Big names and large crowds gathered to hear presentations about leadership in the post-Holocaust era at the Truth at Stake conference Wednesday in the Shapiro atrium and theater. The conference, presented by the Fisher-Bernstein Institute for Jewish Philanthropy and Leadership, consisted of three sessions with prominent figures from around the world, including former Ambassador to the European Union Stuart Eizenstat, philanthropist and Limited Brands CEO Leslie Wexner, and renowned historian Deborah Lipstadt, M.A. '72, PhD '76.

Lipstadt, who teaches Modern Jewish and Holocaust Studies at Emory University, spoke to a crowded atrium about her six year legal battle in Britain against charges of libel levied against her by author David Irving, whom she dubbed a Holocaust denier in her 1993 book, Denying the Holocaust.

Lipstadt's latest book, which received international attention, History on Trial: My Day in Court with David Irving, chronicles her experiences during the case, which she ultimately won in 2000.

"I did not feel as if I was anybody's great hero," Lipstadt said. "I fought to defend myself and preserve my belief in the freedom of expression."

Describing Irving's books as "a complete distortion of history," Lipstadt and her team of historians proved to the court that his "version of the Holocaust is that there was no Holocaust." After the trial, Lipstadt said the jury found Irving "perverts, distorts, and misleads" in his "falsification of the historical record."

Lipstadt said her defense team consisted of some of the top historians in the field, testifying against evidence in Irving's books where he denies the existence of gas chambers and the programmed annihilation of Jews.

"I had the privilege to stand up for those who did not survive or could not stand up for themselves," Lipstadt said. "I feel gratified to have been that one to fight this battle."

In the second session, Eizenstat, who served in the Carter and Clinton administrations, spoke about his experiences representing the United States government in negotiations with Switzerland, France, and Germany about Holocaust survivors' confiscated bank accounts and unpaid insurance policies.

"It is a question of countries being willing to face their histories," Eizenstat said "[Private companies must be] held accountable for their actions in war time."

Margot Stern Strom, the executive director and president of the Facing History and Ourselves National Foundation, an organization that develops a curriculum for teachers on looking at humanity's history of racism and anti-Semitism, spoke about the need for educating students about "bad history."

Strom said her organization's workshops "help students connect history to themselves, see the world through many perspectives [and] walk in one another's shoes."

Howard Gardner, a professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, discussed the "decline of truth, trust, and the rise of hypocrisy" in society and how to combat this by facing our responsibility and demanding truth from our leaders and from each other.

In the final session, "Partners in Truth," Lipstadt and philanthropist Leslie Wexner, who was listed as the world's 196th richest person in Forbes' 2003 rankings, spoke about their unprecedented partnership.

Wexner said because Lipstadt was sued under British law, the burden of proving she was innocent fell solely on her. So he said he felt compelled to rally support and contribute to Lipstadt's fight, who, along with fellow donors, raised $1.5 million for the case.

"I believe the study of history and setting the record straight is vitally important," Wexner said. "Deborah [Lipstadt] and six million Jewish people will have their day in court. I am just happy I was part of the mitzvah.