East Brunswick Public Library Presents "The Jews of Austria

East Brunswick Public Library continues its annual Holocaust Remembrance Program series with "The Jews of Austria and Vienna Before the Holocaust." This multi-media program of lecture and music will take place at the East Brunswick Community Arts Center (721 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick) on Sunday, April 24, at 2 pm.

The program is dedicated to the late Dr. Michael Kesler, who organized this program series since its inception in 2014. "The intent of the series is to bring to light the legacy of my Jewish ancestors, prior to their annihilation during the Shoah," he said during an interview in 2018.

After his retirement in 2006, Kesler wrote three books of his and his late wife's experiences during World War II. His last book, The Remnant, was published in April 2021.

"Our aim is to commemorate and celebrate the rich historical and cultural contributions of Jewish communities," he added. "It is our way of honoring and keeping alive their legacy, so that these once-thriving civilizations from whom many among us are descended, are never forgotten."

Historian Glenn Dynner will lecture on the history and culture of Austrian Jewry. In the early 19th century, Vienna became the cultural center of western civilization. His presentation focuses on the impact of the Jewish community on the Austrian capital city.

Dynner is the author of several books, including Men of Silk: The Hasidic Conquest of Polish Jewish Society and Yankel's Tavern: Jews, Liquor & Life in the Kingdom of Poland. He was a Fulbright scholar and member of the Princeton Institute for Advanced Studies. In 2019, he received a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation fellowship to study how the Hasidic movement emerged in the early 20th century.

Following the presentation, a concert will feature classical Jewish Austrian compositions performed by an ensemble of local musicians. They will be under the direction of Dave Schlossberg, an accomplished pianist, who was awarded a Silver Medal for Outstanding Achievement from the Global Music Awards in 2021.

May Kesler, the founder of contemporary dance company Keslerdances, will lead a choreographed performance of traditional Jewish and Austrian dances.

"The Jews of Austria and Vienna Before the Holocaust" is sponsored through a partnership of the East Brunswick Public Library and the East Brunswick Arts Commission.

The program is free and open to the public, with limited seating at the Community Arts Center. Additional information about this event can be found at www.ebpl.org/calendar.