As antisemitism expands throughout the United States and the world, we see a continual increase in vandalism, threats, personal attacks and violent incidences. Deborah approached to counteracting antisemitism uses a 2-part methodology: 1) Holocaust Education and 2) Israel Dialogue.
- Holocaust education is a vital element to counteracting the antisemitism as it grows world-wide. Educators and students, community leaders and activists should hear the first-hand stories of WW II and the Holocaust. Deborah is the daughter of a liberator and US military intelligence officer assigned to interrogate Nazi POWs. She shared her father’s wartime letters in memoirs and the documentary: Untold, Stories of a World War II Liberator.
Clients: St. Elizabeth University, Hadassah Chattanooga, Southern Adventist University, Mastermind Networking, Holocaust Education/Chattanooga Sr. High School for the Arts & Sciences, Chattanooga, BlueCross BlueShield of TN, Jewish Federation of Rockford, IL.
Testimonials (Holocaust Education)
“Untold: Stories of a World War II Liberator proves that there are always new truths to learn and new heroes to celebrate when studying the horrors of the Holocaust. This work is arriving at a critical time; as the voices of survivors and liberators pass, those who teach history are confronted with increasingly loud cries of distortion and denial. A resource such as Untold allows students to both learn about and humanize the Holocaust.”
~ Dr. Rich Quinlan: Director, Holocaust and Genocide Education Center
Chair, History Dept./Saint Elizabeth University
“Deborah Levine’s work continues to be of utmost importance for students of all ages. The specific story of ‘UNTOLD’ must be told today and forever, so that the words ‘Never Again’ never lose their meaning!”
~ Avi Hoffman: CEO, Yiddishkayt Initiative, Inc.
“Many liberators such as Levine’s father kept their experience largely secret So the publication is an important resource for Holocaust education and research…and a very readable introduction to the journey of the Jewish community over the past century”
~ The Rev. Dr. John T.Pawlikowski: Founding member of the US Holocaust Center, Prof of Social Ethics/Catholic Theological Union
2) Israel and the Middle East is a confusing array of political, economic, military strategy, and religion. Amidst this confusion, religious themes are an important element in shaping attitudes toward Israel and the Jewish people. Deborah’s presentations prepare leadership to engage in an interreligious dialogue about Israel.
As we explore new ways to discuss Israel, Zionism, and antisemitism, this manual by Deborah Levine with input from a variety of religious icons, assists leadership in developing an approach to dialogue that emphasizes religious and historic themes.
- The chapters on the Land, Zionism, Borders, and Holocaust reflect and develop these themes for further dialogue, serving as reference material for discussions.
- Study questions provide an opportunity to review the material and develop a personal approach to the issues.
- The highlights of each chapter describe its contents, outline its goals and assign “homework” for further study.
- The final section of the manual is devoted to exercises which simulate dialogue and provide practice for future dialogue discussions.
Testimonials (Israel Dialogue)
“Israel is a complex reality. It has roots in the Jewish land tradition in the Bible, it is the Jewish national homeland, and some 20% of the population is non-Jewish. This volume succinctly looks at these varied aspects of the reality of Israel. It provides an excellent foundation for dialogues between Christians and Jews about its many faces and why many Jews outside Israel regard it as essential to their self-understanding.”
~ Rev. John T. Pawlikowski, OSM, Ph.D Professor Emeritus at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and honorary life President, International Council of Christians & Jews
“Deborah Levine gives us a rare achievement. Dialogue on Israel with Christians and Jews provides a framework to discuss Israel without hyperbole, vitriol, or escape into uninformed history, politics, or eschatology. This book is clearly presented and is an invaluable aid to teaching and leading discussions with people who really want to understand Israel. I have used it for decades, and classes always want to return to it. It is an important working resource in my ministry as a pastor in different denominations.”
~ Bill Bond, M. Div.
“The most meaningful meetings in Torah are panim el panim, “face to face,” fully engaged and responsive to the one with whom we are in dialogue. This booklet lays the groundwork for understanding, and meaningful conversation about important, yet sensitive topics, differing views on God, religious purpose, and the dynamic meaning of Israel as a people, land, and modern state. Deborah Levine objectively lays out facts on sensitive issues and describes competing opinions with simplicity and clarity. With defined objectives and guiding questions, she has created a useful tool for personal or group study, and most importantly an invitation for people of all backgrounds to meet “face to face.”
~ Rabbi Craig Lewis, Mizpah Congregation, Chattanooga, TN