Ken Burns’ Holocaust documentary will be discussed in Modesto

Congregation Beth Shalom of Modesto will host a panel discussion on Ken Burns’ US and the Holocaust documentary series.

The discussion is open to the public and is scheduled for Sunday, October 30.

The six-hour film was shown on PBS and is currently available for streaming, CBS Rabbi Shalom Bochner said in a press release.

“When I started getting a lot of questions about Ken Burns’ new documentary, both from members of our synagogue and from other people living in the area, it became very clear that this was an educational opportunity for us to discuss this important new the film and the questions it poses to a panel of experts,” Bochner said.

“This documentary not only explains the fuller story of what led up to the Holocaust 80 years ago, but also contributes greatly to our understanding of current events and political tensions in our country.”

Scheduled speakers include Rabbi Chaim Singer-Frankes, former archivist for Steven Spielberg’s Shoah Foundation, and Brett Carroll, professor of history at California State University Stanislaus. The closing remarks will be by Ellen June, president of CSUS, and Bochner will moderate the panel.

The free discussion is scheduled for 2 p.m. Oct. 30 at Congregation Beth Shalom, 1705 Sherwood Ave., Modesto.

Participants are invited to watch the film first and then ask questions to the panelists. See www.pbs.org.

For more details about the panel discussion, see www.cbsmodesto.org or by calling 209-571-6060.