 Three distinct honors were awarded at The “1939”
Club’s 46th anniversary celebration held on
October 25, 1998, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
Professor
Israel Gutman, Chief Historian at Yad Vashem and the first
incumbent of The “1939” Club chair on Holocaust Studies, was
awarded the Club’s “Lifetime Achievement Award.”
The award was presented by Dr. Samuel Goetz and Barry
Bruk.
Because Dr. Gutman was ill and could not attend, the
award was accepted by Dr. Arnold Band, a UCLA colleague, on his
behalf. Felicia
Haberfeld read a letter received from Dr. Gutman.
The “1939” Club “Righteous Persons Award” was
presented to the people of Denmark who saved almost their entire
population by first hiding their Jewish friends and neighbors
from the Nazis and then transporting them to Switzerland.
The Award was accepted by Jorgen Hubner on behalf of the
Danish people. Mr.
Hubner was a 15 year old boy when his mother hid Jews in their
home. Mr. Hubner
spoke modestly yet eloquently about the efforts of the Danish
people.
The Club also presented its “Media Award” to John
Davis, producer of Miracle
at Midnight, a film shown on ABC Television which depicted
the rescue of the Danish Jews.
Mr. Davis movingly described his work on the film as a
labor of love.
Henryk Leman and Leon Weinstein presented the Club’s
annual check to the President of the Jewish Federation, Mr.
Lionel Bell. Michael
Bazyler was the program chair.
Rabbi David Baron, a new member of the Club, delivered
the invocation.
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