At 2 pm Saturday, September 24, 2016, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Rock Tavern is hosting a free public workshop called We Who Defy Hate, a companion to the PBS documentary Defying the Nazis: The Sharps’ War, to support people of different faith traditions who want to find places of common ground and solidarity in the service of social justice and action.

Rabbi Larry Freedman of Temple Beth Jacob and UUCRT minister Terri Pahucki will facilitate the workshop, which is sponsored by the Greater Newburgh Interfaith Council. Rock Tavern Unitarian Universalists have continued in the example of the Sharps by providing material and financial support to an Afghan refugee family who arrived in New York last February.

Defying the Nazis: The Sharps’ War, an account of a daring rescue mission that occurred on the precipice of World War II, will air on PBS nationwide this Tuesday evening at 9 pm. It tells the story of Waitstill and Martha Sharp, a Unitarian minister and his wife, who left their children behind in the care of their parish and boldly committed to multiple life-threatening missions in Europe.

Over two dangerous years they helped save hundreds of imperiled political dissidents and Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazi occupation across Europe. To recognize their heroic sacrifice, Martha and Waitstill were posthumously honored at Yad Vashem in Israel in 2006 and declared “Righteous Among the Nations”, an honor bestowed upon non Jews who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust Of the thousands so honored,, there are only five Americans, including the Sharps.

For more information contact the Rev. Chris J. Antal, (845) 297-2792 or antal@uuma.org