Susanna Kokkonen

Christian Friends of Yad Vashem

Dr Susanna Kokkonen, a former cultural attaché with the Finnish Embassy in Tel Aviv, was appointed the new director of Christian Friends of Yad Vashem in May 2008. Yad Vashem is Israel’s official museum and memorial to the heroes and martyrs of the Holocaust and this special desk is a unique and bold initiative by Yad Vashem and ICEJ to educate and inform the thousands of Christians who visit this site in Jerusalem every year.  

Susanna is a political scientist and historian who studied at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, where she earned her doctorate in Holocaust studies focusing on the plight of Jewish survivors detained for years in Italian refugee camps due to the British blockade of Palestine. Most recently, she has represented the European Coalition for Israel and the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem as their lobbyist at the European Parliament in Brussels.

Part of her vision for this new post is to expand the desk’s educational outreach. “I think you can only understand what happens today if you bear in mind the history behind it. I find it outrageous that some people are comparing the Palestinian situation with the Holocaust,” said Kokkonen.

VISIT TO LIVERPOOL & WIGAN :  17-19th MAY 2009:

As part of her promotion of the work of Christian Friends of Yad Vashem, Susanna Kokkonen will be visiting Liverpool and Wigan.  All enquirires to 0151 924 7929.    You have the opportunity to hear her speak about the work at the following times: 

Sunday 17th May:-

8.00 am     Radio Merseyside, DAYBREAK programme:   Interview by Wayne Clarke, Christian Broadcaster and Presenter. 

11.00 am   Service at Kingsway Christian Fellowship, Church Road, Waterloo, Liverpool L22 5NA     (Introduction with extract from DVD)               

Monday 18th May:-

12.30 pm       Meeting with Merseyside Pastors and Church Leaders for an informal buffet lunch.   Invitation to church leaders:  if you would like to attend this lunch, please contact 0151 924 7929.

7.30 pm      Full presentation at Kingsway Christian Fellowship, Church Road, Waterloo, Liverpool  L22 5NA

Tuesday 19th May:-

7.30 pm     Full presentation at Billinge Family Church, 31 Crank Road, Billinge, Wigan WN5 7DT

Susanna will return at other times during the year when we hope to arrange visits to other parts of the UK, so do get in touch with us if you are interested in inviting her at a later date.