"Jews take refuge in one of the local schools after a pogrom destroyed their community. 
June 1931-July 1931. Salonika [Thessaloniki], Greece"

The Holocaust | HaShoah | השואה

"The Holocaust was the murder of approximately six million Jews by the Nazis and their collaborators. Between the German invasion of the Soviet Union in the summer of 1941 and the end of the war in Europe in May 1945, Nazi Germany and its accomplices strove to murder every Jew under their domination.

Because Nazi discrimination against the Jews began with Hitler's accession to power in January 1933, many historians consider this the start of the Holocaust era. The Jews were not the only victims of Hitler's regime, but they were the only group that the Nazis sought to destroy entirely" (from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington, DC, USA).

Other victims included Soviet civilians and prisoners of war, non-Jewish poles, Serbian civilians, the disabled, Roma/Sinti people, Jehovah’s witnesses, male homosexuals, and an assortment of political and ideological opponents.

The murders were carried out in pogroms, mass shootings, starvations, hard labor, as well as in gas chambers in the back of trucks, and finally at fully-fledged extermination camps, such as Auschwitz-Birkenau, Belzec, Sobibor, and Treblinka. The persecution began in stages, progressing into a set of fully operational government programs, administered from Berlin.

Enduring Lessons

The Holocaust represents a period when bias became elevated by government, culture, and society, resulting in widespread devastation and destruction. Survivors are still with us, so are their children and grandchildren. We must do our part in ensuring it never happens again and that it is never forgotten.

Holocaust education is history, literature, social studies, psychology, art, and so much more. It is through studying the Holocaust that all people may learn the importance of critical thinking, speaking out against bigotry and indifference, and taking action in the pursuit of justice. It is through studying the Holocaust that we can increase our social-emotional capacities and develop a more keen perception of our shared humanity.

Enduring Relevance

While the tragedy of the Holocaust has affected many groups, the Nazi ideology uniquely sought the elimination of the Jewish people. Antisemitism is alive and well, in Washington and the world-over, even while the Holocaust is within living memory. With your participation and attention to this important era, we can work together  to address this rise in the world's oldest hatred, to extinguish this scourge, and to disallow its further manifestations in our society. As Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks wrote: "The hate that starts with Jews never ends there". 

Please, join OSPI and the Holocaust Center for Humanity, as we engage with learning around Holocaust education and state requirements, bias in society, as well as opportunities to advocate for change and tolerance. We will also hear from the experiences of a survivor and a descendent of a survivor in this webinar and have the opportunity for questions and answers. 

Spokane local, Holocaust survivor, and participant in the Dutch resistance, Carla Peperzak will be speaking. Her daughter Yvonne Peperzak-Blake will also be there to share her experiences. 

Recently, a school in ESD 101 was named after Carla and they just “broke ground” on it. You can read more about it here: https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/mar/15/carla-peperzak-celebrated-as-spokane-public-school/

Carla Peperzak, 1940

This event is open to all educators and building staff in the State of Washington, and will be streamed on OSPI's YouTube channel on the day of the presentation. To earn Washington state clock hours (2.0 for this event), you must be registered on PD Enroller and attend the live event via Zoom.

The Zoom Webinar Registration link will appear in your confirmation email after registering on PD Enroller. It will also be sent again 24 hours ahead of the event. If you are reading this in your confirmation email, please scroll down to find the link.

2 Free Clock Hours will be offered for attending this event. You must be attend the LIVE webinar (not just on YouTube) to receive the clock hours.

If registration is full, please feel free to watch the webinar LIVE on the OSPI YouTube channel.

-----

Combatting Antisemitism in Education - Resources

This document is to provide you with information about historical and contemporary antisemitism, as well as how to combat its manifestations in the education system and society. Please review the definitions of antisemitism, and explore the books, videos, and links to additional resources. The resources provided will help you learn more about the ancient and ongoing hatred of the Jewish people and helpful antidotes to actively resist it 

Behind the Lies of Holocaust Denial | Deborah Lipstadt

-----

Holocaust Center for Humanity Website:

https://holocaustcenterseattle.org/

Holocaust Education Page on OSPI Website:

https://www.k12.wa.us/student-success/resources-subject-area/social-studies/holocaust-education