Arkansas PBS joins Black River Technical College for Holocaust Survivor Series

10/20/2022

Virtual event to feature Holocaust survivor Peter Feigl; Arkansas PBS to highlight documentary, classroom resources, national exhibit

CONWAY, Ark. (Arkansas PBS) – Arkansas PBS is joining Black River Technical College (Pocahontas, Arkansas) for a virtual event Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 6 p.m. to connect audiences of the Holocaust Survivor Series to "The U.S. and the Holocaust," a film by Ken Burns, Lynn Novick and Sarah Botstein.

Alongside the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Black River Technical College (BRTC) annually hosts the Holocaust Survivor Series, which brings a Holocaust survivor to the BRTC campus. However, with COVID-19 still ongoing, the survivor will be giving two live virtual presentations where attendees can ask questions.

This year’s speaker Peter Feigl will be giving a firsthand account of his struggles during the Holocaust.

Feigl was born March 1, 1929, in Berlin, Germany, but moved to Austria prior its annexation to Germany. Because of the rise of Nazi Germany, Feigl and his parents were forced to flee numerous times before his parents were eventually arrested, transported to Auschwitz and killed while Feigl was at summer camp. Eventually Feigl made it to the U.S. where he served for three years in the U.S. Air Force.

Following a 40-year career in international aircraft sales and as a senior negotiator in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Feigl has traveled around the world speaking about his history and two diaries he wrote detailing his experiences during the Holocaust.

In addition to Feigl, Arkansas PBS producer Casey Sanders will be sharing information about “The U.S. and the Holocaust,” as well as providing classroom materials for teachers found on Ken Burns Classroom. Bryant High School history teacher Rick Manes, who heavily advocated for the Holocaust being taught in Arkansas schools, will also speak on Holocaust education in Arkansas.

“The U.S. and the Holocaust” is available to stream via PBS Passport on all station-branded PBS platforms, including PBS.org and the PBS Video App, available on iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast and VIZIO.

About “The U.S. and the Holocaust”

“The U.S. and the Holocaust” is a production of Florentine Films and WETA Washington, D.C. Directed by Ken Burns, Lynn Novick and Sarah Botstein. Telescript by Geoffrey C. Ward. Produced by Sarah Botstein, Lynn Novick, Ken Burns and Mike Welt. Edited by Tricia Reidy, ACE, and Charles E. Horton. Co-producer is Lucas B. Frank. Original music produced by Johnny Gandelsman. Cinematography by Buddy Squires, ASC, and Wojciech Staroń, PSC. Narrated by Peter Coyote. Voices include Adam Arkin, Hope Davis, Paul Giamatti, Olivia Gilliatt, Elliott Gould, Murphy Guyer, Werner Herzog, Josh Lucas, Carolyn McCormick, Joe Morton, Liam Neeson, Matthew Rhys, Meryl Streep, Bradley Whitford and Helena Zengel. The executive in charge for WETA is John F. Wilson. Executive producer is Ken Burns.

Corporate funding for “The U.S. and the Holocaust” was provided by Bank of America. Major funding was provided by: David M. Rubenstein; the Park Foundation; the Judy and Peter Blum Kovler Foundation; Gilbert S. Omenn and Martha A. Darling; The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations; and by the following members of The Better Angels Society: Jeannie and Jonathan Lavine; Jan and Rick Cohen; Allan and Shelley Holt; the Koret Foundation; David and Susan Kreisman; Jo Carole and Ronald S. Lauder; Blavatnik Family Foundation; Crown Family Philanthropies, honoring the Crown and Goodman Families; the Fullerton Family Charitable Fund; Dr. Georgette Bennett and Dr. Leonard Polonsky; The Russell Berrie Foundation; Diane and Hal Brierley; John and Catherine Debs; and Leah Joy Zell and the Joy Foundation. Funding was also provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and by public television viewers.

About Arkansas PBS

Arkansas PBS, Arkansas’s only statewide public media network, empowers learners of all ages by educating, informing, entertaining and inspiring communities. Arkansas PBS serves as a daily and essential resource for Arkansans by creating, sharing, celebrating and driving conversation around Arkansas stories and classic, trusted PBS programs through multiple digital platforms, including livestreaming at myarpbs.org/watch, on-demand services and YouTube TV, and the distinct channels Arkansas PBS, Arkansas PBS Create, Arkansas PBS KIDS, Arkansas PBS WORLD and Arkansas PBS AIRS on SAP. Members with Arkansas PBS Passport have extended on-demand access to a rich library of public television programming. Arkansas PBS depends on the generosity of Arkansans and the State of Arkansas to continue offering quality programming. Additional information is available at myarkansaspbs.org. Arkansas PBS is broadcast on KETS (Little Rock), KEMV (Mountain View), KETG (Arkadelphia), KAFT (Fayetteville), KTEJ (Jonesboro), KETZ (El Dorado), KETS (Lee Mountain), KETS (Forrest City) and KETS (Gaither).

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