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Past Powell-Heller Holocaust Conferences 2022 Powell-Heller Conference for Holocaust EducationTo be Jewish in Poland, a predominantly Roman Catholic country, meant experiencing both the highs of cultural life and the absolute low of persecution and discrimination, culminating in the world’s most notorious genocide, the Holocaust. If one looks at the long view of Polish history, one would find that Jews were first invited to come to live under the king’s protection in the 13th century.Learn more

The Heller Family StoryThe tattooed numbers on her arm are a constant reminder of a time when the best and worst of human nature were in conflict. Harry Heller tells the story. Harry’s mother, Georgette Heller, was only 15 years old when she was separated from her family and sent into hiding with a non-Jewish family in Brussels. She did not go outside for two years – no sunshine, no friends, no freedom. There came a point when she could not take it anymore, and she started sneaking out at night

The Powell Family StoryThey hid in an attic to escape the violent systematic and repeated anti-Jewish rioting. They would not all make it out alive. It was a time when innocent men, women and children were being murdered, raped and their property damaged or stolen. You might be thinking that this story is from the Holocaust, but in actuality, it took place during the pogroms that were taking place in Russia, during the early 1900’s. When the Russian militia started going into the towns and

We are pleased to announce that Anna Marko and Austin Karr have been selected as 2023’s Kurt Mayer Summer Scholars. Anna and Austin will be invited to share their culminating research projects at this Fall’s Powell-Heller Conference for Holocaust Education. Congratulations, Anna and Austin! Kurt Mayer Summer ScholarsThe Kurt Mayer Summer Scholars program offers generous financial support for PLU students who complete substantive research projects in Holocaust Studies. Up to 2 fellowships of up

About the Powell-Heller Conference for Holocaust EducationThe Powell-Heller Conference for Holocaust Education annually provides educators, students, and community members a way to use the lessons of the Holocaust to empower themselves and others to challenge prejudices, violence, and other forms of dehumanization. Each conference offers opportunities to learn from major scholars whose research focuses on the Holocaust. Conference sessions also highlight interdisciplinary approaches to

Emmy MayerA short story of Kurt Mayer’s mother.née Strauß(born 1907, in Mainz; died 1994, in San Francisco)Emmy Strauss, called the “Bouquetche” (little bouquet), was the daughter of Gerson Strauss and his wife Clementine, née Gernsheimer, who ran a butcher shop at Betzelsgasse 8. Emmy attended the Upper Girls’ School from 1913-1921. In 1928 she married textiles wholesaler Joseph Mayer (Familie Mayer & Co., Gärtnergasse). Due to the growing pressure of discrimination and persecution in National

Livestream: Violence, Espionage, & Anti-Semitism: British & Soviet Spy Ops Against Boston’s Christ

About the Powell-Heller Conference for Holocaust EducationThe Powell-Heller Conference for Holocaust Education annually provides educators, students, and community members a way to use the lessons of the Holocaust to empower themselves and others to challenge prejudices, violence, and other forms of dehumanization. Each conference offers opportunities to learn from major scholars whose research focuses on the Holocaust. Conference sessions also highlight interdisciplinary approaches to

Emmy MayerA short story of Kurt Mayer’s mother.née Strauß(born 1907, in Mainz; died 1994, in San Francisco)Emmy Strauss, called the “Bouquetche” (little bouquet), was the daughter of Gerson Strauss and his wife Clementine, née Gernsheimer, who ran a butcher shop at Betzelsgasse 8. Emmy attended the Upper Girls’ School from 1913-1921. In 1928 she married textiles wholesaler Joseph Mayer (Familie Mayer & Co., Gärtnergasse). Due to the growing pressure of discrimination and persecution in National

Each academic year formally begins with the University Convocation, held the first day of each fall semester. Steeped in rich tradition, the ceremony is designed to welcome new students and faculty as well as to recognize new appointments, achievements and honors earned by both faculty and students. Classes are suspended during the ceremony. All students and faculty are highly encouraged to participate in opening ceremony events.