Gray rain clouds set the tone Tuesday night for a somber Holocaust commemoration in Evangeline Hall.
More than 50 students met to participate in a question-and-answer forum with Rabbi Charles Isbell, director of the University’s Jewish studies program, and to discuss the Holocaust as well as racial discrimination.
John Yaun, assistant director of Living and Learning Communities, said the event was created to better inform University students about the Holocaust.
“Our goal is to talk about the different truths about the Holocaust,” Yaun said.
Isbell said the day – Yom HaShoah – is set aside to honor the victims of the Holocaust.
“Today is the commemoration of the Holocaust,” said Isbell, who has written seven books and many articles on the Holocaust. “It is generally a time when Jews meet with people of other faiths to discuss what happened and open up similar lines so that nothing happens again.”
Yaun said the day is important to Jewish people throughout the world.
“The day is recognized by many people,” Yaun said. “There still are many survivors of the Holocaust around the world. Today recognizes those who died and is to be respectful of people who died during this genocide.”
Isbell commented on the racial issues that took place in Nazi Germany during World War II as well as discrimination that still take place in the United States.
Students had the opportunity to ask Isbell questions about the Holocaust, some of which Isbell said he had no real answer.
“My grandfather told me that if I could understand the Holocaust, I would be as bad as the people that did it,” Isbell said.
Megan Tanner, mass communication freshman, said the forum was well publicized.
“They had posters in all of the residence halls, which got me to go,” Tanner said.
Margaret Harrington, accounting freshman, said she attended the lecture because she knew it would be interesting.
“I thought it would be interesting to here firsthand from a rabbi his intake on the Holocaust,” Harrington said. “I thought it would be better than what I have learned from books.”
Yaun and Isbell plan to co-teach a course next fall on Holocaust history.
 
Contact Justin Fritscher at [email protected]