Defying the Nazis: The Sharps’ War

press release: First Unitarian Society of Madison, in partnership with Beth Israel Center, Congregation Shaarei Shamayim, James Reeb Unitarian Universalist Church, Jewish Congregations for Social Justice, Jewish Social Services, Open Doors for Refugees, Temple Beth El, UW Hillel, and Wisconsin Public Television, will be screening Defying the Nazis: the Sharps' War on September 20, 2016, at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

Defying the Nazis is a new film by Ken Burns and Artemis Joukowsky that tells the story of Rev. Waitstill and Martha Sharp, a Unitarian minister and a social worker, as they helped refugees escape Nazi-occupied Europe in 1939. Their efforts laid the groundwork for the beginnings of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, a nonsectarian human rights organization. The film explores themes of xenophobia and resettlement that remain as relevant for us today as they were for the Sharps.

“It seemed like their claimed faith gave the Sharps the mandate and the obligation to do the right thing, but something in sheer human connectedness kept them doing it again and again. I left the film feeling the possibility of human connectedness." - Becky Schigiel, Social Justice Coordinator, First Unitarian Society of Madison

Following the film, we will hold a conversation that seeks to explore ways of reaching out across boundaries, real and imagined. A panel, moderated by First Unitarian Society’s Senior Minister Michael Schuler, will help connect the events in the film to the refugee crises happening around the world today in Asia, Central America, and Europe, while underscoring the inspiration and conviction necessary to take such courageous action. Participants will have the opportunity to connect with local organizations currently engaged in the work of resettlement and advocacy.

It is the hope of First Unitarian Society of Madison, and our partners, that through this screening and conversation we can further the movement to advocate with and welcome refugees into our community.

Details about the film, including the trailer, can be found at http://www.defyingthenazis.org/. The documentary will air nationally on PBS on Tuesday, September 20, at 8 p.m. CST.