Geifman prize winners announced

The Center for the Study of Judaism and Jewish Culture has chosen recipients of the yearly Geifman "Responses to the Holocaust" Prize. They will receive their awards at 7 p.m. April 20 in Wallenberg Hall. Guest speaker will be Holocaust survivor Irving Roth.

Winners are:

Mark Sieber, a senior majoring in music and political science, from Geneva, Ill.

Emma Levich, a junior English major from Vernon Hills, Ill.

Amanda Hassler, a sophomore majoring in Communication Science and Disorders, from Elmhurst, Ill.

Caitlin Thom, a sophomore majoring in music composition, from Bettendorf, Iowa.

Abbigail Mehnert, a first-year student from Lake Villa, Ill.

Their works will be on display on the main floor of the Tredway Library beginning this week. Supported by the Geifman Endowment, the Geifman Prize in Holocaust Studies is an annual student competition with an award of up to $500. Submissions may include essays, research papers, poetry, drama, film, artwork, musical composition, or other creative expression.

Irving Roth, 82, is a writer, internationally known educator and director of the Holocaust Resource Center in Manhasset N.Y. He tells his incredible story in the hope that his listeners will prevent history from repeating itself.

He was born in Czechoslovakia. At the age of 14, he was taken by cattle train to Auschwitz along with his brother, grandparents, and thousands of other Jews from his city.

Roth survived both Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration camps, but his grandmother and grandfather were killed in gas chambers. His brother was killed in a concentration camp. His parents survived thanks to a Christian woman who hid them in her apartment.

Also, the Center for the Study of Judaism and Jewish Culture will present the annual Stone Lecture in Judaism at 2 p.m. April 26 in the Wilson Center. This year's scholar is Dr. Stephen Wilson, visiting fellow in religion at Augustana. His lecture is titled "Making Men in the Hebrew Bible: The Coming of Age of Kings David and Solomon." He will be address the general topic of manhood in ancient Israel, and the ways in which a boy in that society could transition to manhood.

The Stone Lectureship was established in 1983 by friends of Dr. Alex and Martha Stone, long-time residents of Rock Island, and supports speakers and materials which increase awareness of the cultural and historical contributions of Judaism to the traditions of Western culture.

A reception for Dr. Wilson and Dr. Alex Stone will be held after the lecture.