20 October 2013
On Tuesday, October 22, 2013 a delegation of German Education and Cultural Ministers representing the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany (KMK) will attend a day-long seminar at Yad Vashem's International School for Holocaust Studies. On Wednesday, October 23, 2013 a joint Declaration of Intent will be signed at the Israeli Ministry of Education by the Minister of Education of the State of Israel Rabbi Shay Piron, Yad Vashem Chairman Avner Shalev and President of the Standing Conference Stephan Dorgerloh.
The Standing Conference unites the ministers and senators of the Länder (16 German federal states) and is responsible for education and research, as well as cultural affairs. "The goal of the Joint Declaration of Intent is to nurture continued comprehensive cooperation among all the States of Germany in the realm of Holocaust education," said Yad Vashem Chairman Avner Shalev.
The joint Declaration of Intent is aimed at increasing the cooperation between Yad Vashem and German pedagogical institutions, universities, Holocaust memorial sites, museums and organizations in all sixteen German states in an effort to also promote professional development programming for German educators of the Shoah and foster the teaching of the Holocaust in the German educational curriculum. This is the first time that a Declaration regarding Holocaust education has been signed that includes all the states of Germany.
Media who are interested in covering the visit, attending the seminar and declaration signing should RSVP: 02 644 3410 / susan.weisberg@yadvashem.org.il
While at Yad Vashem, the delegation will tour the Holocaust History Museum, participate in a Memorial Ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance and visit the Children’s Memorial. The group will attend sessions at Yad Vashem's International School for Holocaust Studies including an introduction to Yad Vashem's activities in Europe and a session on Yad Vashem's comprehensive German website. They will also meet with Holocaust survivor Ehud Lev and partake in a panel discussion opened by Stephan Dorgerloh, President of the KMK with the participation of Yad Vashem Chairman Avner Shalev and senior staff of the International School for Holocaust Studies.
