Holocaust Institute to Present Online Author Event with BBC Reporter Mike Thomson
The Raritan Valley Community College Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies will present an online author event with BBC reporter Mike Thomson, Friday, November 20, from 10-11 a.m. Thomson is author of Syria’s Secret Library: Reading and Redemption in a Town Under Siege.
The event will include a “live” question-and-answer segment with the author.
Syria’s Secret Library: Reading and Redemption in a Town Under Siege depicts the remarkable story of a small, makeshift library in the town of Daraya, and the people who found hope and humanity in its books during a four-year siege.
Located on the fringe of Damascus, just southwest of the Syrian capital, Daraya was besieged by government forces early in the Syrian Civil War. Its people were deprived of food, bombarded by heavy artillery, and under the constant fire of snipers. But deep beneath this scene of frightening devastation lay a hidden library. The story of this extraordinary library and the people who found purpose and refuge in it is one of hope, human resilience, and above all, the timeless, universal love of literature and the compassion and wisdom it fosters.
To register for the author event on November 20, visit http://bit.ly/syriassecretlibrary. For additional information, contact Michelle Edgar at michelle.edgar@raritanval.edu.
The program is being co-sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Somerset, Hunterdon, & Warren Counties, The New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education, and the Holocaust Education Center of the Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center.
Ranked by WalletHub.com and Niche.com as the #1 community college in New Jersey, Raritan Valley Community College has been serving as an academic and cultural center for Somerset and Hunterdon County residents for over 50 years. The College has been nationally recognized for its service to the community, environmental stewardship, and commitment to diversity. It is home to a Planetarium, Science Education Institute and 3M Observatory; a 1,000-seat Theatre offering professional performances for all ages; and an Honors College for high achieving students.
The College offers more than 90 associate degrees and certificates, as well as career training, small business assistance through the Small Business Development Center, and professional development courses. RVCC is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 2, 2020
PR #34
