In this interview, Phyllis Friedman reflects upon her extensive work with the ADL in Las Vegas. She discusses the city?s relatively low anti-Semitic activity, and how this allowed the Las Vegas ADL office to focus its efforts more broadly than in other cities. She also touches upon her family history, and how the community of Las Vegas has evolved since first visiting in 1963.
A Chicago native, Phyllis Friedman first came to Las Vegas in 1996 to become the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas? first foundation director. After two years, Friedman moved to year Los Angeles to work for ORT. Itching to get back to Las Vegas, in 2007, Friedman returned to the city to became director of the Nevada regional office of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). In this position, she worked with schools as well as law enforcement, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), teaching about tolerance and justice. She is a recipient of the FBI?s Las Vegas Division Director?s Community Leadership Award as well as the first awardee of Jewish Federation?s Jewish Professional of the Year. Three weeks into retirement, Friedman gave this interview, reflecting upon her extensive work with the ADL in Las Vegas. She discusses the city?s relatively low anti-Semitic activity, and how this allowed the Las Vegas ADL office to focus its efforts more broadly than in other cities. She also touches upon her family history, and how the community of Las Vegas has evolved since first visiting in 1963.
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At the age of thirteen, the incredible life journey of Stephen “Pista” Nasser (b. 1931 - ) is preserved in his heart. His ordeal begins when his family are ripped from their home to be interred in a Nazi concentration camp in 1944. Fifty years later, he sits in his Las Vegas home and reflects on his calling to write and speak about his survival and losses. His ordeal is preserved in his book My Brother’s Voice (2013) and in his follow up stage production Not Now Pista. He is also the author of a companion memoir, Journey to Freedom. Stephen and his wife Francoise are tireless in their travels throughout the United States and the world. At the time of this 2018 oral history interview, Stephen had done over 1092 presentations about his harrowing life story to thousands of people of all ages and denominations. Each presentation fills a spot in his heart as he honors his brother and reminds listeners that such devastating episode in history should not be forgotten, and should never occur again. The timing of this interview also coincided with the premiere of a 20-minute documentary based on his writings and the play production. It was shown at the 2018 Las Vegas Jewish Film Festival. Note: the photo above of Stephen and Francoise Nasser was taken shortly after this interview on their next cruise. (2018)
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Press Release titled "Human Rights Proclaimed" from the Clark County School District.
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Letter from Edythe Katz, Chairperson of the Holocaust Education Committee, Jewish Federation of Las Vegas, Governor's Holocaust Advisory Council to Allan Boruszak inviting him to join the Educators Conference: "Teaching Lessons on the Holocaust."
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Schedule for the 1994 Conference: "Teaching the Lessons of the Holocaust" with a sticky note to speak with parking attendant.
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Meeting Minutes from the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas Holocaust Education Committee Educators' Conference Subcommittee.
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The Anti-Defamation League Nevada Region Office Records (2003-2019) mainly contain photographs depicting Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Nevada Region Office events. The collection also includes a sign advertising ADL's "No Place For Hate" program; ARL's 2017 and 2018 gala, "Imagine a World Without Hate" programs and invitations; and 2018's Jurisprudence Luncheon invitation commemorating the achievements and contributions of Joe W. Brown.
Archival Collection
The Miriam "Mimi" Katz Papers are mainly comprised of materials documenting Katz's involvement with community organizations in Las Vegas, Nevada from the 1940s to 2015 (the bulk of the materials date from 2002 to 2014). A large portion of the collection consists of planning documents, correspondence, event programs, newsletters, meeting agendas, meeting minutes, photographs, and other records related to Katz's involvement in the Brandeis National Committee Las Vegas Chapter and the Temple Beth Sholom Women's League. The collection also includes similar types of materials that document Katz's work with other community groups such as the Jewish Community Center of Southern Nevada and the League of Women Voters, and her work on the political campaigns of Democratic state and federal politicians.
Archival Collection
Evaluation of the Holocaust and Human Rights Nevada Student Conference held in Reno, Nevada on March 15, 1984.
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