The Book Smugglers
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Lecture
This program is located at JW3 in London, UK. Admission:
JW3 Box Office: 020 7433 8988
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The Book Smugglers tells the story of the courageous Jews of the “Paper Brigade,” who risked their lives to rescue thousands of rare books and manuscripts—first from the Nazis and then from the Soviets—by hiding them on their bodies, burying them in bunkers in the Vilna Ghetto, and smuggling them across borders. This new book by David Fishman has been dubbed “Monuments Men for book lovers.” It is the epic chronicle of a little-known chapter from the darkest days of Jewish history.
The event will feature a presentation by David Fishman discussing this incredible story as well as how the work to rescue Jewish culture and heritage from oblivion continues to this very day at the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research in New York City with the Edward Blank YIVO Vilna Collections Project.
David E. Fishman is a professor of Jewish History at The Jewish Theological Seminary, teaching courses in modern Jewish history. Dr. Fishman also serves as director of Project Judaica, JTS's program in the Former Soviet Union (FSU), which is based at Russian State University for the Humanities (Moscow) and Kyiv-Mohyla Academy University (Kiev). He directs its Jewish Archival Survey, which publishes guides to Jewish archival materials in the FS.
This event is put on jointly with JW3 and the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research London Office.
The YIVO Institute for Jewish Research is dedicated to the preservation and study of the history and culture of East European Jewry worldwide. For nearly a century, YIVO has pioneered new forms of Jewish scholarship, research, education, and cultural expression. Our public programs and exhibitions, as well as online and on-site courses, extend our global outreach and enable us to share our vast resources. The YIVO archive also has a large selection of materials about the Jewish Great Britain Experience. YIVO has established an office in London as part of its larger mission to reunite Jews of Ashkenazi descent with their heritage. The YIVO UK office will be an important resource for the UK and Europe to learn about and appreciate Jewish history, heritage and culture.