Dear Colleagues,
This week in the news…
The events of this week regarding antisemitism in UK politics has been monumental. For the first time a political party has been placed under investigation for antisemitism. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)’s report released yesterday revealed seriously damming findings. The outcome of this investigation makes abundantly clear to those who need reminding that antisemitism is an abuse of human rights, abhorrent and must never be tolerated wherever it is found. This investigation marks a pivotal turning point in this battle but one that cannot remain ‘a moment’ in time.
Schools have long taken the lead in addressing antisemitism in society by helping their students and communities recognise it, understand the insidious nature of it, be open minded to where it can lurk and to confront it when it encountered. It is a challenging task and is one we, at the Centre, see as a key priority. We support teachers to do this through Holocaust education as well as via separate, distinct CPD programmes.
Combatting hate of this nature, however, must be a collective goal. Teachers play a powerful role in this duty but can only do so much, when it is allowed to fester at the heart of our public and political institutions.
We need to rally together for collective action in continuing to fight for the dignity and equality of all and build a lived commitment to respect, diversity and inclusion.
Global Excitement increases for UCL & Yad Vashem’s new MOOC – still time to join us and register for this brand-new MOOC, which continues on Monday.
Last Monday we launched our new MOOC course: ‘Teaching the Holocaust: Innovative approaches to the challenges we face’. Teachers from all over the world have been participating in conversation, building networks and friendships. On Monday we start Week 2 which looks at the challenges we face in teaching the Holocaust to students. You can jump onto the course even though it has started. It is a free and manageable 3-week course, 3 hours of engagement per week. You can go at your own pace as we explore the history, delve into pedagogical challenges revealed by research, and find practical solutions for teaching. Along the way, you will acquire the knowledge and tools to effectively teach about the Holocaust.
So far nearly 2000 educators have enrolled from 78 countries. Join us for Week 2 (you can go back and catch up on Week 1 if you wish to).
Enrol for free at www.futurelearn.com/courses/holocaust-teaching and be a part of these important international conversations. It will be great to see our UK teachers there.
Lillian Black OBE
Finally it is with great sadness that I report to you the sad news that Lillian Black died this week of Covid -19. Lillian was the chair of the Holocaust Survivor Friendship Association, a Leeds-based charity. She was the driving force in the establishment of the Holocaust Heritage and Learning Centre at the University of Huddersfield.
UCL staff and its network of teachers send our deepest condolences to Lillian’s family.
For more information on Lilian’s achievements, read the full article from this week’s Jewish News.
Wishing you all well for the start of the last term before the Winter break.
Ruth-Anne
