Congregation Kneseth Israel presents Holocaust Memorial Day event

On Sunday, April 27, Congregation Kneseth Israel will present Marty Brounstein, author of "Two Among the Righteous Few: A Story of Courage in the Holocaust," at 4 p.m.

This presentation is being made as a part of Yom Hashoah, or Holocaust Memorial Day, an annual day of remembrance for those lost in the holocaust. Brounstein's eighth book, published by Tate Publishing in 2011, is the remarkable true story of a Christian couple, Frans and Mien Wijnakker, in the Netherlands who, despite great risk and danger, helped to save the lives of more than two dozen Jews facing almost certain death. This interfaith story of courage and compassion also has a meaningful personal connection to the author which he will explain during his talk.

This event is free and open to the public. It is appropriate for middle school children and older. Copies of the book will be available following the presentation.

According to Gale Jacoby, organizer of the event for CKI, "Through Holocaust education, we can hope to make our world a better world, a more tolerant world, a world where never again is a possibility. This program is an amazing opportunity to hear a true story of bravery and honor and inspiration, so that when faced with choices, we personally do the right thing."

A brief non-denominational service will precede the presentation.

Congregation Kneseth Israel is located at 330 Division St. in Elgin.

For information, contact Gale Jacoby at Congregation Kneseth Israel at (847) 741-5656 or cki@elgin.org. Congregation Kneseth Israel serves the diverse Jewish Community of the Greater Fox Valley area. They offer weekly services, a religious school, observance of all lifecycle events, and a variety of additional programming. For information, visit www.ckielgin.org.

The Chicago area native also will share his special interfaith story of rescue at noon Monday, April 28, at Northwestern University, 633 Clark St., Evanston.

Brounstein channels a personal connection and his early career as a history teacher to truly do justice to the touching story. Since the fall of 2011, Brounstein has been sharing this special story at over 250 events at churches, synagogues, homes, clubs, bookstores, a Holocaust museum, workplaces, schools, universities, libraries and the Dutch Consulate of San Francisco with audiences across the country. Now, over two years into his journey, he returns to the Chicago area.

Visit www.martyabrounstein.com.