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The Thread of Memory – projects and experiences on the memories of the Holocaust in Saluzzo and the Province of CuneoItalian Cultural Institute of ChicagoThursday, January 31, 2013 at 6:00 PM (CST)Chicago, United States |
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Event Details
On the occasion of
International Holocaust Remembrance Day,
the Director of the Italian Cultural Institute, Silvio Marchetti,
is pleased to invite you to
“The Thread of Memory – projects and experiences on the memories of the Holocaust in Saluzzo and the Province of Cuneo” with the participation of Paolo Allemano, Mayor of Saluzzo, Sandro Capellaro of the Association “Giorgio Biandrata”, Silvana Greco, Chaya Roth, and Gitta Fajerstein.
Thursday, January 31st 2013 at 6.00 p.m.
at the Claudia Cassidy Theater of the Chicago Cultural Center,
78 E. Washington St. Chicago Il 60602
In May 1939, the Pact of Steel was signed in Berlin; Mussolini whole-heartedly committed Italy to the German cause. In August, German Foreign Minister Ribbentrop conferred with Italian Foreign Minister Ciano, who was Mussolini’s son-in-law. Ciano was shocked by the true extent of Germany’s ambitions.
On September 1st, 1.5 million German troops invaded Poland. The war - and Germany’s ‘Final Solution’ - had begun. After Germany’s success in France, Italy joined the war in June 1940. Mussolini was granted occupational control of sections of southern France, Greece, and Croatia. These zones quickly became known as safe havens for Jews, owing to the reluctance of so many Italians to support Hitler’s ‘final solution’.
But following Italy’s armistice with the Allies, on September 8th 1943, these safe havens were quickly overrun by the German army and the persecution of the thousands of Jews who had sought refuge in the Italian occupied areas, began. Between September 9th and 13th 1943, a thousand Jews left Southern France trying to reach the safer territories of Italy by crossing the Alps. Many reached the town of Saluzzo and were sheltered by its inhabitants who, shunning the danger of nazi reprisals, hid them. Chaya Roth and Gitta Fajerstein, who are now living in Chicago, have direct memories of those events and will be present at the commemoration at the Cassidy Theater of the Cultural Center to meet the Mayor of Saluzzo and reminisce together. The evening will feature photographs and documentaries.
This event is free and open to the public.
Reservations are strongly suggested and can be made right from the top of this webpage or by calling 312-822-9545.
When & Where
Claudia Cassidy Theater
77 E Randolph St, Second Floor
Chicago
Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 6:00 PM (CST)
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Organizer
Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago
Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago
500 N Michigan Ave., Suite 1450
Chicago, IL 60611
Currently active in all the major cities of the five continents, the ninety Italian Cultural Institutes serve as an ideal meeting place for intellectuals, artists, and cultural operatives, as well as for ordinary citizens, both Italian and foreign, who wish to establish or maintain a relationship with our country. By acting not only as a showcase and source of current information on Italy, but also as a driving force behind initiatives and projects of cultural cooperation, the Italian Cultural Institute has become a focal point for both the Italian communities abroad and the growing demand for Italian culture throughout the world.
By extending the role of Embassies and Consulates, the Italian Cultural Institutes offer the most effective tools for promoting a worldwide image of Italy as a center of production, preservation, and dissemination of culture from the Classical Age until today. Along with organizing cultural events in a vast array of areas, including art, music, cinema, theatre, dance, fashion, design, and photography, the Italian Cultural Institutes:
- Offer the opportunity to learn Italian language and culture through the organization of courses, the management of libraries and the preparation of educational and editorial materials;
- Provide the networks and the premises to facilitate the integration of Italian operators in the process of cultural exchange and production at an international level;
- Provide information and logistic support to public and private cultural operators, both Italian and foreign;
- Continuously support initiatives aimed at promoting an intercultural dialogue based on the principles of democracy and international solidarity.