Hanna Perlstein Marcus's Blog, page 3

A Visit to a Hundred Year Old Congregation

It was a scenic drive through rural Eastern Connecticut to Congregation B’nai Shalom in Putnam, the quiet corner of the state. Celebrating their hundredth year of existence, many members of the congregation attended my author talk about my books and about the upcoming traveling exhibit, “Sidonia’s Thread: Crafting a Life from Holocaust to High Fashion.”

Perhaps some of them will be in my part of the state around the Christmas/Hanukkah season and we will meet again!

 

 

 

 

My Appearance at Springfield City Library

It was a great occasion at Springfield, MA City Library’s Ice Cream Social. My fellow special guest, Diane Savioli-Chase, showcased her amazing photography and I had an opportunity to meet a great group of readers and fans of my books. It was a wonderful turnout for the event with ice creams originating in the Springfield area, like Hood, Friendly’s, and Big Y. I’m glad that my books have resonated with so many readers!

 

 

Sidonia’s Thread Prepares for a Traveling Exhibit

After a highly successful exhibit at the Windham Textile and History Museum, “Sidonia’s Thread: Crafting a Life from Holocaust to High Fashion” is preparing to take the show on the road! We hope to bring our exhibit about how a single Holocaust survivor mother, who came to Springfield, Massachusetts after the Holocaust with only a baby daughter in tow, became a successful clothing designer and influencer in her community. All through the power of her wits, her imagination, and her hands. As we prepare our marketing and promotion package, let us know if you have a favorite museum, university, Jewish center, or cultural center who may be interested in mounting this incredible exhibit.

“The Nature of Survivorship” in the Jewish Ledger

In a letter to the CT Jewish Ledger, Hanna wrote a moving account of how people tend to forget the human experience of war when the survivors are no longer alive to relate their stories of loss, barbarism and terror to new generations. In a diplomatic response to a Holocaust denier, Hanna expressed her emotions in the Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) issue about “The Nature of Survivorship.”

“The more time that elapses from the end of war, the less we remember about the gruesome events that contributed to it and the victims of its cruelty”…Read more 

 

Hanna Has Been Traveling!

In addition to visits to the exhibit at the Windham Textile and History Museum, Hanna has been traveling to various other venues! She has visited the Cragin Library in Colchester, CT, Colebrook Senior Living of Hebron, CT, Mansfield, CT Library, and joined Anya Sokolovskaya, curator of the museum exhibit, on the Wayne Norman Radio Show on WILI in Willimantic, CT.

She has also appeared at two branches of the Springfield, MA City Library, in East Springfield and Sixteen Acres neighborhoods. More about those visits in the next post.

Hanna appeared at Eastern CT State University’s University Hour

More “Sidonia” Exhibit News

Thanks to everyone at The Dolphin News, a publication from Mystic, CT. It is a great article about the exhibit, “Sidonia’s Thread: Crafting a Life from Holocaust to High Fashion! You can read it here.

 

Hanna in the News with “Sidonia’s Thread” Museum Exhibit

The “Sidonia’s Thread: Crafting a Life from Holocaust to High Fashion” exhibit has had a terrific start at the Windham Textile and History Museum in Willimantic, CT. It will be on display until April 28, 2019.

Thanks to our sponsors and students at Eastern CT State University for all of their support, especially Assistant Professor of Costume Design, Anya Sokolovskaya, who has given so much of her time and effort to the project.

Lending publicity to the exhibit, reporters at several news outlets have helped us spread the word about this important display of one women’s strength, resilience, and genius at creative design.

You can check out the Journal Inquirer article “A Conversation with Hanna Perlstein Marcus” here.

The Hartford Courant article, “Exhibit Marks Holocaust Survivor’s Legacy” here.

The latest Eastern CT State University Press Release, written by student, Bobbi Brown, here.

 

 

 

 

Temple B’nai Israel-Willimantic, CT

It was a great afternoon at Temple B’nai Israel in Willimantic. The audience was so supportive and kept me at ease. I was introduced by an old (not that old) friend I knew from my childhood in Springfield, MA, Susan Meisler. My mother and I would stroll down Main Street when I was a kid and stop in at Susan’s parents’ children’s clothing store, appropriately called “Susan’s.” Thanks to Susan, Carol Kraus, Rav Jeremy and everyone at the Temple for the great planning and coordination of the event. It was a fine preview event for the upcoming museum exhibit, “Sidonia’s Thread: Crafting a Life from Holocaust to High Fashion” opening February 8, 2019 at the Windham Textile and History Museum.

Holocaust Survivors See Need for Vigilance Following Pittsburgh Attack

Anne Gerard-Flynn, per usual, wrote an inspiring story about the reaction of Holocaust survivors and their offspring to the horrific attack on worshippers at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. My comments referred to all Jews having a responsibility, one for the other, and that this axiom can be applied to all Americans. We are responsible for each other. Comments were also cited from Gerald Steinberg and George Torrey, with whom I grew up in Springfield. You can read the article here.