Dear HERC Supporters,
The Holocaust Education Resource Council (HERC) is reaching out to inform you of the long-awaited and highly deserved recognition of Professor Monte Finkelstein. As you may know, Monte has supported HERC since its inception over 20 years ago as a guest lecturer and facilitator of many of the programs and classes. To recognize all of his selfless efforts, HERC has created the goal of $10,000 to support the Endowment Fund as an opportunity for educators teaching the Holocaust. HERC will be the sponsoring agency and the endowment fund has been established within the Community Foundation of North Florida.
According to Monte:
“Growing up in New York City and Miami, I was exposed to the Holocaust early on. I recollect seeing people with numbers tattooed on their arms but in the 1950s and early 1960s, few people wanted to speak about the Holocaust. My parents refused to explain what the numbers represented but I knew something was wrong because we were taught that Jewish people did not mark their bodies with any sort of tattoo or bodily marking. The incident that first sparked my interest was Adolf Eichmann’s trial and execution in 1961-1962. I remember viewing portions of the trial on television, seeing this small, meek looking man in a glass booth but not totally understanding what was going on. I remember that people were shocked at his appearance and joyful that he had been caught and was being made to pay for his crimes. From that time on I was somewhat aware of the Holocaust, but it wasn’t until I went to college that I began to study the Holocaust in earnest. I can truly say that I have read, studied and lectured about the Holocaust for past forty plus years.
Why? Why continuously read and study about the camps, the atrocities, and works about Hitler? Why read about how “ordinary” Germans complied with the regime and went along with its racial, social and economic policies and actively participated in the Holocaust by staffing camps, scheduling the trains and serving in killing squads? Each work is disturbing and creates a sense of anger and frustration. So, why do I continue to study? Because as a historian, I believe that history repeats itself, especially when people get complacent and think that it can’t possibly do so. Even though there are museums, monuments, and books dedicated to the Holocaust, there are still those who do not understand how it could happen. Even though it is one of the most documented historical events, there are those who deny it ever happened and there are those who believe that it was all caused by a deranged dictator acting in concert with a small group of uneducated men driven by an irrational hatred of the Jews and other groups. Some believe it could never happen again because we are better than and different from the Germans were in the 1930 and 1940s.
It is because of attitudes and thoughts like those that I have dedicated a good portion of my life to studying and teaching about the Holocaust at every opportunity. It is my duty as a historian. Moreover, as a Jew, I have an obligation to the six million Jews and the other countless victims of Nazi racial and social policies to make certain that we do not forget. We must educate people and I am proud to be able to do so. However, it is almost inconceivable that over 80 years after the liberation of Auschwitz and the Nuremberg Trials, I am compelled to teach about the Holocaust. It is frightening that the ideology and ideas that brought about the Final Solution are alive and flourishing today. We are in a time of rising antisemitism with the same stereotypes, myths and mistruths about Jews being spread by the Internet and other sources.
As I said before, education is the key to preventing another Holocaust. Education is the best weapon we have to fight ignorance, bigotry and evil and as an educator it is my solemn duty to make sure that the Holocaust is not wiped from our collective memory. It is an immense task but I will continue to do my small part to make certain that we never forget.”
Individuals or organizations can support this through the following ways:
- A check made payable to HERC and mailed to PO Box 16282 Tallahassee, FL 32317. For accounting purposes, please note in the memo line “in honor of Monte Finklestein”. HERC will in turn remit those funds to the Community Foundation of North Florida.
- A check made payable to the Community Foundation North Florida and mailed to 3600 Maclay Blvd. S, Suite 200, Tallahassee, FL 32312. Please note in the memo line “HERC – in honor of Monte Finkelstein”.
Or your contribution can be received through the below QR code from the Community Foundation of North Florida. When you click on the QR code it will take you to the CFNF website – “Give to a Fund” page. After you click on GIVE TODAY you will then be directed to the fund information where you will need to select “CFNF Agency Fund (Nonprofit Organizations).” Scroll down to “Agency Fund Receiving Gift,” click in the box and choose the Holocaust Education Resource Council. Fill out the field for your gift amount and please be sure, in the “Comments” to add “in Honor of Monte Finkelstein.” Lastly, please enter all your contact information and click “Submit & Pay.”
We are proud to honor and celebrate the many years of dedicated service Monte gave to our organization.
Thank you in advance for all your support!