There is a dangerous tendency in today’s world to impose our norms and worldview onto figures in history. Practices and ideas embraced by society 50, 100, 200 years or more could well be frowned upon by people in the present time. Conversely, many things we find acceptable today may be derided or even scorned by future generations. This has been the case since the beginning of civilization, and is a normal and even healthy evolution of the culture when it changes society for the better.
However, it is patently unfair and even dangerous to judge people who lived during times that were radically different than our own and hold them to standards crafted by generations of which they were never a part.
Jewish Ledger
WHAT’S HAPPENING – February 23 – March 31
Preserving Jewish Memory at Auschwitz
Since 2000, the Auschwitz Jewish Center (AJC), a Polish satellite location of the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust and the only Jewish presence remaining in the vicinity of Auschwitz, has preserved Jewish memory in the town of Oświęcim and educated about the contemporary dangers of antisemitism and other forms of prejudice. Barbara Posner and Shlomi Shaked, the daughter and grandson of survivors from Oświęcim, who have both reconnected with the town over the past two decades, will explore the Center’s commemoration efforts in Oświęcim and their impact on descendants of the town’s Jewish residents, on Feb 23 5 p.m.For more information on this virtual program, visit: mjhnyc.org/events
Credit: Architect of the Capitol
Details from statues of Richard Stockton (left) and General Philip Kearny. The statues are in the National Statuary Hall Collection.
The traumatic events that unfolded on Jan. 6 at the U. S. Capitol brought sobering media attention to “our temple of American democracy.” Video footage of intruders with banners and flags traipsing through Statuary Hall put a dramatic spotlight on the historic space. Less than three weeks later, the House impeachment managers solemnly proceeded through Statuary Hall to deliver the charge of “incitement of insurrection” to the Senate, again bringing visual notice to this dignified setting.
Jewish Ledger
WHAT’S HAPPENING – February 16 – March 18
“The Garden of the Finzi-Continis,” screening & discussion
Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust presents a screening and discussion of the 1970 classic film “The Garden Of The Finzi-Continis” on Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. Ricky Ian Gordon, composer of the operatic adaptation of the film, and Portia Prebys, longtime companion of Giorgio Bassani, join Italian film and history experts for a discussion on the film. Attendees will receive a private link to screen the film during the four-day period before the program. For more information on this virtual program, visit: mjhnyc.org/events
Special to the OBSERVER
STOCKTON The final meeting of the year of the Town Board was recently held at the end of December, which concluded 199 years of service residents.
The first meeting on Jan. 12 marked the beginning of the 200th year for the town board, which first met in April 1821. At the time of the first board meeting in 1821, Calvin Warren was the town supervisor, and John Curtis was the town clerk.
The name for Stockton was for Richard Stockton, who was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. In that year, there were 12 town roads, and each of the roads had its own supervisor. Today, Aaron Burnett is the highway superintendent.