01 July 2013
Yad Vashem is pleased to announce the establishment of the Lily Safra Chair of Holocaust Education at its International School for Holocaust Studies, through a $1 million gift from Mrs. Lily Safra. The announcement will be made tonight, during the opening ceremony of The National Conference for Israeli Teachers at the International School for Holocaust Studies, Yad Vashem.
Mrs. Safra and her late husband, Mr. Edmond J. Safra, have provided generous support to Yad Vashem over many years. Recently, Yad Vashem dedicated the Edmond J. Safra Lecture Hall in Mr. Safra’s memory. This latest contribution further deepens Mrs. Safra’s commitment to Holocaust commemoration and education.
The first scholar to hold the position of Lily Safra Chair of Holocaust Education will be Dr. Eyal Kaminka, the new Director of the International School for Holocaust Studies.
Yad Vashem’s International School for Holocaust Studies (ISHS) aspires to create sustainable Holocaust education in Israel and throughout the world in order to ensure that future generations learn the facts, causes, and consequences of the Shoah and understand the importance of passing the knowledge and memory from generation to generation.
As Director of the International School for Holocaust Studies and Lily Safra Chair of Holocaust Education, Dr. Kaminka will actively promote Holocaust education throughout the world, and he is responsible for managing all of the School’s current activities and directing the School’s future efforts.
The endowment of the Lily Safra Chair of Holocaust Education will also allow the Director of the International School for Holocaust Studies to pursue additional outreach initiatives beyond what had previously been possible.
Chairman of the Yad Vashem Directorate, Avner Shalev said:
"Yad Vashem has prioritized its educational activities, enriching the knowledge of educators and youth around the world by providing them with the latest methods for Holocaust remembrance and the tools for transmitting its significance for future generations. Mrs. Safra's generosity and her support for the International School is a testament to her belief in the transformative power of education, and her patronage enables us to continue this vital work."
Mrs. Lily Safra said:
"Yad Vashem stands as an eternal memorial to those who perished, but with the International School for Holocaust Studies, it is also a beacon of hope. It is only through education that we can hope to prevent future generations from repeating the tragedies of the past. I am privileged to support this important work."
