On November 16, 2009, the Judaic Studies Program in FIU’s School of International and Public Affairs, in conjunction with the Ruth K. and Shepard Broad Distinguished Lecture Series, hosted Dr. Efraim Zuroff, Director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Jerusalem.
Efraim Zuroff is an American-born Israeli historian who has played an important role in the efforts to bring Nazi war criminals to justice during the past 28 years. In the presentation, Dr. Zuroff discusses his role in Operation Last Chance, which he launched in 2002 together with Aryeh Rubin of the Targum Shlishi Foundation, and recounts the incredible story of this undertaking and the measures taken to honor the victims of the Third Reich.
Zuroff spearheaded a vast public campaign to locate and bring to justice as many as possible of the worst suspected Nazi criminals, before ill health or death spared them from standing trial. His efforts faced numerous roadblocks, including the passage of decades since the occurrence of the crimes, lack of cooperation from many governments and even death threats. Despite all of this, Zuroff’s project yielded the names of hundreds of alleged criminals who are still alive and at large. It also resulted in dozens of murder investigations, as well as several indictments and extradition requests that are currently pending.
To view the lecture, please click here. To purchase Dr. Zuroff’s book Operation Last Chance: One Man’s Quest to Bring Nazi Criminals to Justice, please click here.
