Holocaust Memorial and
Tolerance Center of Nassau County
By Beth Lilach
Intolerance, bullying and hate crimes continue to escalate in America. The Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County combats these societal ills by utilizing the lessons of the Holocaust to encourage acceptance of, and respect for, diversity. We offer effective, interactive workshops on how to reduce bullying, intolerance and prejudice for students and adults.
The most profound lessons about hatred and prejudice are learned when listening to a Holocaust Survivor or Liberator in person. Unfortunately, the number of eyewitnesses (survivors, liberators and rescuers) is declining. To augment the waning population of testifiers, we have begun to recruit 2nd Generation survivors to continue the legacy by presenting their parents’ histories through video, photos, and artifacts. We have a vibrant 2nd Generation group and will be traveling to Poland in May 2009.
Interestingly, many people view the Holocaust as ancient history, yet Holocaust education holds ever greater relevance today because of the continuation of genocide, the deterioration of human rights, and the escalation of bias and bullying incidents among young people. Our Holocaust and Tolerance programs teach that indifference is just as dangerous as prejudice. The Holocaust did not occur overnight and, like any genocide, was preventable. Hatred and persecution were allowed to flourish because of apathy and lack of intervention. It is incumbent upon us to provide today’s youth with the knowledge and skills necessary to intervene effectively and safely when witnessing an injustice.
For teachers, we conduct cutting-edge, interdisciplinary Professional Development classes and offer Holocaust and Tolerance Curriculum Trunks which contain class sets of books, posters, DVDs, CDs, and age-appropriate lesson plans. We will be conducting teacher training workshops throughout 2008-2009 in Queens, Nassau and Suffolk Counties. We grant prizes in our Literary, Art, and Music Competitions, and sponsor a Student Hero for Tolerance award to students who have promoted tolerance in their school. We are also in the process of accreditation by NYC Board of Education which will allow us to extend into the Boroughs. In addition to our work with grades 5-12, we have helped develop, and will be co-facilitating Hofstra University’s new Genocide Scholars Program.
For employers, we offer a “Tolerance in the Workplace” program, piloted at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, which promotes understanding and appreciation for the multicultural environment of the modern workplace. Additionally, we are one of three organizations in the nation permitted to conduct the “Law Enforcement and Society: Lessons of the Holocaust” program created by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Anti-Defamation League; every cadet at the Nassau County Police Academy attends this special workshop.
Please go to our website or contact Beth Lilach, Director of Educatio≥≥≥n, for more information or to schedule any of the following: Holocaust or Tolerance (anti-bullying) student workshops; Teacher trainings; Tolerance in the Workplace program; Hosting one of our traveling exhibits; Donating artifacts for our new Holocaust museum; 2nd Generation group; Volunteer opportunities.
Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center, www.holocaust-nassau.org, bethlilach@holocaust-nassau.org, 516-571-8040.#
