Lessons from the Holocaust
Holocaust survivors Ruth and Fred Kirschner celebrated 75 years of marriage recently. Both shared their words of wisdom. “Our advice is that everyone should learn from history and we must all guide future generations, so history doesn’t repeat itself.”
On June 5th we travelled west and conducted a dual-county workshop for educators in Santa Rosa and Escambia counties. During this full-day workshop, teachers received a background of Holocaust history as well as modeled experiences of several activities that they could take back to their classrooms and use with their students. We also provided each teacher with several books for personal and professional use, as well as a plethora of resources they can use to expand upon what they are already doing! Teachers reported after the fact that the workshop was a huge success for them and one teacher even said it was “the best workshop” she had ever attended! If you would like more information about our workshops or any of the educational resources we have available, contact our Education Coordinator Danielle Ponzio at educator@holocaustresources.org
Some comments from last month’s workshop: “More time needed, a two-day workshop would be beneficial”, “The books provided were great”, “This was far more educational than most PDs I attend. I learned more about history than I expected, and I feel much more prepared to teach students about the holocaust. I’m grateful for this experience.” Latest reports show antisemitism in America is becoming flashier and louder. According to the ADL, more than half of all Americans (52%) say they have experienced online hate or harassment in their lifetimes. Reports of hate and harassment increased by nearly every measure and within almost every demographic group in the last 12 months. What would you do if it occurred to you?
Humanities is Personal for Ken Boutwell
Ken Boutwell, who made a major impact in our community, will be honored with the Humanitarian Award at the Holocaust Education Resource Council Remembrance Dinner at 5:30pm October 24th at the FSU Champions’ Club.
Boutwell has been a big supporter of Holocaust education. He was a co-founder of Capital Health Plan. The company he co-founded was MGT of America, a consulting company. His investment company is Vineyard Capital Partners. He is an unsung hero as he works to help refugees get settled in Tallahassee.
Many thanks to HERC Board members that work so much behind the scenes that support goals. They are: Dr. Richard Murgo, Karen Asher-Cohen, Bill Graham, Steve Friedlander, Judy Alexander, Carol Berkowitz, Ryan Cox, Sam Kimelman, Dr. Jeff Lickson, Anita Parish, Jared Ross, Susan Turner, Judy Winn. The HERC is hosted by Tallahassee Community College and receives funding from Florida Department of Education, Ruby Diamond Foundation and Tallahassee Jewish Federation. HERC is a member of Association of Holocaust Organizations.
Building Hope, Silencing Hate
By becoming a donor, you can help ensure that educators obtain the tools they need to raise informed, humane, and tolerant members of society. HERC’s approach aims to instill critical thinking skills, a respect for humanity, and knowledge of the history behind the Holocaust. Community funding assists in preparing teachers for the massive objective of educating youth on the history of the Holocaust. Together, with the help of the Holocaust Education Resource Council and the charitable community of Tallahassee, there can be assurance of a future without mass violence over race relations.
Donations can be sent to P.O. Box 16282, Tallahassee, Fl 32317.