By Stephen Stirling
At the Kissena Boulevard house of worship Sunday, dozens of community members came to watch a viewing of “Global Anti-Semitism,” an introduction to a six-part series of lectures Cantor Steven Pearlston will give on the Holocaust in the coming months. The series, which began this week, will be held on alternate Wednesdays at the synagogue and will feature Pearlston discussing the Holocaust and relating it to events going on in the world today. City Councilman John Liu (D-Flushing) stressed the importance of continuing to discuss the Holocaust regularly. “When there is ignorance, it always leads to hate and we have seen what that hate can become,” Liu said. Pearlston, who is also a historian agreed with Liu.”We are not very far removed from the lower animals,” Pearlston said. “That's why we have to be careful to study our actions and make sure they fall in line with civilization.” The lectures are free of charge and will be held at the Free Synagogue of Flushing, located at 41-60 Kissena Blvd. The second lecture in the series will take place from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 23.The synagogue will also be sponsoring a series of interfaith dialogue breakfasts. The events will occur monthly beginning Sunday at 10 a.m. at the synagogue and will feature a representative from a different religious faith each month. Free Synagogue of Flushing Executive Vice President Florence Boyer said the breakfast series will give the religious representatives an opportunity to learn about the Free Synagogue's history and teach attendees about their own religion. The exchange will be followed by a question-and-answer session. “When you know someone – when you look upon them as a friend, when you look upon them as a neighbor – thing like the Holocaust are less likely to happen,” Boyer said. The breakfasts will be held at the Free Synagogue of Flushing on Jan. 13, Feb. 17, March 16, April 13 and May 4. Reach reporter Stephen Stirling by e-mail at Sstirling@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 138.
