|
Featured speaker Dr. Cohen is President of Allegheny General Hospital, the Pittsburgh Hospital that cared for the Tree of Life synagogue shooter
|
|
December 3, 2018 [St. Petersburg, FL] — The Florida Holocaust Museum (The FHM) is pleased to announce Jeffrey K. Cohen, MD as a featured speaker for the Museum’s annual benefit, To Life: Rock, Roll, Remember on Saturday, February 9, 2019 at The Vinoy in downtown St. Petersburg. Dr. Cohen is the President of Allegheny General Hospital, the hospital that treated the gunman from the Tree of Life synagogue shooting that occurred in Pittsburgh this October.
The Florida Holocaust Museum will be presenting Dr. Cohen and his team with the 2019 Loebenberg Humanitarian Award. “Dr. Cohen’s actions exemplified true leadership, the leadership of compassion and humanity,” said Elizabeth Gelman, Executive Director of The Florida Holocaust Museum. “He and his team demonstrated to the world what it means to be an Upstander.”
In addition, The FHM will also be presenting the Loebenberg Humanitarian Award posthumously to iconic concert promoter Bill Graham, the subject of the current exhibition at the Museum Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution. Graham, who launched the careers of countless rock & roll legends, conceived of rock and roll as a powerful force for good and was instrumental in the production of milestone benefit concerts. “As a child, his life was saved during the Holocaust through the actions of strangers,” said Gelman, “and he spent his adult life working to help millions of people he never knew.” Graham’s sons, David and Alex, will be accepting the award on his behalf.
Dr. Cohen is a member of the Tree of Life congregation and lives across the street from the temple. The Saturday morning of the shooting, he was working at home and offered his assistance to law enforcement, EMS, and other first responders on the scene when the incident unfolded. He personally knew many of those who lost their life or were wounded in the assault that day.
“I am extremely proud of the exceptional care and compassion that our staff provides to every patient who comes through our doors. In this incredibly difficult situation, they did what they always do, setting their emotions aside and rising to the occasion to help us fulfill our mission of healing the sick and caring for all,” Dr. Cohen said.
The tragic shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue was a horrible attack on humanity and could not be ignored by The Florida Holocaust Museum. One of the primary lessons of the Holocaust is that people cannot remain silent when they are confronted by hatred and prejudice.
“Unfortunately we live in a society where divisive rhetoric and discourse runs rampant – in the news and social media and on the public stages of our daily political theater. In the midst of all of this noise, we often forget that words truly do matter and their unintended impact can be devastating,” Dr. Cohen said. “I can only hope that the professionalism and humanity that our team demonstrated in responding to this tragic event provides some comfort and reassurance to our community, to the country and to the world that even in our darkest days the light of benevolence, forgiveness, and decency will always prevail.”
To Life, featuring Dr. Cohen, will take place on Saturday, February 9, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. at The Vinoy. The Vinoy is located at 501 5th Ave NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
To Life sponsorship opportunities are available, please call 727.820.0100 ext. 276. For additional information, please visit: www.TheFHM.org/to-life-annual-benefit.
Tickets to attend To Life are on sale now! To purchase tickets, please visit: www.TheFHM.org/to-life-annual-benefit or call 727.820.0100 ext. 276.
For additional program information, please visit: The FHM’s Official To Life Page.
About The Florida Holocaust Museum
2017 marked a monumental milestone for The Florida Holocaust Museum (The FHM) as the Museum celebrated its 25th Anniversary. One of the largest Holocaust museums in the country, and one of three nationally accredited Holocaust museums, The FHM honors the memory of millions of men, women and children who suffered of died in the Holocaust. The FHM is dedicated to teaching members of all races and cultures the inherent worth and dignity of human life in order to prevent future genocides. For additional information, please visit www.TheFHM.org.
Photos and credits  Dr. Cohen in 2018.
Photo courtesy of Allegheny General Hospital
|