The JPL Presents the 2025 Babey and Paul Trepman Memorial Lecture:
In collaboration with the Montreal Holocaust Museum, the Segal Centre for Performing Arts, and the Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre.
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Unzer Sztyme, Yiddish for Our Voice, was an unprecedented publication produced in the Bergen-Belsen displaced persons camp in the months following liberation. The Jewish Public Library Archives holds one of the few known collections of the publication in the world. April 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen camp, so we invite you to this multi-faceted program to commemorate both Unzer Sztyme and the anniversary of the liberation of its contributors.
Upon arrival in the DP camp, many Jews immediately took to documenting their accounts of the unimaginable, and their hopes for the future. Co-editor of Unzer Sztyme, Paul Trepman, was one of them. Meanwhile, in Montreal, Sholem Krishtalka supported the publication and later helped to bring the Trepmans to Canada. These two families have continued to cross paths ever since; most recently, their sons, Elly Trepman and Aaron Krishtalka, have been working to translate the Unzer Sztyme from Yiddish to English to reach broader audiences.
Join us in for readings from Unzer Sztyme by actors from the Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre, a one-night only exhibition featuring materials from the JPL Archives and the Montreal Holocaust Museum, and a moderated discussion between Aaron Krishtalka and Elly Trepman – meeting for the first time in person – to discuss the genesis of the publication and their ongoing translation efforts.
Master of Ceremonies: Rivka Augenfeld
Invited Speakers: Aaron Krishtalka and Elly Trepman
Moderator: Benya Villani
Guest Speaker: Eddie Paul
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Program
Doors 6pm
There will be a cash bar, as well as a one-night only exhibition featuring materials from both the Montreal Holocaust Museum and Jewish Public Library Archives’ collections.
Presentation 6:30pm
Rivka Augenfeld will be the Master of Ceremonies throughout the evening, where Eddie Paul will provide a brief introduction to the JPL Archives and the Trepman Fonds before Benya Villani moderates an engaging discussion between Elly Trepman and Aaron Krishtalka. Time has been set aside for audience questions. Between the speakers, actors from the Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre will read a selection of texts from the Unzer Sztyme in the original Yiddish, with superscripts in English and French.
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Accessibility Notices
The Segal Centre for Performing Arts has an accessible side entrance for attendees with reduced mobility. KN95 masks will be available at the entrances. This event features a livestream option for those who cannot attend in person.
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