The Trial of Adolf Eichmann [] Jewish Cultural and Community Center – JC3

The Trial of Adolf Eichmann

Sunday, February 9
1:00 pm

Jewish Cultural and Community Center – JC3

THE TRIAL OF ADOLF EICHMANN

The most common image of Adolf Eichmann is the much-used official photograph of the young, smiling SS officer with film star looks who deported millions of Jews to the death camps. The only comparable image is perhaps the one of him at his trial in Jerusalem in 1961.  He wasn’t always among the pantheon of Nazi killers. When the Nazis were defeated, the Allies didn’t even really know his name, and Justice Francis Biddle, senior American member of the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg saw Eichmann’s name in an early draft of the tribunal’s judgement, he scribbled “who was he?” next to it. In the next hour you’ll find out.  Our story will start with Eichmann’s formative years as a spy. Then the tale of his mysterious escape from Europe, and the nerve-jangling account of finding him, of his capture and kidnapping, and how he was spirited out of Argentina to go on trial in Israel. Spy vs spy has nothing on this!

Dr. Sylvia Solomon, born and raised in London, is a retired educator with over thirty years in elementary schools, secondary schools, and several universities, including the University of Toronto and Queens University. The last fourteen years of her career she worked at the Ontario Ministry of Education developing curriculum policy and resources that changed teaching and learning in Ontario and embed Holocaust Education learning expectations in a number of courses. Her focus has always been social justice in education. She has presented a series of lectures ‘Great Trials That Changed The Course of History’ at the University of Toronto, Ryersion University and the Instituto de Allende in Mexico.

She gave the Eichmann lecture at the 92nd Street Y In New York City several months ago and here is what one of the people who attended the lecture had to say:

“Using the trials as the point of engagement, we were guided through a web of fascinating stories to see a tapestry of the historical period. I stayed on the edge of my seat – and emerged with clearer and deeper understanding of the cultural waters and crosscurrents, and of the profound importance of leaders who impact on people’s lives and change history. Sylvia is a consummate teacher. Her presentations are a gift – and not to be missed.” (John Dells MD, Founder and President – Good Wolf)

CHESMA, A.C.(una “Comunidad Hebrea En San Miguel de  Allende,  Asociacion Civil”) is an interdenominational Jewish community in San Miguel de Allende, State of Guanajuato, Mexico. We have about 120 members:  one-quarter are Mexican, the rest expatriates primarily from the United States and Canada.   Our motto–‘One community, many journeys’–reflects our diverse backgrounds—in language, culture, and observance. We welcome each member to express his or her unique Judaism. Be it secularly, artistically, religiously, intellectually or otherwise, we urge all Jews who are interested in being a part of a Jewish entity here in el Bajío to join with us.   CHESMA, AC is a not-for-profit umbrella organization, which remains unaffiliated with any specific Jewish movement; our lay members lead worship and fill all the other roles needed keep the community thriving.   Under this umbrella, the Traditional/Egalitarian Minyan Group, led primarily by Dan Lessner and Carole Stone, has just been accepted for membership in the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (North America’s Conservative Judaism flagship), and is now a separate legal religious entity known as “Kehilla Shalom San Miguel de Allende” under IRS section 501(c)(3).

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