For TOLI Teacher Leaders (Graduates of TOLI’s Regional US Seminars) The Changing Landscape of Holocaust Education: Leadership Institute
The educators invited to attend the Leadership Seminar are our core facilitators, many of which lead in-person, four- and five-day seminars for teachers across the United States.
With Assistance from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany
Supported by the German Federal Ministry of Finance
TOLI Teacher Leaders (teachers who have attended TOLI seminars and now lead Holocaust education in their own cities) from across the United States gather for TOLI’s Leadership Institute. This program fosters the collaboration, communication, and community that make TOLI seminars and resources so dynamic.
This year’s Leadership Institute was titled “The Changing Landscape of Holocaust Education” and took place in Glen Cove, New York, July 6-12.
Speakers, staff, and leaders were present from Germany, Poland, Romania, Israel, and 19 US states including Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, and South Carolina.
Teacher Leaders heard from TOLI Board Member Kathrin Meyer (former IHRA Secretary General) on the importance and challenges of Holocaust education in the context of rising antisemitism and Holocaust distortion. Professor Oren Baruch Stier (FIU Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs) spoke on “The Anne Frank You Never Knew,” which provided lesser-known insight into Anne Frank’s life and afterlife, and the surprising ways Anne Frank’s image and persona became one of the Holocaust’s most notable icons. We met with the Rabbi at Congregation Tifereth Israel to learn about Jewish history, culture, and religion and participate in a synagogue tour and Shabbat service.
Earlier in the week, we heard from Holocaust survivor Rosalie Simon and 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda survivor Consolee Nishimwe. We toured the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Ceter of Nassau County and visited “Anne Frank: The Exhibition” at the Center for Jewish History. Katie Chaka Parks (Zekelman Holocaust Center) spoke to us about “The Experiences of Women During the Holocaust,” Professor Bjorn Krondorfer (Martin-Springer Institute/Northern Arizona University) spoke on “Imagining Forward: Reflecting on our Roles as Holocaust Educators,” and Michael Neel (Michael Neel Coaching) spoke on “Leadership in Context: Leading Where I Am/Clarifying the Improvement Space.”
We are excited for our Teacher Leaders to bring their new learnings and collaborations back to their communities.