TEACHING THE HOLOCAUST AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN 2021
TOLI has a full slate of programs for teachers this year, in-person and virtual, for teachers in the US and Europe. With the disturbing rise of hatred and extremism, our work is more important than ever, providing hundreds of educators with the resources to teach the Holocaust and apply its lessons to the classroom.
The Olga Lengyel Institute (TOLI) provides professional development seminars for educators in the US and abroad that link the lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides to current world events, working with teachers to promote a human rights and social justice agenda in their classrooms.
BRINGING LESSONS OF THE HOLOCAUST TO THE CLASSROOM
TOLI in US and Europe
United States
Fifteen seminars offering professional development for Holocaust educators are scheduled for the US this summer, whether in person or virtual to be decided according to the public health situation. These include Satellite Seminars, offered in 14 states across the country, and the flagship New York Seminar, planned for three days in June. TOLI made a successful shift last year to online programs, offering a full schedule of workshops, study groups, lectures, and webinars. Continue to US Programs in 2021.
Europe
Spain and Serbia will join the network of 10 European countries this year where TOLI conducts teacher training programs. Along with the annual seminars in Bulgaria, Italy, Poland, Lithuania, Romania, and Ukraine, TOLI will also hold an international conference for educators in Poland in 2021. (Greece and Portugal programs resume in 2022.) Webinars are scheduled for TOLI alumni teachers to share best practices and collaborative possibilities in Europe. For more information, see International Programs in 2021.
TOLI Teachers Recognized with Awards
We are proud of the many teachers in the US and Europe who have participated in TOLI seminars on Holocaust education and human rights. They have enriched their schools and classrooms, providing their students with a greater appreciation for social justice and democratic pluralism. Here are profiles of three of our TOLI alumni, two in the US and one in Europe.
 |
Congratulations to Kasia Łaziuk, TOLI Program Coordinator in Poland, who recently won first prize in the international competition “My Memory, My Responsibility. In My Place,” which was organized by the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and the Auschwitz-Birkenau Institute. Kasia’s submission details the work she has done with her students to keep Jewish culture alive in Poland. |
 The photo is © Zaitz Photography. |
Congratulations to Scott Lone, who was recognized with the Rolfs Educational Foundation Award by the West Bend School District. Scott attended TOLI’s Flagship seminar in 2014 and TOLI’s Leadership seminar 2016 and 2019. Scott is the founding coordinator of the satellite seminar program in Wisconsin. |
 |
Congratulations to Toshimi Abe-Janiga, who was recognized with the Palm Beach County Teacher of the Year Award. Toshimi participated in the TOLI summer seminar in New York City in 2014 and the national TOLI leadership conference in Detroit in 2017, and she took part in the seminar in Vilnius, Lithuania in 2019. Joining TOLI’s network enabled Toshimi to connect with a community of like minded educators to whom she could reach out for support. |
TOLI in the News
Olga Lengyel: A Continuing Legacy
Since 2007, Holocaust survivor and author Olga Lengyel’s former home in New York City has been the site of a summer seminar for teachers offered by The Olga Lengyel Institute […continue]
Times of Israel – Why is online hate surging — and what can we do about it?
By Larry Luxner Six weeks after right-wing bigots, white supremacists and others violently stormed the US Capitol — and mere hours after the death of radio talk-show provocateur and conspiracy […continue]
Mini-Grants
Graduates of TOLI Summer Seminars are eligible to apply for mini-grants to support projects in their classrooms, their schools, and their communities. Grants are awarded to support a wide variety of classroom work, visits by Holocaust survivors, field trips to Holocaust centers and other relevant sites, and extended programming and community outreach that bring Holocaust and social justice education to wider audiences.
Learn about Mini-GrantsEuro-Grants
Graduates of our summer seminars in Europe are eligible to apply for mini-grants of up to $300 for projects in their classrooms, their schools, and their communities. These grants have been used to support teaching students about the Holocaust, human rights, Jewish life in their country or community, discrimination, tolerance, and respect for diversity.
Learn about Euro-GrantsSatellite Programs
While TOLI has had to cancel or alter these programs because of coronavirus, the following indicates the many seminars scheduled in 2020 and that will take place in 2021.
The Satellite Seminars bring TOLI programs to teachers across the country. These five-day seminars are designed to provide a collaborative and safe environment in which teachers can explore the difficult subject of the Holocaust and other genocides. While each Satellite focuses on local issues, the overall goal is for teachers in all of the Satellites to leave with strategies, materials, and ideas for use in their own classrooms. One long-term goal is for teachers to become advocates for social change and to return to their classrooms with action plans that will enable them and their students to have a positive impact on their communities.
Satellite Locations
- Arizona
- California
- Salisbury, Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Farmington Hills, Michigan
- St. Cloud, Minnesota
- Billings, Montana
- Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Portland, Oregon
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
International Programs
In Europe, where seminars were planned for nine countries, programs have largely continued, but online. Adjusting to the new format, the seminars are extended to weekly events over extended time. Much of the emphasis will be devoted to the hundreds of graduates of TOLI seminars, providing ongoing professional development. The highlight in 2020 for TOLI Europe is a 10-week online seminar for 40 teachers from several European countries. Coordinated by TOLI International Programs Director Oana Nestian-Sandu, this will be TOLI’s first transnational seminar for European teachers, bringing together educators from 15 countries.For more information, see International Programs in 2021.