In July, Stanlee attended Yad Vashem’s International Conference for Educators. The theme of the first full day was “The Kehilah (Jewish Community) in a World of Crisis.” The focus of the second day was “The Holocaust in a Global Context.” The last day was “When Antisemitism Challenges Holocaust Education.” It was an excellent conference – well planned. Yad Vashem staff, including Sheryl Ochayon and Dorit Raviv and their respective staffs, did an outstanding job! Dani Dayan, Chairman of Yad Vashem, opened the conference. His closing presentation, “Revealing the Masks of Hatred: Facing Antisemitism Today” was outstanding.

There were a number of JFR Alfred Lerner Fellows at the conference. Wendy Warren, Amy Frake, and Ingrid Patino represented Holocaust Museum Houston.  Urszula Szczepinska and Erin Blankenship represented the Florida Holocaust Museum. From Stockton University were Irvin Moreno-Rodriquez and Professor Michael Hayse (while Professor Hayse is not a Lerner Fellow, he has presented at the JFR’s Summer Institute for Teachers). Debi Maller, a high school teacher from Rahway High School in New Jersey, also attended. Paul Salmons from the United Kingdom, who lectured at the JFR’s Summer Institute from Teachers this past June also attended and presented. It was great to connect with everyone.

I want to share a link that Lori Gerson, from Yad Vashem, presented in her session, “Teaching about Current Antisemitism.” It is a short animation from Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks on “The Mutation of Antisemitism.” I urge you to watch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UAcYn4uUbs

Usher in the New Year while at the same time supporting the work of The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous by sending a JFR eCard. Click here to schedule your eCards now! Rosh Hashanah starts Wednesday night, October 2, 2024.