HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE
RESOURCE TOOLKIT FOR AMERICAN SPACES
This Resource Toolkit is designed for programming at American Spaces to create a greater awareness of the Holocaust and anti-Semitism.
RESOURCES
Department of State – Office of the Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues (SEHI) – Develops and implements U.S. policy to return Holocaust-era assets to their rightful owners, secure compensation for Nazi-era wrongs, and ensure that the Holocaust is remembered and commemorated appropriately.
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum inspires citizens and leaders worldwide to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity. The website is an excellent resource for teachers and students of the Holocaust.
HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAYS
The Holocaust was a crime against humanity so horrendous that the community of nations vowed to never forget, lest such atrocities happen again. The United Nations designated January 27th – the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau– as International Holocaust Remembrance Day to honor the lives and memory of the six million Jews who were killed during the Holocaust and the millions of other victims of Nazi persecution.
In addition, countries observe national commemorations, often referred to as Yom Ha Shoah. In the United States, the National Days of Holocaust Remembrance begin on April 18 and mark the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.
RESOURCES
U.S. HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM
Lesson Plans
These easy-to-use lesson plans introduce key concepts and information to students. Grounded in historical context, the lessons utilize primary source materials.
- Holocaust Overview
- Fundamentals of Teaching the Holocaust
- History of Antisemitism and the Holocaust
- Nazi Racism
- Pre-World War II Jewish Life
- Teaching Using Survivor Testimony.
Videos
These 15 videos cover a variety of topics and can be screened at American Spaces
Poster Sets
Download posters for American Spaces
PRIMARY DOCUMENTS
TEACHING RESOURCES
New Holocaust Films for American Spaces
To confront rising Holocaust distortion, the U.S. Department of State has partnered with American filmmakers Ken Burns (via WETA-TV) and Michael King (via the USC Shoah Foundation) to provide excerpts, educational materials, and actual films to U.S. embassies, American Spaces, and their trusted partners around the world for use in programming for International Holocaust Remembrance Day (January 27) and other observances throughout 2023. The films are Ken Burns’ new 3-part documentary series “The U.S. and the Holocaust,” and Michael King’s “The Rescuers,” 90-minute movie on the contemporary impact of the Holocaust as viewed through the eyes of a young genocide activist from Rwanda.
The films are available in full via Kanopy or through the USC Shoah Foundation. Along with a detailed viewing guide, a special 44-minute excerpt from “The U.S. and the Holocaust” is available for streaming on Vimeo or downloaded by request to americanspaces@state.gov.
#ProtectTheFacts Campaign
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), of which the United States is a member, supports the #ProtectTheFacts global campaign. Over 76 years after the end of the Second World War, Holocaust memory is under threat. Holocaust distortion benefits from a general lack of awareness. American Spaces can help spread the message about this urgent problem and encourage others to #ProtectTheFacts. The site has shareable social media, videos, and information about the Holocaust.
Defining Anti-Semitism
“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non- Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”
IHRA Plenary in Budapest 2015
The views expressed in these links and resources do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. government.
Updated April 2023
