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Edited by: TJVNews.com
In a profound commemoration of Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference), in partnership with the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust and the Wagner College Holocaust Center, hosted a deeply moving screening of Oren Rudavsky’s award-winning documentary, Elie Wiesel – Soul on Fire.
Held at Wagner College’s Foundation Hall, the event served as a cornerstone of the inaugural Strength of Courage global Holocaust film series. The festival, which spanned from April 13 through April 20, 2026, features Claims Conference-funded films across New York City’s five boroughs, as well as in Israel, Germany (Berlin and Frankfurt), and Austria. The global initiative utilizes cinema as a bridge between the history of the Shoah and the moral challenges of the 21st century.
A Living Link to History
The Staten Island screening drew a significant and diverse audience, but it was the profound presence of local Holocaust survivors that truly defined the afternoon. The program opened with a moving introduction by 96-year-old Auschwitz survivor Alice Ginsburg (born in Czechoslovakia in 1930) alongside Professor Lori Weintrob. Local survivors Arthur Spielman and Professor Tom Karfunkel were also in attendance, joined by numerous second- and third-generation survivors, providing an invaluable living link to history and grounding the film’s themes in lived reality.
The event held deep local significance; in 2012, Elie Wiesel received an honorary degree on Grymes Hill from Wagner College, famously telling graduates, “Hope is not a gift from God. Hope is a gift we give each other.”
“We are proud to display Elie Wiesel’s graduation speech in our permanent Holocaust exhibit and in our library,” said Dr. Lori Weintrob, Wagner College Holocaust Center Director. “His presence gave momentum to our Center, founded less than two years later, to live up to his call to fight indifference. We strive to live out his legacy and to inspire a new generation to bear witness among youth of all faiths.”
Community Leaders Applaud the Initiative
The program received high praise from local leadership for its emotional depth and educational impact. Sponsored locally by Wagner College, the Alan and Joan Bernikow JCC, the Arden Heights Synagogue, and the Council of Jewish Organizations (COJO) of Staten Island, the event epitomized community solidarity.
“This event was a masterful tribute to the memory of Elie Wiesel and a testament to the resilience of the human spirit,” said Mendy Mirocznik, President of COJO of Staten Island. “I want to personally laud the Wagner College Holocaust Center and Dr. Lori Weintrob for their tireless efforts. Dr. Weintrob’s dedication ensures that the lessons of the past remain a guiding light for our community today. It was an honor to see our survivors standing tall, reminding us why this work is so vital.”
A Legacy of Moral Clarity
Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire penetrates to the heart of the known and unknown Elie Wiesel (1928–2016)—illuminating his passions, conflicts, and legacy as a survivor, writer, teacher, and Nobel Peace Prize winner. Utilizing unique access to personal archives, original interviews, and hand-painted animation, the documentary explores his lifelong commitment to human rights, echoing his famous sentiment: “I am not a politician; that is my strength.” The film has achieved widespread acclaim, including the 2025 Torchbearer Award at the Miami Jewish Film Festival and the Yad Vashem Award at DocAviv.
Following the credits, Emmy Award-winning NBC 4 New York journalist Adam Kuperstein moderated a poignant panel discussion tackling the urgent questions raised by the work. The panel featured film co-producer and internationally renowned film critic Annette Insdorf alongside Claims Conference Executive Vice President Greg Schneider.
Schneider, whose late parents-in-law, Holocaust survivors Moritz and Brenda Perelman, lived on Grymes Hill and helped found the Wagner College Holocaust Center in 2014, emphasized the urgency of the series’ mission:
“We are living in a moment of profound responsibility,” said Greg Schneider, Claims Conference EVP. “With each passing year, we lose more survivors who can share their stories first-hand. Preserving their voices is not only an act of remembrance, it is a moral obligation. By capturing and sharing these experiences through film, we ensure that future generations will not only learn what happened, but will understand the human cost of hatred and the enduring strength of those who lived through it.”
Ongoing Partnership Opportunities
The Claims Conference and its partners continue to invite synagogues, cultural institutions, and community organizations to reinforce the critical importance of Holocaust education. Synagogues partnering to promote the festival’s mission through newsletters and social media will be recognized as supporting Shuls on official festival materials.
For more details on the film series, global screening schedules, or to find out how your congregation can get involved, please contact [email protected] or visit www.claimscon.org/strength.
