Viewing, Panel Discussion of "Rescue in the Philippines: Refuge from the Holocaust”

Congregation Shir Ami of Castro Valley will be showing the film “Rescue in the Philippines: Refuge from the Holocaust” along with a panel discussion on Oct. 20 at the Castro Valley Library at 2 p.m.

This film tells a gripping and inspirational true story of moral courage involving presidents, cigars and poker.

In pre-war Manila, a mix of unlikely cultures and characters gathered to save lives. The players were 5 cigar makers from Cincinnati, the first president of the Philippines, Dwight D. Eisenhower and a U.S. High Commissioner.  During their series of poker games the stakes became the life or death for an unimaginable amount of men, women and children — guilty of only one thing — being Jewish.

The panel discussion will be led by:

• Mary Farquhar, a daughter of survivors

• David Nigel, a historian specializing in holocaust studies

Seating is limited to 35. Reservations are on a first come, first served basis.   Contact: events@congshirami.org