04 August 2002
Today (Sunday, August 4, 2002) the International School for Holocaust Studies at Yad Vashem launches a course for educators from the Former Soviet Union on “the Holocaust and its Educational Applications”.
The course is part of a broad, ongoing framework of activities aimed at increasing Holocaust awareness among FSU Jewish community members, strengthening their Jewish identity and deepening their connection to Israel. Organizing the program are Yad Vashem, the Jewish Agency and the Ghetto Fighters’ House in cooperation with local Jewish organizations in the FSU and with the assistance of the Claims Conference.
In addition to the FSU educators course, the project comprises: diverse activities with Jewish youth in the FSU; instructional activities for Jewish teachers and educational coordinators in the FSU, conducted by staff members of Yad Vashem and the Ghetto Fighters’ House; and the production of learning materials in Russian for use in the FSU’s Jewish educational system.
In an effort to further advance the program, Yad Vashem will conduct a seminar next week for Russian-speaking Israeli instructors who will aid in implementing the project.
According to Dr. Motti Shalem, Director of the International School for Holocaust Studies at Yad Vashem:
“This is the first joint effort of its kind with the capacity to create strong educational and content-based infrastructures in the FSU dealing with the Holocaust.”
