Antisemitism and Holocaust education
Education is critical to combating hate and antisemitism. In a 2021 nationwide Jewish community Town Hall, education was the top priority for Jewish Canadians in combating antisemitism. The Holocaust Knowledge and Awareness Survey conducted by the Claims Conference demonstrated that an alarming 22% of Canadian millennials have not heard, or are unsure if they have heard, of the Holocaust; and 62% of Canadian millennials were not aware that six million Jews were killed in the Holocaust. We must keep the torch of memory alive for future generations. According to a CIJA survey, 84% of those surveyed said they were concerned that Jewish students will be excluded at school because of their Jewish identity. While academic institutions have taken steps to teach and promote diversity, information pertaining to antisemitism, the Holocaust, and Jewish lived experience is omitted or, worse, dismissed.
Recommendation
Developing, based on experts’ research, a standardized national social studies curriculum focusing on antisemitism and the Holocaust that integrates into the overall IDE (Inclusion, Diversity and Equity) program and extends it beyond the current frameworks, which will benefit not only Jews but also all at-risk communities.Furthering the implementation of the IHRA definition of antisemitism and developing an IHRA handbook to explain and guide the application of the IHRA definition. This handbook can be modeled after the European Union’s Handbook for the practical use of the IHRA working definition of antisemitism.
Work with provincial governments, municipal governments, and school boards to ensure that education on antisemitism and the Holocaust is put into place in schools across Canada.
12 reactions
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BPBarbora Pek signed 2024-03-14 18:22:38 -0400As a parent of jewish children in Hamilton who have been subjected to antisemetic incidents in public elementary school and who have niw become used to armed security outside of their hebrew school, I firmly believe that there is an immediate need for comprehensive holocaust and antisemitism education across the public school board in Ontario
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GTGregor Trojan signed 2024-03-07 08:37:15 -0500
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JPJ Plotkin signed 2024-02-09 15:44:51 -0500
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EEElisheva Eisenberg signed 2024-01-31 19:22:33 -0500
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ZsZ.Giulianna s.Herrera signed 2024-01-17 15:03:10 -0500We must to remember the past to keep the safe the present and to protect the future.
We are 3 in kitchener Ontario, living in terrible dishonour, demoted, degrade basic rigths of decision because many people blocking our opportunity to settle safe in Calgary Albera and freedom of follow Kabbalah science and Jewish heritage as own observance. We crossed for Hashem by revelation and rescue from the high darkness where put ourselves because of persecution and revenge from Ecuador Chrisitan Church idmji in plot with the Kitchener, Ontario branch and our life is like barricade style from we live under enfocerment law because hates and reprisals for appelation of protection claim on 2021 and from that we have not legal help or effective advocacy and we feel pushed to stay in a place that hurt us and exposed to abuse with cold complicity of autorities however our denounces.
We have many experiences about holocaust and anti israel and antisemitism and antifreedom of believe meaning while we just are in resistence for freedom and the oportunity to be independent for life as we are. I, Giulianna have many reports of past years of shows of hate from I am inspiring to teach and to lead in favor of Jewish zohar and Jewish wisdom as method of peace.
we need urgently protection to flee of a barricade episode, ask for our to Multicultural centre in Kitchener Ontario about what really horror we have been suffering isolate and alone because there is not defense, there is not freedom for us. we are victim of a dirty plot of people who took us by their own to teach us how powerful and how over controlling’s and over monitoring can be do over us -
JBJesse Baldwin signed 2024-01-07 18:13:36 -0500
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MCMichelle Corrigan signed 2023-11-16 03:42:33 -0500
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ITIlanna Tidd signed 2023-11-03 17:21:10 -0400
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TWTiferet Welch signed 2023-08-27 12:17:43 -0400
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DEDori Ekstein signed 2022-09-04 08:04:23 -0400Antisemitism is the number one hate crime in Canada and has been for the last several years. Education is the key to fighting antisemitism. Students need to know what antisemitism is and what it can lead to. The best way to combat hate is through education. Most people know very little about Jews and the holocaust. This needs to change! When there is lack of knowledge of the Jewish cultures and religion, of antisemitism and what it means, it opens the world to stereotypes, racism, and anti-Semitism. Understanding is the key to doing better. Holocaust education is the key to fighting antisemitism. Both my parents were Holocaust Survivors and I share their stories with students in schools and the GTA. Most of the students have never heard about the holocaust or never met a Jew. Learning about the Holocaust, hearing a survivors testimony, meeting a Jewish person has a very powerful positive impact on students. I have personally seen the huge difference Holocaust Education has made.
This is testimonial from one of the students who listened to my presentation.
“ this is the first time I have ever heard about the holocaust. I can’t believe the Nazis would blame each and every Jew for all that went wrong in Germany, even the children.
We learned how horrible the juice are treated and how we can never again treat you for other human beings like that. Your presentation left me in tears. I think it is very brave and it’s important for you to share your father’s story. “
Grade 6 student, Toronto Linden school. -
SDSandra Duck signed via judy Cohen 2022-08-01 07:31:47 -0400I find antisemitism abhorrent. I have been to Auschwitz and Berkenau and seen first hand how they were treated. It is horrific . No one should be persecuted because of their religion.=
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jCjudy Cohen signed 2022-07-31 10:20:57 -0400The Holocaust must be taught in its historical context to make it relevant for today’s youth as a guide to fight the evolving Fascist ideology that fuels hate.