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July
8, 2001
More info: Jim Terr (505) 989-9298
A documentary
video interviewing seven New Mexico survivors of the Holocaust has been
sent to selected high schools, public libraries and state libraries
in the five states adjoining New Mexico—Colorado, Arizona, Texas,
Oklahoma and Utah—plus Hawaii.
The 56-minute
video, "WE WERE THERE: Seven Survivors of the Holocaust,"
produced in 2000 by Jim Terr of Santa Fe under a grant from the McCune
Foundation, The Levinson Foundation, The Stern Memorial Trust and other
donors, interviews seven Albuquerqueans who either survived the death
camps or lived in hiding or on the run, in fear of the Nazi killing
machine before and during World War Two. The nationally-acclaimed video
also features archival footage and interviews with two historians and
an Albuquerque participant in the Nuremberg Trials who owns some rare
Nazi photographs.
Due to interest
in this video, Terr secured additional funding to create a four-hour
video of the complete interviews from which the 56-minute video was
edited, along with written transcripts, and copies have been sent to
State Libraries in those six states plus New Mexico. Additionally, copies
of the original 56-minute video were sent to an average of 8 schools
and 10 public libraries in each of those states.
Terr explained
that the importance of the material and the possible regional interest-the
interviewees being from New Mexico-motivated him to send the tapes to
adjoining states. Hawaii was included because two professors from the
University of Hawaii, Peter Hoffenberg and Herbert Ziegler, were also
interviewed on the tapes.
Terr said
his intent with the video is threefold: to bring history alive by interviewing
local participants in this tragic event; to give people a chance to
contemplate the ethical and political issues of the Holocaust; and to
counteract with first-person testimony the "Holocaust deniers"
and hate groups active in our region.
Speaking of
that threat and the importance of this video, Susan Seligman, director
of the New Mexico Anti-Defamation League, stated, "Representatives
of most major white supremacy groups exist here, including The World
Church of the Creator, the KKK, [neo-Nazi] skinhead groups, the National
Alliance and Posse Comitatus--all of whom are anti-Semitic to some degree.
These groups
have been active for many years. We always need to be aware and vigilant
that these groups are working in our region. The Internet tends to be
their greatest weapon for spreading their message of hate. Parents and
children need to be aware of this influence."
Holocaust survivors in the documentary include Zina Birnberg, an Auschwitz
concentration camp survivor from Poland; Hilde Caserio, who was imprisoned
in Frankfurt at age 16; Madeleine and Joseph Kesner, whose escape from
the Nazis took them across Europe and North Africa; Evy Woods, who was
a "hidden child," and Aron Straser, who survived the Stuthoff
concentration camp.
Terr is the
author of "The New Mexico Driver's Survival Guide"
and other books and videos, including several new public service videos
currently in production. He also produced a nationally-acclaimed video
of interviews of New Mexico veterans of World War Two, including mystery
author Tony Hillerman and others, called "IN THEIR OWN WORDS:
12 Veterans of World War Two." (www.bluecanyonproductions.com/ww2.html).
Terr hopes to secure additional corporate, foundation or private funding
to place both the Holocaust and World War Two videos in every one of
the approximately 15,000 public libraries in the U.S.
Comments
on the Holocaust video:
"A memorable and emotional video which valiantly preserves these
first-hand stories for future generations, and humanizes history."
-Regina Turner, project director, Anne Frank in the World exhibit.
"Astounding. A valuable educational resource. Archival footage
and sensitive, honest narration...Each tale is different, and each is
arresting in its impact." -Santa Fe Reporter.
"These brave, articulate and dignified survivors tell their stories
and discredit the offensive myth that the Nazi atrocities never happened.
Jim Terr's one-hour documentary personalizes the unthinkable and preserves
these searing and heartbreaking tales for future generations."
-HADASSAH Magazine
"The images, unforgettable. The video, touching and horrific at
the same time.
-KOAT-TV News
"Heartbreaking recollections, harrowing tales." -Jon Bowman,
Pasatiempo Magazine
Complete list
of supporters of the original video and the 4-hour source video and
transcripts: The McCune Foundation, The Sidney Stern Memorial Trust,
The Levinson Foundation, Richard Becker, Judy Lear, The Aurora Foundation,
Gay Block and Malka Drucker, Yad B'Yad, The Self Reliance Foundation,
Regina Turner, Sam and Ethel Ballen, Zaplin-Lampert Gallery, The Candyman,
Santa Fe, NM.
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Evy Woods,
a "hidden
child" in Germany during the Nazi era. From the video, "WE
WERE THERE: Seven (New Mexico) Survivors of the Holocaust."
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Hilde
Caserio,
who was imprisoned in Frankfurt, Germany at age 16. From the video,
"WE WERE THERE: Seven (New Mexico) Survivors of the Holocaust." |
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Joseph
Kesner,
whose escape from the Nazis took him across North Africa. From the
video," WE WERE THERE: Seven (New Mexico) Survivors of the
Holocaust." |
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Madeleine
Kesner,
whose escape from the Nazis took her across North Africa. From the
video, "WE WERE THERE: Seven (New Mexico) Survivors of the
Holocaust." |
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Zina
Birnberg,
an Auschwitz concentration camp survivor. From the video, "WE
WERE THERE: Seven (New Mexico) Survivors of the Holocaust." |
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