Israeli investigative journalist Yaron Svoray will be the guest speaker at a lecture sponsored by Fairfield University's Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies on Tuesday, Nov. 27, at 7:30 p.m., in the university's School of Nursing Auditorium. Svoray will discuss "The Life Diamonds: A 55-Year Search for Nazi Stolen Holocaust Treasures."

Svoray, the son of Holocaust survivors, has committed himself to exposing the growing Neo-Nazi movements of Germany, Europe and the United States. Working in conjunction with the famous Simon Wiesenthal Center, he ingratiated himself to members of the movement and thus came in contact with key Nazi leaders and a vast network of middle-class citizens who subscribe to the Nazi platform. His story has been told both in his book, In Hitler's Shadow, and the HBO original film, "The Infiltrator."

In July of 1999 Svoray returned to Europe, this time to the site of a former Gestapo stronghold on the French and German border, in search of a cache of uncut diamonds confiscated from Jews. This dangerous undertaking not only proved to be a success but also led to new information about Jewish deportation and victimization perpetrated by the Nazis. Yaron Svoray's search for the Life Diamonds is presently being made into a documentary that will be shown on the History Channel in early 2003.

The lecture is free and open to the public, but reservations are suggested. Fairfield University's Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies is under the direction of Ellen M. Umansky, Ph.D. For information or to reserve a seat, call Judaic Studies at (203) 254-4000, ext. 2066.

Posted On: 11-01-2001 09:11 AM

Volume: 34 Number: 99