IACC recognizes brave and heroic individuals

The Italian-American Community Center, as part of the celebration of National Italian-American Heritage Month, hosts a presentation and reception for community dealing with heroism and humanity during the Holocaust. Speakers for this event will be Senator Jim Alesi, Assemblyman Joseph Morelle, Dr. Sharon Dobkin of Monroe Community College, and Larry Fine, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Rochester.

The "Courage Italia" project seeks to recognize the Italian rescue of Jews during the Holocaust, in ways that educate and inspire communities to understand the power of each individual, to translate compassion into acts of moral courage, according to organizers. Simon and Josephine Braitman are honorary chairs.

In conjunction with the Order of the Sons of Italy in America, the Jewish Federation of Rochester, and the Holocaust/Genocide Studies project at Monroe Community College, various deserving Italian-American individuals who demonstrated courage, heroism and humanity while rescuing, protecting and sheltering the lives of thousands of their Jewish brothers and sisters from their deadliest enemy, Nazi Germany, have been recognized.

The October 10 presentation is from 7 to 9 p.m. and includes a reception at the Italian-American Community Center, at 150 Marconi Boulevard in Gates (south of Route 531, off of Manitou Road). For information and reservations, call 594-8882, the IACC office, or 663-8929, the Courage Italia office.