November 19, 2001

‘Genocide In Our Time’ is Subject of Talk at Ramapo College By Noted Expert Professor Israel Charny

Mahwah —"Genocide in Our Time " is the subject of a talk to be given by Israel Charny, editor in chief of the Encyclopedia of Genocide, at Ramapo College of New Jersey Tuesday, December 4 at 7 p.m. in the Robert A. Scott Student Center (SC136).

Charny is executive director of the Institute on the Holocaust and Genocide, Jerusalem; professor of psychology and family therapy, and founder and former director of the Program for Advanced Studies in Integrative Psychotherapy at the Department of Psychology and Martin Buber Center, Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

In addition to the Encyclopedia of Genocide (ABC-Clio, 2000), Charny is the author or editor of several books, including Century of Genocide: Eyewitness Accounts and Critical Views (1997) by Samuel Totten (editor), William S. Parsons (editor), Israel W. Charny (editor); Is the Holocaust Unique?: Perspectives on Comparative Genocide by Alan S. Rosenbaum (editor), Israel W. Charny (Paperback - July 1997); and How Can We Commit the Unthinkable?: Genocide: The Human Cancer (1982).

Among his major contributions to the field of genocide studies, his initiative in holding the first International Conference on the Holocaust and Genocide in Tel Aviv in 1982 stands out. His involvement in the field has grown out of a belief in the need to merge the attempt to understand the dynamics of the Holocaust with the age-old Jewish tradition of contributing to the greater ethical development of all human civilization. This quest, according to Charny, further aids the shaping of new modes of prevention of future genocides. The title of his first essay on the subject, appearing in the 1968 volume of Jewish Education, made this imperative clear: "Teaching the Violence of the Holocaust: A Challenge to Educating Potential Oppressors and Victims for Non-violence."

The Center for Holocaust & Genocide Studies at Ramapo College also is co-sponsoring a workshop for teachers with the New Jersey State Commission for Holocaust Education on December 4 (9 a.m.-3 p.m.), Genocide in Our Time, at which Charny will deliver the keynote speech. To be held in the Robert A. Scott Student Center (SC137/138), it is open to all K-12 educators and is free of charge. Further details may be obtained from Dr. Michael A. Riff at (201) 684-7409 or mriff@ramapo.edu.

Founded in 1980, the Center for Holocaust & Genocide Studies is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, located on the campus of Ramapo College, that encourages and assists persons of all ages in learning the history and lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides in the hope that through education such tragedies can be prevented from ever occurring again.