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Quinn Award Presented to Stephen V. Tang, Chinatown's Community Health Care Advocate |
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2000 Stotsky Holocaust Presentation Given by Professor Spencer DiScala |
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Labor Studies Program to Celebrate 20th Anniversity on April 28 |
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MIT Librarian Charged with Child Rape in Science Building Incident |
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On March 7, History Professor Spencer DiScala gave the 2000 Bernard A. Stotsky Holocaust Presentation, "Obstructing the Final Solution: Italian Diplomats and Military Leaders and the Jewish Rescue Efforts in Yugoslavia, Greece, and France," to an audience in the Healey Library Media Auditorium. His introduction of the film "The Righteous Enemy" was preceded by remarks by Dr. Bernard Stotsky, Professor Emeritus of Psychology, who discussed the role his parents, George and Bess, played during World War II in bringing over 200 people out of Europe before the Holocaust. It was their actions that inspired him to create a living memorial to them. The Stotsky Lecture Series is presented by the McCormack Institute of Public Affairs.
Prior to the film, Di Scala discussed the backdrop that led to Italy's entrance into the war and what led to the Italian refusal to go along with the "final solution." The Italians believed that Germany had already won, and they were unprepared for war after previously being neutral. This somewhat uneasy partnership with the Germans made them reluctant to see the Jews as their enemies.
"The Righteous Enemy," directed and created by Joseph Rochlitz, explores the role Italian military officials played in protecting Jews in their occupied zones of Europe during World War II. The film's origins began as a personal look at Rochlitz's father's experience in occupied Yugoslavia during the war, and led to further exploration of how the Italian Army managed to keep Jewish prisoners out of the hands of their German allies and out of the concentration camps.
The film tells the story of how Italian military officials, through bureaucratic foot dragging, allowed Jews to remain in their occupied zones in Yugoslavia, Greece and France in spite of German orders to send them to concentration camps. While in the Italian occupied zones, Jews were allowed privileges not seen elsewhere in Europe; adequate food, clothing, shelter, and even schooling complete with report cards. The irony of fascist Italy protecting Jews from the Nazis was not lost on the audience, who found humor at the Germans' inability to control their allies.
A discussion following the film featured four distinguished guests. Italian Consul General Piero Di Masi, Israli Consul General Itzhak Levanon, Chairman of the Dante Alighieri Society Judge Peter Agnus and Executive Director of the American Jewish Committee Dr. Lawrence Lowenthal all brought their thoughtful perspectives to the presentation.