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Innovative Educational Projects
Mobile Museum Of Tolerance
To Hit The Streets
The Simon Wiesenthal Center introduced its newest educational initiative
in the US: a high-tech, immersive, Mobile Museum of Tolerance (MMOT) to
launch in Illinois in partnership with the State of Illinois due to a generous grant
from the State. The traveling bus will be retrofitted with high-tech immersive
activities, “theater” seating,
and interactive technologies
to provide a world class
learning experience for students of all ages, accommodating groups of 30
people at a time. Drawing from the Museum of Tolerance Los Angeles’ exhibits
and programs, facilitators willl engage students, educators, and community
leaders on topics related to anti-Semitism, diversity, discrimination, bullying,
and school violence in a safe and neutral environment. The Mobile Museum
of Tolerance is based on the successful Tour for Humanity project (see below).
Pictured: Members of the Illinois State Board of Education, who are committed
to helping build and implement MMOT on a tour of the MOT in Los Angeles. Pictured, top, at Chicago’s Woman of Valor
event, Reverend Mitchell Johnson, Sean Tenner, L-R AnitaMarie Nelson, SWC Development Associate; Alderman Michele Smith,
Chicago City Council; Senator Sara Feigenholtz, IL State Senate; Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Liebe Geft.
Tour For Humanity:
180,000 Students,
750 Schools Served
Across Canada
The innovative, award-winning Tour
for Humanity project is a 30-seat,
wheelchair accessible, mobile classroom
designed to bring Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies programming directly to students and
educators across Canada. Workshops are led by experienced facilitators, and teachers are provided access to educational
materials in order to assist in preparing their students for visits. Topics include the Lessons & Legacy of the Holocaust, the
Global Experience and Simon’s Story – Heroes Among Us.
Rising Anti-Semitism Addressed In
New Permanent Museum Exhibition
A new installation at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles
that will deal exclusively with the scourge of anti-Semitism was
discussed with Califonia legislators and Rabbi Meyer H. May.
During the meetings, Rabbi May updated them on the increase
of anti-Semitism sweeping California and the rest of the US.
Pictured with Rabbi May are California Assembly Speaker
Anthony Rendon and Senator Holly Mitchell, Chair of the CA
Senate Budget Committee.
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Erasing The Hate
A former Skinhead. A one-time neo-Nazi. Two men, both affiliated
with dangerous hate groups in their youth today share their stories
and work with the SWC and MOT to teach young people about racism,
anti-Semitism, and extremism. Tim Zaal speaks candidly about his
induction into the White Supremacy movement. TM Garret (pictured)
is a German-American human rights activist who, in his youth, founded
a number of White Supremacist and KKK-affiliated groups in Germany.
Empowering
Tomorrow’s Leaders
From college campuses to pro-Israel youth conferences to
high schools, the Center’s traveling exhibitions are being
used as a tool to teach students about Israel, the Jewish
people and the Nazi Holocaust.
(1) The Birth of Israel: 18 Months That Changed Jewish
Destiny was recently displayed on the UCLA and University
of California Santa Barbara campuses. Jewish student leaders
stood proudly by the
exhibition even as they were
heckled by fellow students
walking by. (2) Courage To 2
Remember, the Center’s
exhibiton on the Nazi Holocaust has been displayed on high school campuses throughout
Southern California following an outbreak of anti-Semitic incidents, including one at a
party, where students were caught making Nazi salutes. (3) People, Book, Land: The 3,500
Year Relationship of the Jewish People With The Holy Land was used by hundreds
of students as a learning tool during workshops for high school students attending the
annual Club Z leadership conference, which trains the next generation of pro-active,
Zionist leaders.
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Nazi Hunter Engages Students
Over 2,000 students and 150 educators heard SWC Chief Nazi Hunter,
Dr. Efraim Zuroff, speak at the First Baptist Church in Greensboro, TN as
part of an annual event hosted by the Tennessee Holocaust Commission
to help educate students on the history and lessons of the Holocaust.
Dr. Zuroff’s new book, written together with noted Lithuanian author
Rūta Vanagaite, entitled, Our People: Discovering Lithuania’s Hidden
Holocaust, is a pioneering work which exposes the depth of Holocaust
distortion in contemporary Lithuania.
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INMOTION MAGAZINE
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