Holocaust Commission’s 13th Biennial Educators’ Conference Words Matter: Now More Than Ever

by | Apr 28, 2017 | What’s Happening

Wednesday, July 26, 7:30 am–4 pm, Norfolk Academy Batten Library
Thursday, July 27, 7:30 am–5 pm, trip to the Virginia Holocaust Museum, Richmond

The Holocaust Commission’s 13th Biennial Educator’s Conference, which continues a tradition of enabling teachers, administrators, student advocates, humanitarians, and history buffs to better understand the tragic events of the Holocaust, is now open for registration. Participants will learn new methods of teaching challenging material and discover ways to make Holocaust education relevant in today’s world.

During the information packed two-day event, participants will hear from two keynote speakers, Alexandra Zapruder and Dr. Bernd Wollschlaeger, participate in a Combating Bullying workshop with Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, and receive a special educators’ tour of the Virginia Holocaust Museum, including the traveling Auschwitz exhibit created by theVHM, and a lecture from Dr. Charles Sydnor, the museum’s senior historian.

This year’s keynote speakers bring valuable insights and information to the expanding spectrum of Holocaust history and education.

Alexandra Zapruder began her career as a member of the founding staff of the United States Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. In 2002, her first book, Salvaged Pages: Young Writers’ Diaries of the Holocaust, won the National Jewish Book Award in the Holocaust category. In 2005, she wrote and co-produced a documentary film for young audiences, I’m Still Here, which aired on MTV and was later nominated for two Emmy awards. Having expanded her original book into an interdisciplinary education tool for middle and high school teachers, Zapruder travels the country to try to share the message in Salvaged Pages. 

Dr. Bernd Wollschlaeger, a board-certified family physician, was 14 years old when he discovered that his “war hero” father had been a highly decorated tank commander and Nazi officer involved in murdering Jews and other civilians during the war. This knowledge sent him on a quest to understand the legacy of his father and his nation, leading him to move to Israel, become a citizen, convert to Judaism and serve in the IDF. Renouncing his father, Wollschlaeger authored three books including, A German Life: Against All Odds Change is Possible, his 2007 memoir, which describes his struggle growing up in Germany in the shadow of his chilling truth.

Full two day Conference: $75 (includes meals, transportation to Richmond and all class resources)

Keynote presentations only: $50

For more information and to register, email info@holocaustcommission.org, visit www.jewishva.org/holocaust-educator-conferences, or call 757-965-6125.