Adam Atlas and Pierre-Richard Casimir
On the eve of Action Week Against Racism and under the auspices of Haiti’s Consul General to Montreal, Pierre-Richard Casmir, the Quebec Jewish Congress and the Montreal Holocaust Memorial Centre hosted a public launch of a special exhibit highlighting the untold story of how Haiti extended its hand to Jews escaping Nazi persecution. Several hundred Jews were rescued by Haitian diplomats in Europe. At the Evian Conference in July 1938 Haiti offered to absorb 50,000 Jewish refugees.
Attendees had the opportunity to hear from two nurses from the Jewish General Hospital who had just returned from their volunteer relief efforts in Haiti.
“Although this event was conceived before the earthquake, it is even more relevant today. The courage and tenacity of the Haitian people, who have so many times been the oppressed, reflects their proud history of extended their hands to help others.” noted QJC President Adam Atlas. “Their story may be untold but we, the Jewish community, have not forgotten.”
Other partners in the exhibition include the Alex and Ruth Dworkin Foundation and FAST.
