In his stirring book In the Garden of the Righteous: The Heroes Who Risked Their Lives to Save Jews During the Holocaust, Richard Hurowitz pays tribute to ten individuals who risked their lives, liberties, and careers to help their neighbors, and often complete strangers, to survive. Featured in the book are those recognized by Yad Vashem in Israel, notably the story of Georg Duckwitz, a German diplomat in occupied Denmark who alerted the Danes to the intended date of the Jewish deportation and helped arrange their safe passage to Sweden. Other incredible profiles include Portuguese diplomat Aristides de Sousa Mendes; Italian cycling champion Gino Bartali; Polish social worker Irena Sendler; Japanese spy Chinue Sugihara; and H.A. and Margarite Rey, the co-creators of Curious George.

Richard Hurowitz is joined in conversation by Margaret Hoover, host of PBS’ “Firing Line with Margaret Hoover.” They will discuss how these stories are a timely reminder of the dangers of extremism, as well as of the persistence of decency and humanity in treacherous times. A book signing will follow, with books available for purchase.

This program is a part of the Museum’s series of programming around our upcoming exhibition Courage to Act: Rescue in Denmark, the Museum’s first exhibition for visitors 9 and up about the incredible story of the Danish Rescue.

Doors open at 6:00 PM. The Museum is free and open to all on Thursdays from 4:00 to 8:00 PM with Jewish and Russian fare on offer from LOX Cafe. Currently on view: The Holocaust: What Hate Can Do, Survivors: Faces of Life After the Holocaust, and Andy Goldsworthy’s Garden of Stones.

Richard Hurowitz is a writer and entrepreneur. He is the founder and publisher of the Octavian Report. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Times of London, the Los Angeles Times, Time, History Today and the Jerusalem Post. He is a graduate of Yale University, where he studied history, and Columbia Law School. He lives in New York City with his family. 

Margaret Hoover is the host of PBS’ “Firing Line with Margaret Hoover,” a public affairs, multi-platform program that engages in long-form interviews and a rigorous exchange of ideas with the guiding principle that civil discourse is a civic responsibility. 

A CNN contributor, Hoover has served in The White House under President George W. Bush, in the Department of Homeland Security, on Capitol Hill, and on two presidential campaigns. She is the President of American Unity Fund, a political organization focused on achieving full freedom and equality for LGBT Americans. A bestselling author, her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Daily News, The Daily Beast, CNN.com, and FoxNews.com. 

Hoover serves on the boards of Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, the Hoover Presidential Foundation, the Belgian American Educational Foundation, The Markle Foundation, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Raised in Colorado, Hoover has lived in China, Mexico, Bolivia, and Taiwan, speaks fluent Spanish, and studied Mandarin Chinese. She lives in New York City with her husband John Avlon and their two children.

This program is made possible in part by support from the Battery Park City Authority.

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