About HERC
Our Mission
The Holocaust Education Resource Council (HERC) works to build hope and silence all hate, including antisemitism, by providing instructional guidance, support and resources for educators who teach the history of the holocaust, and other educational programs for the community at large.
Learn about how you can support HERC’s mission.
Our History
HERC was founded by Barbara Goldstein and Rita Miller Blank, two women whose parents were Holocaust survivors.
When Barbara and Rita met in Tallahassee, the State of Florida required schools to teach a Holocaust curriculum. As they visited classrooms throughout Tallahassee sharing their parents’ stories, it became evident that the curriculum lacked uniformity. Unfortunately, the mandated curriculum was unfunded and educators were not supplied with the lesson plans or supporting materials necessary to communicate the scale of history’s most well-documented atrocity. Even today, there is less than $1.00 per student allotted annually for education on the Holocaust.
View Our Interactive HERC History Timeline
In 2006, Barbara and Rita became co-chairs of the Tallahassee Holocaust Education Program, established by the National Council of Jewish Women’s local chapter.
Working in tandem, they launched teacher education programs that made an immediate impact. Partnerships with the Florida Commission on Human Relations and the Leon County School District allowed these programs to thrive.
“I remember telling my children that one day it would be up to us to tell my parents’ stories of their Holocaust experience. For me, that time came too quickly.”
– Rita Miller Blank,
HERC Vice President and Co-Founder
The success of the Holocaust Education Program led Barbara and Rita to establish HERC, with the goal of providing guidance and support for students, teachers and the community to learn about the Holocaust and the importance of tolerance.
In 2007, HERC established the first countywide Holocaust essay contest . Students are prompted to write about the role of hatred and prejudice during the Holocaust and the importance of tolerance and respect in ensuring that such a horrific event will never take place again.
In the years since its inception, HERC has grown to host community events and programs , establish a dedicated group of volunteers to support education initiatives, and build a library of public resources to support educators.
Today, HERC enters a new chapter as it expands its mission to support Holocaust education throughout Florida’s Panhandle.
Today, HERC facilitates Holocaust education workshops conducted by specialists who provide educators with training and materials to take back to their classrooms.
Read testimonials from educators who have applied lessons and resources from HERC in their classroom.