INTERVIEW

Author Aaron Nommaz depicts the story of Struma disaster in his fourth book “The Tale that Probes the Conscience”. As always with his plain narration and editing, Nommaz in his own words makes the readers feel as if they are inside the floating coffin ‘Struma’. Unfortunately, today in Turkey there are still people who have no idea about the Struma disaster… The novel that tells the story of this disaster which is deemed as an affront to humanity for the whole world is based on true facts. We talked with Aaron Nommaz about his latest book which tells the true story of the disaster that ended in the death of 769 innocent people and leaving behind only one survivor.

Prof. Avi Loeb, Chair of Harvard University’s Department of Astronomy is known to be the first academically distinguished figure to write a scientific paper claiming our solar system may be visited by an alien reconnaissance ship from another civilization. Prof . Loeb spared his valuable time for Salom newspaper and noted that in order to make advances in science, it is necessary for us to acknowledge Oumuamua as an uncertainty and accept there is a possibility that it might be an alien artifact. For me, Loeb who is not afraid to put his career and reputation on the line, is the long-lost hero who will save the subject of extra-terrestrial intelligence from the monopoly of science fiction.

This year at 15th Kadir Has Awards, Prof. Dr. Ivet Bahar received ‘Outstanding Achievement Award’. Bahar was presented with her award at a ceremony held at Kadir Has University Cibali Campus, on March 22nd. We talked with Prof. Dr. Ivet Bahar primarily about her studies on neurodegenerative diseases and battle with drug addiction.

We talked with Yusuf Tolga Unker, a research assistant at Maltepe University Graphic Design Department about his exhibition “Visions of the Holocaust” which took place at the Quincentennial Foundation Jewish Museum of Turkey from January 24th until March 30th.

With his book “Kanuni’s Jewish Banker Dona Gracia”, author Aaron Nommaz, left a mark in history and in the hearts of many people with the story of Dona Gracia Mendes, the mother of Sephardic Jews who is considered to be one of the most humane and altruistic people in the history of humanity. Aaron Nommaz blazed a trail with this book by depicting the life story of the richest woman in 16th century whose story have never been told in Turkish, before. We talked with Aaron Nommaz about his valuable book which can be considered as both a biography and a history book.

Pianist, composer and soprano Renan Koen gave two concerts in Prague (August 21st) and Terezin (August 22nd) as part of ‘Everlasting Hope: Gustav Mahler and Terezin Composers’ Festival. As part of her Holocaust Education program, Koen brought along two of her young conservatory students who are both Muslims, to the festival.