USC Shoah Foundation 

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During this session, students will reflect on a long journey they have taken in their life and analyze a clip of testimony from Holocaust survivor, Dr. Ruth K Westheimer, who describes having to leave her home and travel to Switzerland by train to reach safety during Nazi rule. Students will then watch the short, animated film, Ruth: A Little Girls Big Journey, that further brings Dr. Ruth's story of courage, hope and optimism to life. By the end of the session, students will reflect on the stories they heard and draw connections between Dr. Ruth’s journey and their own as well as the universal themes and challenges they may see reflected in society today.

Mary Anna Noveck is a Learning and Development Specialist with USC Shoah Foundation. Prior to that she worked as an elementary teacher and school leader for 24 years in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. Mary Anna earned her B.A. in Communications from Stephens College, her M.Ed. from U.C.L.A. and her Global Executive Ed.D. from USC.

Kathy Kacer

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Kathy Kacer will talk about her own background as the child of Holocaust survivors and how she came to write more than 30 books about this history. She will also will talk about who the rescuers were at that time in history; their backgrounds and where they came from; their willingness to be up-standers at a dangerous time in history. Students will learn about a number of books that focus on rescuers - those who were well known and saved many Jews, and those who were unknown and still risked their lives for their Jewish friends and neighbours. The books will be geared to kids of various reading abilities and ranges and will include picture books, early chapter books and novels. The session will be interactive, encouraging questions and discussion.

 

Kathy has written 30 books on the Holocaust including The Secret of Gabi’s Dresser, The Brushmaker's Daughter, and Under the Iron Bridge. A winner of many Forest of Reading Awards Kathy has written unforgettable and inspiring stories. She speaks to children in schools and libraries about the importance of the Holocaust and keeping its memory alive.

The Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre

 

The session will introduce the history of the Holocaust through the stories of survivors and their personal experiences. It will encourage connections to the human impact of history through stories at an age appropriate level. The programme will build awareness around the stories we tell about ourselves and 'others', how we can practice empathy and inclusion and how we can build resilience and active citizenship within our communities and schools.

 

Mduduzi began his work in Holocaust and genocide education, initially with the Durban Holocaust & Genocide Centre for 5 years as an education officer, and in 2019 relocated to Johannesburg where he joined the JHGC’s education department. He also runs the Centre’s podcast series and is often involved in hosting public events. He holds an honours degree and an MA in Gender Studies from UKZN.

Rabbi Corey Margolese

 

Antisemitism has existed for thousands of years and did not begin with the Holocaust as many think. In fact, without the existence of antisemitism, the Holocaust would have been very different, perhaps non-existent. This session briefly delves into the history of antisemitism and its manifestations pre-Holocaust, during the Holocaust, and post-Holocaust.

 

Rabbi Corey Margolese is a full-time secondary school teacher with the York Region District School Board. He is the co-chair of the Network of Educators Supporting Jewish Learners, an affinity group made up of YRDSB staff that supports the Jewish learners and staff of the YRDSB. Rabbi Corey is the founder of JTeach.ca, a not-for-profit that provides antisemitism learning and Holocaust education to school and community groups. He is also the Director of Israel & Antisemitism Affairs for NCSY Canada. Finally, and most important, Rabbi Corey is also a husband and a father.

USC Shoah Foundation 

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During this program, students will watch clips of testimony from survivors of the Holocaust who speak about their experiences with antisemitism, or hatred of Jews, in Europe during the time of Nazi rule. Students will also watch a contemporary clip of testimony to learn about the impact that antisemitism has on individuals and societies today. Students will then watch the six-minute animated film, Lala, that tells the story of Holocaust survivor, Roman Kent’s pet Lala, and how Lala gave their family a sense of hope during a terrible time. An important message in the story is Roman’s belief that love is stronger than hate. By the end of the program, students will reflect on the stories they heard that fosters their sense of agency for becoming productive citizens.

 

Mary Anna Noveck is a Learning and Development Specialist with USC Shoah Foundation. Prior to that she worked as an elementary teacher and school leader for 24 years in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. Mary Anna earned her B.A. in Communications from Stephens College, her M.Ed. from U.C.L.A. and her Global Executive Ed.D. from USC.

The National Holocaust Centre and Museum (UK)

 

Step back in time to Nazi Germany. Step into the life of Leo, a young German Jewish boy growing up in 1930s Berlin. Everything changes for him under Nazi rule. Eventually, his family makes the brave choice to send him to safety in the UK, as a child refugee on the Kindertransport. Leo’s story raises big questions. What is it like to be seen as ‘different’? What courage does it take to stand up for our friends against bullying? Take a journey into one of the most dramatic periods of world history, to help you think about identity, friendship and kindness in your own life today.

 

Sarah Wetton is a Senior Educator at the National Holocaust Centre and Museum (UK).

Canadian Museum for Human Rights

 

Students will learn about the role “othering” plays in the denial of dignity and rights. By examining three case studies: the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, the Holocaust and the Indigenous experience with colonization in Canada, students will recognize othering as a starting point for many human rights violations, including genocide.

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