Seminar for Friends of Yad Vashem from Spanish Speaking Countries

Thirty-two members of the Yad Vashem Friends Societies in Mexico, Spain, Argentina and Venezuela , participated in an informative and moving week-long seminar at the International School for Holocaust Studies at Yad Vashem. This is the first seminar for Friends Societies of Yad Vashem, and was initiated by the Association of Yad Vashem in Mexico. Participants met with Yad Vashem Chairman Avner Shalev, had the opportunity to explore the new museums at Yad Vashem, as well as the Visual Center and Learning Center, and to hear about new projects and initiatives from senior Yad Vashem staff. During the seminar, participants also heard interesting lectures on antisemitism, Holocaust denial, Holocaust education, the Righteous Among the Nations, technology in the service of memory, and met with Holocaust survivors, and family who had been reunited thanks to the Central Database of Shoah Victims' Names (www.yadvashem.org)

Among the participants were Judge Daniel Rafecas of Argentina who has been active in combatting neo-Nazis in that country, and Dr Stephanie Kurian Fastlicht, president of the Association of Yad Vashem in Mexico who shared some of their experiences with the participants.

A number of participants are teachers in the Jewish schools.

The International School for Holocaust Studies is currently active in 22 countries and 11 languages.