaust, European Jews cried out to the world for help, desperate to escape Nazi persecution. Without legal protection, their lives hung in the balance. Some were granted refuge in foreign countries with an unfamiliar language, new customs, and limited opportunities. Most found nowhere to turn.
Today, war, genocide, and mass atrocities are forcing millions of people around the world from their homes. Often separated from their loved ones, they face an uncertain future. Join us as we examine the plight of refugees during the Holocaust and today.
Guest
Ron Coleman, Chief, Library, The David M. Rubenstein National Institute for Holocaust Documentation, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Commentary
Rachel Levitan, Vice President, International Policy and Relations, HIAS, an organization that helped Jews during the Holocaust and today assists refugees around the world
Olga Morkova, Advocacy Manager, Ukraine/Europe, HIAS
Host
Dr. Edna Friedberg, Historian, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Watch live at facebook.com/holocaustmuseum. You do not need a Facebook account to view our program. After the live broadcast, the recording will be available to watch on demand on the Museum’s Facebook and YouTube pages.