Professor Deborah Lipstadt with William Elperin and Professor Marilyn Harran

Club presented its Annual "Teacher of the Holocaust" Award to Deborah E. Lipstadt,

    The "1939" Club presented its Annual "Teacher of the Holocaust" Award to Deborah E. Lipstadt, Dorot Professor of Modern Jewish History and Holocaust Studies at Emory University at the Club’s Annual Installation Celebration at the Beverly Hills Hotel, on February 18, 2001. Professor Marilyn Harran of Chapman University, last year's recipient, introduced Lipstadt. The event was held in cooperation with the Jewish Federation's Museum of the Holocaust and was sponsored by Anna and Max Webb. A record crowd of about 400 attended. Sonia Rosenwald was Arrangements Chairperson.

    William Elperin was installed as President for an un-precedented 5th year term by his daughter Michele Rosenfeld. Professor Michael Bazyler was installed as First Vice President, Susan Golant and Sam Rubinfeld as Vice Presidents, Rosemary Elperin as Financial Secretary, Selene Bruk as Corresponding Secretary, Ann Rubinfeld as Recording Secre-tary and Michael Zelon as Treasurer. Joining the Board as new members are Ellen Green, Ethie and Steve Hitter and Howard and Betty Mendelson.

    Dr. Lipstadt spoke about her recent court experience. In a British court in April 11, 2000, historian Deborah Lipstadt won a resounding victory for history and truth as the judge ruled in her favor in the libel suit brought against her by a Holocaust denier.  The trial was described by the Daily Telegraph (London) as having “done for the new century what the Nuremberg tribunals or the Eichmann trial did for earlier generations.” The Times (London) described it as  “history has had its day in court and scored a crushing victory.”

   The judge found David Irving to be a Holocaust denier, a falsifier of history, a racist, an anti-semite, and a liar. Her legal battle with Irving lasted approximately five years. According to the New York Times, the trial “put an end to the pretense that Mr. Irving is anything but a self-promoting apologist for Hitler.”

    Yet the deniers remain vocal, reminding us of the importance of educating today's youth to become links in the chain of remembrance and witnesses to new generations. Dr. Deborah Lipstadt has led the fight to expose the deniers and challenge the forces hate. Her book Denying the Holocaust is the first full length study of those who attempt to deny the Holocaust. It has been translated into German and Japanese and published in numerous editions throughout the world.

    Historical consultant to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Lipstadt helped design the section of the Museum dedicated to the American Response to the Holocaust. She was recently reappointed by President Clinton to a second term on the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. She is a member of the Executive Committee of the Council and chairs the Museum's Academic Committee.