Holocaust Education Center
"If you don't know at least part of the story, if you don't know that there is a story, then we shall bequeath upon our descendants a sense of shame. We could not save those who died but we can save them from dying again because to forget is to kill them again. So why should the next generation in the 21st century live with that shame? For the dead and the living, we must bear witness."
Elie Wiesel
About Us
The CUJF Holocaust Education committee serves as a resource to help school systems comply with the 1990 Illinois state mandate to teach about the Holocaust in fifth, eight, and tenth grades. (Public Act 86-780)
The committee is also dedicated to providing assistance to all individuals in the greater Champaign-Urbana area who wish to address the universal lessons to be learned from the Holocaust.
The committee sends information about the Holocaust to public school teachers and college students majoring in education; sponsors and grants scholarships for in-service teacher training programs; provides videos, books, and newspapers to local libraries and schools and speakers to area classrooms.
JDC Archives
Search the archives of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, which has a large collection of documents and photographs relating to its work during World War II. There is information about the legacy of the JDC's work rescuing and providing relief during and after the Holocaust.
Holocaust Education Trunks
Holocaust Education Trunks provide materials and ready-to-use units that vary in readability and format, are grade-appropriate, and are relevant to all learning styles.
- Teacher Reference Books
- Lesson Plans
- Fiction and Non-fiction Books (classroom sets)
- Videos and DVDs; CD-ROMS
- Poetry and Scripts for Plays
- Artifact Kits
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Holocaust and Genocide Education
Download Public Act 094-0478
In 1990 Illinois became the first state in the country to mandate each public elementary school and high school to include in its curriculum a study of Holocaust history. In 2005 The mandate, Public Act 094-0478, was expanded to include other cases of genocide.
Download Illinois Mandated Units of Study Guidance Document
Illinois Mandated Units of Study Guidance Document serves as a guide for districts, schools, and teachers in interpreting the current mandated units of study in Illinois.
Download list of Genocide Web Sources (pre and post Holocaust)
Download article by Samuel Totten:
Addressing the "Null Curriculum": Teaching about Genocides Other than the Holocaust
Tactics of Resistance - Responding to Hate
Empower students during International Holocaust Remembrance Day*
Learn to inspire students by teaching about the 30,000 Jews who fought back during the Holocaust during a Free Online Teacher Training featuring JPEF’s Tactics of Resistance lesson.
Choose the day and time that works for you:
Sunday, January 24th, 3:00 - 4:00 PM Eastern
Monday, January 25th, 7:00 - 8:00 PM Eastern
During a time when our students have just witnessed an assault upon our nations’ Capitol, this lesson is particularly relevant. Tactics of Resistance gives them the opportunity to engage in critical thinking and decision-making around resisting aggression and encourages them to examine the potential short and long-term outcomes of various actions.
Expand students’ thinking about the spectrum of possible responses to bigotry, genocide, and other forms of aggression - from non-violence to the armed resistance of the Jewish partisans. Learn how to use the “Resistance Matrix” with your students as a tool for analyzing and brainstorming the different solutions to conflict.
Workshop presenters Jonathan Furst, Director of Education, and Sheri Rosenblum, Director of Development and Outreach, specialize in Holocaust education and professional development and have taught thousands of educators. They will answer your questions during and after the workshop.
Register for the January 24th workshop
Register for the January 25th workshop
Upcoming Webinars: Helping Students Navigate Antisemitism & Hate
2020 was a challenging year. We witnessed an ongoing rise in antisemitism and hate in connection to Covid-19 and a divisive political landscape, and began a necessary and long overdue national reckoning with racial injustice and disparity. As we enter the new year, we cannot ignore that students may continue to be exposed to and grapple with hateful trends.
Join our upcoming webinars to prepare today’s youth to understand and confront antisemitism and hate in their schools and communities and support them to make positive changes in today’s world.
Teaching about Contemporary Antisemitism
January 13, 2021 at 4:00 pm EST
Building Insights to Navigate Antisemitism & Hate-New Student Course from ADL
January 19, 2021 at 4:00 pm EST
The 21st Annual Fanya Gottesfeld Heller Conference for Educators: Art for the Holocaust
Art of the Holocaust
December 6 | 1:00 pm EST
REGISTER FOR ART OF THE HOLOCAUST
Art and Legacy
December 13 | 1:00 pm EST
Creativity in Extremis: Art and the Holocaust
December 20 | 1:00 pm EST
The Town Known as Auschwitz
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24 | 5 PM ET on Zoom
Please join Tomek Kuncewicz, Director of the Auschwitz Jewish Center (AJC), andMaciek Zabierowski, Head of Learning at AJC, to explore the rich Jewish history of Oświęcim—the town in which Auschwitz is located.
New Webinars: Spiritual Resistance & Connecting Themes in Holocaust Education and African American History
Join upcoming webinars to support classroom instruction on spiritual resistance during the Holocaust and connecting themes of Holocaust education and African American history.
Searching for Humanity in an Inhumane World
Nov. 16, 2020 at 3 PM EST
Defiance through Music in Terezin
Nov. 18, 2020 at 4 PM EST
Nov. 23, 2020 at 3 PM EST
Connecting Themes of Holocaust Education and African American History
Dec. 3, 2020 at 4 PM EST
November and December Online Professional Development Programs
The Museum of Jewish Heritage — A Living Memorial to the Holocaust is providing online education programs for educators and students during this time of remote learning.
Virtual tours will be available for all grade levels, focusing on topics such as immigration, heritage, and the Holocaust.
The Museum’s Speakers Bureau will help teachers arrange for a Holocaust survivor to speak with classes online. See below to learn more.
We are pleased to announce that we are resuming online teacher professional learning programs. New York State teachers may earn one hour of CTLE credit for participating in these programs.
Professional Development Programs for Teachers
Sunday, November 15 | 1 PM
The Ravine: A Family, a Photograph, a Holocaust Massacre Revealed
Monday, November 16 | 5 PM
The Jewish Heroes of Warsaw: The Afterlife of the Revolt
Monday, December 7 | 5 PM
The United States, Refugee Policy and Anti-Semitism, 1924-1954
Tuesday, December 15 | 4 PM
Learning Opportunities for Students: Virtual Tours
Never is Now: ADL 2020 Summit on Anti-Semitism and Hate
November 9-18
Join thousands of experts, community and business leaders, students and concerned community members by taking part in Never Is Now, the world’s largest summit on antisemitism and hate.
Teaching About the Kristallnacht Pogrom
November 9 & 10 marks the 82nd anniversary of the Kristallnacht Pogrom—a precursor to the destruction of European Jewry during the Holocaust and a prominent example of the dangers of the escalation of hate. What are the best ways to introduce this history to students and help them consider the relevancy and importance of this event? Read latest blog, which offers strategies and resources to guide you in effectively teaching this topic.
Also, you and your students are invited to sign up for webinar on November 9th, Marking the Kristallnacht Pogrom through a Social Justice Lens, to support students to gain awareness of the dangers of unchecked hate and reflect on how they can make a positive difference in their schools and communities.
Teaching about the Holocaust to Promote Social Justice
Increase your knowledge of the Holocaust and explore how the lessons from this his-tory can inspire students to make positive changes in their schools and communities. Some webinars are also open to students!
Spotlight on Contemporary Antisemitism | November 2, 2020 at 4:00 pm ET
Marking the Kristallnacht Pogrom | November 9, 2020 at 1:00 pm ET
Exploring Genocides through Testimony | November 10, 2020 at 5:00 pm ET
Teaching with the Pyramid of Hate | November 13, 2020 at 12:00 pm ET
Teaching the Holocaust and Genocide Zoom series
Part II
Tuesday, October 27 @ 4:00 pm
Additional documents are available now:
TEACHING THE HOLOCAUST USING PRIMARY SOURCES
Teaching the Holocaust and Genocide Zoom Series
Meeting the State Mandate
Part I
Fifteen area educators were selected to participate in a six-hour Zoom conference held on August 4, 2020. The presenters include classroom teachers, as well as several doctoral candidates whose areas of study include the contemporary genocides of Rwanda, Guatemala, and Bosnia. Participants will also “revisit” one another (via Zoom) in October and February for additional information and the sharing of individual projects. These educators earned both professional development hours and honorariums for their time and contributions. These sessions are intended to help us develop a cadre of area teachers who are well informed concerning the state mandate and are willing to act as a mentor to fellow educators.
A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS
GENOCIDE IN GUATEMALA AND CENTRAL AMERICA BY KERRI J. MALLOY (pdf)
GENOCIDE IN GUATEMALA AND CENTRAL AMERICA BY KERRI J. MALLOY (PowerPoint)
LOCAL HISTORY AND THE HOLOCAUST BY HEIDI OMLOR
RWANDA GENOCIDE BY COLLEEN SIMON
TEACHING THE HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE BY BOB LEHMANN AND BRIAN KAHN
USING LITERATURE'S LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE THE DARKNESS BY REBECCA L. LAWSON
Introducing Our Special Webinar Series: “Connecting Communities”
Join the next webinars in our Connecting Communities series to engage with like-minded colleagues and organizations and gain new perspectives to help you reflect on the lessons of the Holocaust.
Upcoming professional learning opportunities include a focus on art, conversations with a film director and an author, a closer look at brain science, and a deeper exploration of resistance during the Holocaust.
The Museum of Jewish Heritage Online Education Program
The Museum of Jewish Heritage — A Living Memorial to the Holocaust is providing online education programs for educators and students during this time of remote learning. Online professional development for educators is offered each Monday from 3:00-4:00 pm CST. Corresponding lesson for students are offered on Tuesdays from 10:00-11:00 am CST.
Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center
Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie offers a wide array of resources for edicators and students.
Anti-Defamation League: Teaching the Holocaust
Echoes & Reflections website offers free online webinars and courses for educators.
“Our webinars are designed to increase participants’ knowledge of Holocaust history, explore and access classroom-ready content, and support instructional practice to promote student learning and understanding of this complex history and its lasting effect on the world.”
Jewish Partisan Educational Foundation
The Jewish Partisan Educational Foundation is here to offer our many resources to you and your students during this challenging time.
Holocaust Remembrance Day - Yom HaShoah v'HaGevurah is Tuesday, April 21st. During this period of remote learning, JPEF offers excellent opportunities to introduce your students to the empowering experiences of the 30,000 Jews who fought against the Germans and their collaborators.
The Current State of Holocaust Education
Holocaust Education Chair Brian Kahn and CUJF Director Linda Bauer are discussing teaching about genocide and the Holocaust on WILL-AM 580's "The 21st" radio show: strategies and challenges of dealing with this important, evolving issue.
Holocaust Education Center Scholarships
The Holocaust Education Center of Champaign Urbana Jewish Federation proudly sponsors educators to attend professional development sessions in an effort to inform their current practice teaching the Holocaust and contemporary genocide.
Student Filmmaker: Remembering the Holocaust
Countryside 8th grader and filmmaker, Max Libman at his presentation "The Holocaust: Remembering the Past as We Stand Together for a Brighter Future" at Countryside's Gym and Performing Arts Center.
Ann S. Arnold and Isabella S. Fiske Create A Foundation to Honor Their Father, Mark Schonwetter
Isabella S. Fiske and Ann S. Arnold announced the launch of The Mark Schonwetter Holocaust Education Foundation. The Mark Schonwetter Holocaust Education Foundation’s mission is to expand and support Holocaust Education for students in schools around the country and to provide funds necessary for educators to implement curriculum into their lesson plans.
Our Stories
Survivor Story: Dr. William Gingold
Students in University Laboratory High School’s German 4 class were privileged to welcome Holocaust survivor Dr. William Gingold as a guest speaker in their class. Gingold, whose family fled the Warsaw Ghetto, shared his story publicly for the first time with Uni students and faculty.
The presentation was part of teacher Jenny Robins’ unit on WWII and the Holocaust, where she brings in community members to help students better understand this difficult period in German history.
Gingold shared the story of his family’s escape, their time in a camp in Russia, his experience in a DP camp, and, finally, his family’s journey to the U.S. where they settled in Milwaukee.
His story was illustrated by a series of photos, as well as by passing around “Tunnel, Smuggle, Collect: A Holocaust Boy”, a book about Gingold’s older brother, Sam. The book was researched and written by Gingold's nephew, Jeffrey Gingold.
Gingold’s vivid and touching account inspired both tears and hope, and the Uni community is honored to have been the first to publicly hear his story. We appreciate the efforts of Brian Kahn, director of Holocaust Education for the Champaign-Urbana Jewish Federation, who facilitated the talk.
Dr. Gingold Bio
William (Baruch) Gingold, a Holocaust survivor from World War II, was born September 20, 1939, one day before the hospital, (in which he was born), was bombed and destroyed by Nazi, Germany. The Gingold’s (immediate family) were incarcerated in the Warsaw Ghetto until eventually escaping to the Russian border in January of 1942. Upon reaching the Russian encampment, they and other Jewish people were transported in trucks to trains which took them to a Siberian lumber work camp. In November of 1942 the Gingold’s were allowed to leave the camp and move about within Russia and eventually finding their way to Zhambly in Kazakhstan.
In the spring of 1945, (May 8th), Hitler was dead and Germany surrenders. Upon those events, the Gingold’s reach their goal in September of 1945 by arriving at and entering the American Sector in occupied Berlin. Shortly thereafter in May of 1946, the Gingold’s were sent to the Föehrenwald Displacement Camp. After six years living at this camp, the Gingold’s emigrate to the United States of America in May of 1951 and arrive by boat to Ellis Island, NY. Soon thereafter the Gingold’s are resettled in Milwaukee, WI, where new lives and many transitions began in their start of the American dream and way of life.
Relive the Historical Evening with Marthe Cohn
World War II spy Marthe Cohn, the author of Behind Enemy Lines: The True Story of a French Jewish Spy in Nazi Germany, is sharing her story of joining the French intelligence service, posing as a nurse, crossing enemy lines and relaying information about the Nazis back to the French.
