Doug Emhoff speaks to Holocaust survivor and his AI twin in LA – The Jewish News of Northern California
Posted By admin on June 14, 2022
When Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff sat down for a Zoom conversation with Holocaust survivor Pinchas Gutter on Wednesday, he opened by saying, I feel like I already know you!
Though the two had never met, Emhoff did, to an extent, know Gutter.
Just moments before the video call, Emhoff had engaged with Gutters interactive biography, asking him questions about his experience in concentration camps and even listening to Gutter sing Shir Hamaalot, the song that begins the blessing after meals.
Emhoff was at the University of Southern Californias Shoah Foundation, where he visited to explore the centers Dimensions in Testimony project, a series of artificial intelligence bots that allow people to interact in real time with survivors of the Holocaust and other genocides.
As a USC alum and the first Jewish vice presidential spouse, Emhoff knew the experience would be special overwhelming, even. But he said the exhibit far exceeds what I thought it was going to be.
Its so impressive, the use of the technology, Emhoff told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Its so real. And you really felt you were in the room you really felt you were talking to people. It was so engaging.
The visit was the latest in a series of Jewish events Emhoff has hosted and attended in his official capacity as the Second Gentleman andas a proud Jew.
I never expected my Jewish faith to be that big a deal in this role, he said. As it turned out, I was very wrong. And Im glad I was wrong, because it is a big deal.
Emhoff has baked matzah with Jewish day school students, helpedhost the first online Passover sederat the White House,hung a mezuzah at the vice presidents residence, and took part in festivities for Jewish American Heritage Month.
You see these young kids screaming when I walked into the room like I was some kind of rock star, Emhoff recalled with a laugh. You really see that this representation matters. And knowing that, I take it very seriously. I know this means a lot to a lot of people, as it does to me.
Emhoffs presence also meant a lot to the staff at the Shoah Foundation.
It was amazing, Kori Street, the organizations interim executive director, told JTA. For me, for the staff, for the university, to have someone of his stature, who understands the importance of what were doing here, who has a connection to the archive, it was so meaningful just in terms of how insightful he was and how much he got it. That doesnt always happen.
Street kicked off Emhoffs visit with an introduction to the center and its work. The institution is nearing its goal of reaching 10 million students globally each year, according to Street, and the AI initiative is a flagship product. The initiative, which the Shoah Foundation plans to make available through local Holocaust museums around the world, aims to ensure that the common practice of having survivors speak about their experiences can outlast the survivors themselves.
After showing Emhoff a video testimony of a Holocaust survivor from the same town as Emhoffs family in Eastern Europe, it was time to meet Gutter.
Emhoff spoke first with the AI rendering of Gutter, asking him a series of questions about his survival story, his message to students today, and yes, asking Gutter to sing him a song.
Thank you, Pinchas, Emhoff said to the screen with a smile. Ill see you in the other room.
There, real-life Gutter continued to share his story. He also expressed his gratitude to Emhoff and the Biden administration for their work combating hate and antisemitism.
I really feel that you are able to make a difference, and you are making a difference, Gutter told Emhoff.
Gutter spoke about the importance of sharing his story with younger generations and of connecting his experience with current events. He mentioned Russias war on Ukraine multiple times.
Take this flame, Gutter said he tells students. Light up the world with these flames and make the world a better place.
Emhoff was visibly moved by Gutters story. Both Gutters, in fact.
I love your message of unity, Emhoff told the real-life Gutter over Zoom. We all need to stand together and stand united against this epidemic of hate.
As he thinks about the challenges facing the American Jewish community, Emhoff said the words of the AI Gutter expressed exactly how Im feeling about these issues.
That AI message really rang true, Emhoff said. Hearing his positivity after everything hes been through all these memories that hes had to live with for so many years, 70-plus years and to be so positive, and so upbeat, and be willing to share with the world now through this technology, his story, is just really, its amazing.
Read more from the original source:
- Subverting the religious freedom of a Jewish school - WORLD News Group - July 2nd, 2022
- Library event to focus on art of henna - Delaware Gazette - July 2nd, 2022
- Books to Read for Jewish American Heritage Month | Book Riot - June 25th, 2022
- Statement by Minister Hussen on Canadian Jewish Heritage Month - June 21st, 2022
- Elan Carr: Jewish American Heritage Month passes without enough fanfare ... - June 21st, 2022
- New York City Mayor Eric Adams celebrates annual Jewish Heritage Month ... - June 21st, 2022
- Reflections on Jewish Heritage Month from Dr. Ayelet Kuper - June 21st, 2022
- May is National Jewish Heritage Month in Canada - UIA - June 14th, 2022
- The Cal Alumni Association Celebrates Jewish American Heritage Month - June 14th, 2022
- Guests at New York mayors mansion for Jewish Heritage Month note rise ... - June 14th, 2022
- Holocaust Survivor Reunited with Daughter After 80 Years - aish.com - Aish - June 14th, 2022
- Groundbreaking Research Identifies Opportunities to Increase Educational Equity in Israel - PR Web - June 14th, 2022
- Toronto's Metropolitan Community Church wants to take its social-justice work to the next level with plan for a human-rights centre - The Globe and... - June 6th, 2022
- Why are AIPAC and J Street endorsing the same candidates? - Forward - June 4th, 2022
- I'm a Jewish gay man who resisted apartheid. LGBTQ rights in the U.S. are slipping away from us. - Forward - June 2nd, 2022
- Reno student says anonymous gun tips used to bully him - Nevada Appeal - June 2nd, 2022
- NYC mayor urges Jewish New Yorkers to speak out in support of the police - Forward - May 29th, 2022
- 'It was the oldest continuously in-use synagogue in the United States': Jewish history tour chronicles more than a century of change in Easton - The... - May 29th, 2022
- New coast-to-coast series brings trailblazing Jewish musicians to audiences everywhere - The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music - UCLA Herb Alpert... - May 29th, 2022
- Daily Kickoff: IRGC terror designation to stay + Stevens and Levin debate - Jewish Insider - May 29th, 2022
- Antisemitic markings discovered at Piedmont High School J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - May 29th, 2022
- Jewish Heritage Month Virtual Program - This event has already occurred - Ajax - May 29th, 2022
- Man in Custody in Every New Yorkers Worst Nightmare - The New York Times - May 29th, 2022
- RELEASE: Gottheimer Helps Lead House Passage of Bipartisan Legislation Condemning the Rise in Antisemitism - Josh Gottheimer - May 20th, 2022
- Jewish in the big leagues: Power hitter Shawn Green dishes at White House event - Forward - May 20th, 2022
- Best Things To Do This Weekend In Los Angeles And SoCal: May 20 - 22 - LAist - May 20th, 2022
- North Bay recognized for standing up to hate and racism - My North Bay Now - May 20th, 2022
- Letters To The Editor May 20, 2022 - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - May 20th, 2022
- People, Places and Things - Birmingham Times - May 20th, 2022
- Peggy Tarr: In the month of May - Evanston RoundTable - May 12th, 2022
- Oregon Rises Above Hate to host Old Town event for AAPI Heritage Month - KOIN.com - May 12th, 2022
- Death of journalism professor who helped revive Judaism in Lincoln after 750 years - Jewish News - May 12th, 2022
- Humans of New York featured this onetime rabbinical student and readers have donated $1.2M to his passion project - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic... - May 12th, 2022
- Min Jin Lee wants to keep building on the Asian-American experience in real life and on the page - The 19th* - May 12th, 2022
- Whats open in the Mid-Hudson Valley for May 12, 2022 - The Daily Freeman - May 12th, 2022
- Liberation Is Jewish History. Let's Make It Our Future, Too. - OtherWords - May 10th, 2022
- Stunning Rise in Anti-Semitic Incidents in the US - Daily Kos - May 10th, 2022
- Putin Claims Hes Ridding Ukraine Of Nazis. Ukraines Jewish Population Knows Better. - HuffPost - May 10th, 2022
- May is merry, and the UO has the arts events to prove it - AroundtheO - April 30th, 2022
- In the conspiracy world, Judaism is always suspect' - Haaretz - April 30th, 2022
- Why these Israeli farmers became heroes after killing their crops (hint: its in the Bible) - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic Agency - April 20th, 2022
- Pew's Religious Landscape Study Shows There Are US Jews and Then There Are Committed Jewish Americans - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - April 20th, 2022
- Russia preparing to celebrate Victory Day: What could this mean for Ukraine? - NewsNation Now - April 20th, 2022
- Passover 2022: What is Passover, Passover greetings, and Passover dates 2022 - The Scotsman - April 20th, 2022
- 'Living history': meet the Mosul residents rebuilding their city - Art Newspaper - April 20th, 2022
- Things to Do This Week in LA [4-18-2022 to 4-22-2022] - We Like L.A. - April 20th, 2022
- 'The sky's the limit': Gesher Disability Resources working to meet needs of Jewish students with disabilities - The Arizona Republic - April 11th, 2022
- What the UAE taught Egypt on doing business with Israel - Haaretz - April 11th, 2022
- A work camp in the lowest place on earth is Israel's latest tourist attraction - Haaretz - April 11th, 2022
- What to do this week, from Slay and Ecolution to August Wilson and Charlie Chaplin - NEXTpittsburgh - April 11th, 2022
- For Holocaust educators in Poland, the war in Ukraine is more than just a teachable moment - Jewish Insider - March 24th, 2022
- Kosher rafting on the Jordan River: ultra-Orthodox tourists found their wild side - Haaretz - March 24th, 2022
- Orange High Schools Jessica Brown named Kiwanis Senior of the Month - cleveland.com - March 24th, 2022
- 'At 15, you can grow up': Scenes of hope and anguish from Poland's Ukrainian border - Forward - March 24th, 2022
- The Ruzhiner Rebbe And Me - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - March 24th, 2022
- Editorial: Boycotting companies that keep operating in Russia is the right thing to do - Los Angeles Times - March 24th, 2022
- Israeli minister heads to Poland as Ukraine refugees pour across border - The Times of Israel - March 8th, 2022
- Threats, vitriol aimed at women in positions of power - Detroit News - March 8th, 2022
- Things To Do This Week In London: 28 February-6 March 2022 - Londonist - March 8th, 2022
- Turkey and Israel: A Relationship Unlikely to be Fully Rekindled - Foreign Policy Research Institute - March 3rd, 2022
- I've listened to racism without challenging it - that won't happen again - Heritage Florida Jewish News - March 3rd, 2022
- Holocaust survivor killed in traffic accident Jessica Seinfelds meatless meals The meaning of Maus - Jewish Telegraphic Agency - February 11th, 2022
- Rep. Andy Levin the 'most corrosive' on Israel - Heritage Florida Jewish News - February 11th, 2022
- Fayetteville man one of seven removed from commission aimed at preserving Holocaust-related sites - Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - January 30th, 2022
- Top Canadian agent smokes out long-lost relatives with new title The Cigar Factory - The Times of Israel - January 24th, 2022
- Things to do in Cincinnati this week: Jan. 24-30 - The Cincinnati Enquirer - January 24th, 2022
- St. Augustine celebrates rich history during Jewish ... - January 20th, 2022
- Giving to the Golani Brigade - Heritage Florida Jewish News - January 20th, 2022
- Cultural and holiday traditions are celebrated - liherald - January 20th, 2022
- BWW Opera Preview: If You're Dreaming of Live Opera, Here Are Some to Think About This Spring - Broadway World - January 20th, 2022
- From reverent to raunchy, vast Yiddish archives are reunited online J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - January 11th, 2022
- Get to the rec center to get fit in 2022: Talk of the Towns - cleveland.com - January 11th, 2022
- When Is Jewish Heritage Month? chicagojewishnews.com - December 24th, 2021
- When Is Jewish American Heritage Month 2019 ... - December 24th, 2021
- 18 noteworthy Jews who died in 2021 | The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle - thejewishchronicle.net - December 24th, 2021
- Proud Jews Walking: The Eicha Problem and The Rebbe's Solution - Jewish Journal - December 24th, 2021
- Construction unearths parts of Crimean synagogue long thought to be destroyed - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic Agency - December 24th, 2021
- The inhumanity of identity politics - Spiked - December 24th, 2021
- May Is Jewish American Heritage Month? chicagojewishnews.com - December 16th, 2021
- Special Observances - December 16th, 2021
Comments