The Harris Center supports and presents various lectures, book talks, and other discussions on timely topics relating to Judaic Studies.
Lunch and Learn: "Rescued or Ruin: Orphan Life During the Armenian Genocide and the Holocaust"
Andrea Wagh
November 5, 2025
11:45 am
Wagh is a PhD student in the Department of History. This lecture showcases her ongoing dissertation research, which is an examination on how orphanages were used to either rescue victims of genocide or perpetrate genocidal policies against them. Through a comparative study of the Armenian genocide (1915-1918) and the Holocaust (1933-1945), she explores how orphanages were manipulated in each case. By understanding the role these institutions played, we can better understand how children are uniquely targeted in mass violence and how orphanages have served as spaces for both good and evil.