This reading was a very rewarding and enjoyable experience. The chapel was full with about 80 people, including Shir Libeynu members and individuals from the general community. The audience seemed to really connect with my poetry. When I finished, a survivor in the audience asked to speak and others also joined in the discussion. People kept coming up to me after the service and telling me that they were very moved by my poetry.
Rabbi Aviva Goldberg honoured the survivor and second and third generation individuals in attendance. She led a deeply moving and meaningful service. I felt very honoured to be invited to share my writing.
Thank you so much to Rabbi Aviva Goldberg and Harriet Eisenkraft for your support and for this wonderful opportunity.
I’ll be reading at Congregation Shir Libeynu on Saturday November 5th as part of Toronto’s Holocaust Education Week program.
Here’s the description:
“Jacquie Buncel will explore her mother’s experience as a hidden child in France and her father’s story as a child survivor and orphan. The horror lives alongside altruism and resistance – a testimony to the strength of the human spirit. Jacquie will explore second generation learning, remembering and moving forward as part of the Shabbat service.”
Saturday, 5 November /10:30
Miles Nadal JCC
750 Spadina Avenue/Third Floor
Toronto/ 416 – 465-5488
“Waiting for the Unveiling: Second Generation Writing on the Holocaust”
Participating in Global Connections: Critical Holocaust Education in a Time of Transition was an incredible experience. I loved the opportunity to meet Holocaust educators, activists, and artists from around the world and to hear about the fascinating work they are doing in their countries. Thoughtful presentations drew the connections between the Holocaust and the internment of Japanese Canadians in WWII, the Rwandan genocide, and the treatment of First Nations people in Canada’s residential school system. Hearing survivor Robbie Waisman speak was extremely moving.
A highlight for me was learning about Carl Lutz, a Swiss diplomat who, with his life-risking team, is credited of saving about 70,000 Jews in Hungary. I met his inspiring daughter Agnes Hirschi who speaks around the world about her father’s courage and conviction.
Poets Panel
I had the opportunity to read my poetry on the last day of the conference. I also greatly enjoyed speaking on the poets panel with Isa Milman and Murray Reiss, two excellent Second Generation poets. It was great to become more familiar with their work through this conference.
Enormous thanks go to the conference organizers for all their work in putting together such a wonderful event. It was an honour to be part of it!
Global Connections closing dinner
I will be reading my poetry at this international conference at the University of Victoria and participating in a poets panel with Vancouver Island poets, Isa Milman and Murray Reiss. The poetry readings are supported by the League of Canadian Poets and are called, “Contemplating the Holocaust through Poetry: A Three-Day Poetry Reading Event”.
I’m very excited to be invited to participate in this conference and looking forward to meeting people from around the world who are involved in Holocaust education and research.
On March 26th, I will be reading from my book and talking about Judaism to St. Andrew’s United Church`s youth group at 54 Hayden Street. My presentation is part of a workshop series on different cultural beliefs