On February 6, Poland’s President Andrzej Duda signed a bill into law that would criminalize references to Polish complicity in Nazi war crimes against Jews during the occupation of Poland in World War II. However, the President is going to allow the country’s Constitutional Court to evaluate the bill, leaving it open for possible amendments. This is not the first anti-Semitic bill passed by the Polish parliament, as they also are considering adopting a bill which would ban Kosher slaughter. Considering these troubling developments, it is timely to consider the comments offered by the Congressional Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating Anti-Semitism to President Duda prior to his signing of the bill into law. The Congressional Taskforce, which “works to ensure that Congress plays an integral role in condemning anti-Semitism and spearheading initiatives that promote tolerance worldwide,” was reinstated in the 114th Congress and is comprised of over 100 Republicans and Democrats in the House of Representatives. A particularly alarming aspect is the timing of the bill, which was passed on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. This day, which is intended to provoke reflection and generate dialogue about the atrocities of the Holocaust, was overshadowed by the passage of legislation aimed at restricting this necessary contemplation. As the Taskforce noted in its letter, thousands of valiant Poles risked their lives to aid Jews during this period. Unfortunately, however, there are numerous documented instances of Poles aiding the Nazis during their campaign against the Jews. Acknowledging this regrettable reality should not constitute criminal behavior, and impeding open discussion could result in a misunderstanding of history. To combat this, the Taskforce suggests that “a focus on education, not criminalization, about inaccurate and harmful speech would be more beneficial in resolving this critical issue.” These proposed limitations on free speech seem to be the chief concern of the Congressional Taskforce, who fear the effect that passage of this law would have on accountability. They remark that contentious issues are those which need the most discussion, and that “free speech and open debate are the lifeblood of all democratic countries.” The Holocaust was one of the bleakest periods in human history, and we shall strive to never forget the atrocities committed and lives lost. However, it is only through open dialogue and scholarship that one can truly understand history. Restricting this discourse would be detrimental because learning from the past helps prevent its repetition…and that should remain our highest priority. The full text of the letter can be found below: Dear President Duda, As Co-Chairs of the Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating Anti-Semitism, we are alarmed by legislation recently passed by the Sejm and awaiting consideration by the Senate that would criminalize reference to Polish complicity in Nazi war crimes against Jews during the occupation of Poland during World War II. We are deeply concerned that this legislation could have a chilling effect on dialogue, scholarship, and accountability in Poland about the Holocaust, should this legislation become law. Additionally, it is highly troubling that this law was passed on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a day on which the world speaks openly about the horrors of the Holocaust to ensure such atrocities never happens again. As we all know, Poland suffered terribly under the brutal occupation by Nazi Germany from 1939 to 1945. In this time, Poland’s population was devastated through the murder of almost two million non-Jewish and three million Jewish Poles. Thousands of Polish citizens risked their lives to save Jews during this period, and more than 6,600 have been rightfully recognized as “Righteous Among the Nations” by Yad Vashem. But, we must acknowledge the numerous documented instances of Poles aiding the Nazis, directly and indirectly, in the murder of innocent Jews. To criminalize anyone who acknowledges this reality would be an injustice. A focus on education, not criminalization, about inaccurate and harmful speech would be more beneficial in resolving this critical issue. Free speech and open debate are the lifeblood of all democratic countries, especially relating to issues that are the most difficult to reconcile. With rising anti-Semitism throughout Europe, the region is strengthened by Poland’s leadership on Holocaust research, such as the work of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews. Passing this legislation is inconsistent with this admirable legacy. Therefore, we hope that you will speak out against this bill and veto it should it come to your desk. We look forward to engaging with you on this important issue and look forward to your response. Sincerely, This letter is signed by Taskforce Co-Chair Representatives: Nita M. Lowey (D-NY), Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Eliot L. Engel (D-NY), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Kay Granger (R-TX), Marc Veasey (D-TX), and Peter Roskam (R-IL).
The Louis D. Brandeis Center would like to bring attention to an interesting opportunity being offered by our colleagues at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. This summer, the USHMM will be hosting an instructional seminar for faculty from all disciplines who teach Holocaust-related courses. Information regarding the course description, applications, and deadlines can be found below. USHMM CfA: 2018 Curt C. and Else Silberman Seminar for Faculty June 4-15, 2018 Applications due March 30, 2018 The first half of the twentieth century witnessed the rise of a new “science” of eugenics, which became an international movement that legitimized and ultimately unleashed extremely violent, and indeed genocidal, racism. Racism, including racial antisemitism, was a core element of Nazi ideology and a driving force behind the Holocaust. Racism also legitimized the continued subjugation and persecution of African Americans long after the end of slavery. Although different in many ways, the history of racism in Nazi Germany and the Jim Crow South during the 1930s and early 1940s sheds light on universal phenomena as well as historically specific events and experiences. The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies announces the 2018 Curt C. and Else Silberman Seminar for Faculty on racism in Nazi Germany and the Jim Crow South. This year’s Seminar will analyze the similarities, differences, and gray zones of racial theory and practice in Germany and the United States in the first half of the 20th century, paying special attention to how these practices sharply diverged as Nazi antisemitic policies turned into widespread, state sanctioned murder and genocide in the 1940s. Looking at canonical scholarship on antisemitism and racism in both locales, as well as more recent works on how Jews and African Americans understood the others’ persecution, participants will learn how to respectfully, rigorously, and accurately represent these victims in Holocaust-related courses across disciplines. Through lectures, readings, and primary source examination, participants will be introduced to ways of situating racial antisemitism in Nazi Germany and racism in the United States into larger historical contexts of the period. The 2018 Curt C. and Else Silberman Seminar for college and university faculty is designed to help faculty who are teaching, or preparing to teach, Holocaust or Holocaust-related courses in all academic disciplines. While the focus will be on the specific cases of targeted oppression and racial violence in Nazi Germany and the Jim Crow South, the themes, approaches, and methods covered in the Seminar are also applicable for the broad range of educators who engage the perspectives of victims and survivors in other geographic regions and/or time periods. Seminar participants will be introduced to Holocaust-related sources in the Museum’s unique film, oral history, testimony, recorded sound, archival, and photography collections, and the International Tracing Service Digital Archive. They will also meet staff scholars with expertise in various Holocaust-related topics with whom they can discuss their work. In addition to lecture and discussion, the Seminar will devote time to specific pedagogical strategies used by the three Seminar leaders and participants to examine these victim groups in the classroom. The Seminar will be held at the United States Holocaust Museum from June 4-15, 2018. It will be led by Wolf Gruner, Shapell-Guerin Chair in Jewish Studies and Professor of History at USC, Evelynn Hammonds, Barbara Gutmann Rosenkrantz Professor of the History of Science, Professor of African and African American Studies Chair, and Department of the History of Science at Harvard University, and Clarence Walker, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of African American History at UC Davis. Seminar applicants must be teaching at accredited, baccalaureate-awarding institutions in North America. Applications must include: (1) a curriculum vitae; (2) a statement of the candidate’s specific interest and needs in strengthening his/her background in Holocaust studies for the purpose of improving teaching; and (3) a supporting letter from a departmental chair or dean addressing the candidate’s qualifications and the institution’s commitment to Holocaust-related education. Syllabi of any Holocaust-related courses that the candidate has taught or is planning to teach should also be included. Syllabi will be distributed at the Seminar to facilitate discussion of successful teaching strategies. Admission will be decided without regard to the age, gender, race, creed, or national origin of the candidate. For non-local participants, the Mandel Center will defray the cost of (1) direct travel to and from the participant’s home institution and Washington, DC, and (2) lodging for the duration of the Seminar. Incidentals, meals, and book expenses must be defrayed by the candidates or their respective institutions. All participants must attend the entire Seminar. Applications must be postmarked or received in electronic form no later than Friday, March 30, 2018, and sent to: University Programs Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies United States Holocaust Memorial Museum 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW Washington, DC 20024-2150 Fax: (202) 479-9726 Email: university_programs@ushmm.org For questions, contact Dr. Kierra Crago-Schneider at 202-314-1779 or kcrago-schneider@ushmm.org. The Curt C. and Else Silberman Foundation endowed the Silberman Seminar for University Faculty in memory of Curt C. and Else Silberman. The Foundation supports programs in higher education that promote, protect, and strengthen Jewish values in democracy, human rights, ethical leadership, and cultural pluralism. https://www.ushmm.org/research/competitive-academic-programs/faculty-seminars/silberman-se…
Rabbi Menachem Margolin The Polish parliament, after the recent passing of a controversial law banning individuals from accusing Poland of Holocaust atrocities, is now expected to vote on a new “animal welfare” bill. The bill includes a ban on kosher slaughter, under which violators could face a prison sentence of up to four years. The bill has been sponsored by the current ruling party of Poland, Law and Justice (PiS). PiS is noted for its right-wing and nationalist politics. The Brandeis Center has previously drawn attention to the potential limitation of human rights in Poland. PiS was recently criticized, this past November, when party members lauded far-right protests calling for a “white Europe.” The Polish Foreign Ministry released a statement which referred to the march as a “great celebration of Poles, differing in their views, but united around the common values of freedom and loyalty to an independent homeland.” The new bill, which would include a ban on exporting kosher meat from Poland, is expected to affect Jewish communities throughout Europe, as well as exports to Israel. The bill would also ban slaughter when animals are in an “unnatural state” which, according to European Jewish Association chairman Rabbi Menachem Margolin, would make it “impossible” to slaughter animals in accordance with Kashrut dietary laws. The Polish parliament had previously banned kosher slaughter in 2013, but the law was struck down by the Polish constitutional court. Since 2013, however, the shift in the political atmosphere of Poland has rendered the possibility of the law passing, and failing to be struck down, far more likely. This ban on kosher slaughter would also affect the Polish Muslim community, as kosher slaughter and Halal slaughter operate on largely the same principles. This law, one which disproportionately targets religious minorities on the basis of “humane” practices, is further fueled by similar legislation in other European nations. Belgium is set to have a ban on kosher slaughter go into effect in 2019. The Belgian law is, however, currently being fought by several Jewish groups within Belgium and supported by the Lawfare Project. The same grounds used to fight against the Belgian law criminalizing kosher slaughter are now being employed in Poland – namely, that the restriction violates constitutional guarantees of religious freedom. The rise of nationalist rhetoric in Poland, along with the new legislation tied to it, is just one of many signs that the fight against this resurgent form of bigotry must continue.
The online instruction platform FutureLearn announced a new course that will begin on March 19th entitled “Antisemitism: From Its Origins to the Present.” This groundbreaking curriculum, designed by Yad Vashem—The World Holocaust Remembrance Center, is for anyone with an interest in the history of anti-Semitism. Offered over 6 weeks and taking only 3 hours per week, this free course uses articles, videos, peer reviews, and quizzes to explore a myriad of questions and issues relating to anti-Semitism. Over 50 leading scholars from a variety of disciplines serve as instructors for the course, guiding students as they wrestle with fundamental questions such as: What is anti-Semitism? What happened to anti-Semitism after the Holocaust? How is anti-Semitism expressed today, and what are the main spheres in which it can be found? Included amongst the list of distinguished instructors is Louis D. Brandeis’ own President and General Counsel, Kenneth L. Marcus. Marcus, who has long been on the forefront of the fight against anti-Semitic bigotry and discrimination, was recently nominated to be the next Assistant U.S. Secretary of Education for Civil Rights. Drawing on his experience combatting anti-Semitism in higher education, Marcus, along with the other leading scholars, explore topics like the nature of hate, Holocaust denial, and anti-Zionism. Designed for the casual observer and passionate historian alike, this course is sure to serve as a highly instructive and entertaining tool for anyone interested in studying the history of anti-Semitism. While instruction does not begin until mid-March, registration is currently open and discussion on social media using the hashtag #FLantisemitism is highly encouraged. Directing students as they uncover the complexities of anti-Semitism, FutureLearn and Yad Veshem’s collaboration is the newest preventative tool for combatting this deplorable form of prejudice.
The “Farhud,” Arabic for “violent dispossession,” was a pro-Nazi massacre against Baghdad Jewry that took place from June 1-2, 1941 – coinciding with the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. This terrible tragedy resulted in the death of hundreds of Sephardi Jews, marked the first step in ending 27 centuries of peaceful Jewish existence in Iraq and Mesopotamia, and ultimately led to the expulsion of 850,000 Jews from the Middle East into Israel. Edwin Black has organized 4 Farhud ceremonies within a 24-hour span. The first of which took place in Washington, D.C. at the U.S. House of Representatives. June 1-2, 2016 marks the Farhud’s 75th anniversary. To commemorate this little-known tragedy, Edwin Black, New York Times bestselling author of “The Farhud: Roots of the Arab-Nazi Alliance in the Holocaust,” will hold four commemoration ceremonies within a 24-hour span, in Washington, D.C., NYC, London, and Israel. The Farhud is often referred to as the “forgotten pogrom,” Black explained, and is a tragedy in itself that Black is trying to correct. It’s “forgotten” because its victims were from the Arab world, and the Holocaust only refers to the attempt to wipe-out European Jewry. As a result, many Jews and non-Jews alike have never heard of the Farhud. Through his book, his Times of Israel article (“The expulsion that backfired: When Iraq kicked out its Jews“), and his nationally-televised commemoration ceremonies, Black has thrown himself into a whirlwind process of Farhud education and commemoration. The first Farhud ceremony took place this morning at the U.S. House of Representatives. LDB President Kenneth L. Marcus addressed the audience on why the State of Israel is important as a remnant of the Farhud. After Jews were vilified and expelled from Arab countries to Israel in the 1940s-1950s, they are again facing the same vilification from the same countries that forced them out today, Marcus explained. Zionism is seen as a criminal movement and Jews are seen as its perpetrators. “It is important to remember the Farhud,” Marcus said, “because anti-Semitism is a continuing fight. We are seeing a resurgence of anti-Semitism now, after years of things improving. We need to make sure this hatred is gone so that we will never again have a Farhud.” LDB President Kenneth L. Marcus addressed the audience on the necessity of the State of Israel for the Jewish people. Marcus was joined by Sarah Stern, President of EMET, Alyza Lewin, President of American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists, and Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt of Bnai Tzedek, among others, for a very informative, meaningful and moving ceremony. Rabbi Weinblatt pointed out that the Hebrew saying, “Kol Yisroel Aravim Zeh La’Zeh,” meaning “all Jews are responsible for each other, and our entire world,” is very fitting for the Farhud. The Farhud helps us understand the roots of what is happening today in the Middle East. Maurice Shohet, President of the World Federation of Jews from Iraq and the son of two Farhud survivors, spoke of the righteous Muslims during the Farhud who protected their Jewish acquaintances. In fact, a Muslim farmer – Salmani Barak – hid Shohet’s mother’s family, and saved their lives. Though 27 candles are typically lit for the commemoration of the 27 centuries of Jewish life that was destroyed, due to House safety rules, one symbolic yahrzeit-style candle was lit by two representatives of the Iraqi Jewish community. It was then snuffed out – to signify how quickly Jewish life in Iraq was snuffed out. Rabbi Haim Ovadia blows 8.5 blasts on the Shofar, in commemoration of the 850,000 Jews that were expelled from the Middle East to Israel. Rabbi Haim Ovadia of Magen David Sephardic Synagogue blew eight and a half blasts into a shofar, to signify the 850,000 Jews that were expelled. The ceremony ended with a beautiful musical rendition of “El Malei Rachamim,” by Rachel Black – traditionally an Ashkenazi hymn, but invoked to show that though the Farhud directly involved Sephardi Jewry, it is a shared tragedy amongst all Jews; and the lighting of candle – for Israel – by Joshua Block, President & CEO of the Israel Project. “In every place where Jews are discriminated against,” said Deputy Head of the Embassy of Israel to the United States Reuven Azar, “we cannot stand idly by, because others will be discriminated against, too. We must study and teach the Farhud.”
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is holding two seminars in early January, applications are due in October: Seminar for Advanced Undergraduate, MA, and Early PhD Students A Research Introduction to the Holocaust in the Soviet Union January 4–8, 2016 Applications due October 11 The Mandel Center invites applications for a seminar designed to acquaint advanced undergraduate, MA, and early PhD students with the central topics, issues, and sources related to the study of the Holocaust in the Soviet Union, including evacuation, mass shootings, rescue, forced labor, and issues of commemoration and memory. Mandel Center scholars will lead discussions, and the seminar will include group analysis of many of the types of primary-source material available in the Museum’s collections. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to explore the Museum’s extensive library, archival, and other collections. Please address inquiries and applications to Elana Jakel, program manager of the Initiative for the Study of Ukrainian Jewry, Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies, at ejakel@ushmm.org. For further information about this program and to view the full Call for Applications, please visit ushmm.org/soviet-union-seminar. 2016 Jack and Anita Hess Faculty Seminar After the Holocaust: Teaching the Postwar World January 4–8, 2016 Applications due October 30 Most courses in Holocaust studies end with liberation in 1945, making only passing reference to the long shadow thrown by the Holocaust on the postwar world. Faculty and students are very interested in the aftermath, however, including problems of survival; political wrangling over displaced persons; integration of the experience of soldiers and evacuees into the history; issues of postwar justice and restitution; and the challenge of representation for future generations. This seminar will explore how these issues were confronted (and not confronted) in postwar Europe, the United States, and Palestine/Israel, based on the growing literature in these fields. office for rent In addition to lecture and discussion, the seminar will devote time to specific pedagogical strategies concerning these issues. The seminar will be led by Michael Berkowitz, Professor of Modern Jewish History at University College London, and Norman J. W. Goda, the Norman and Irma Braman Professor of Holocaust Studies at the University of Florida. Applications can be sent to university_programs@ushmm.org. For complete competition guidelines and eligibility requirements please visit ushmm.org/hessseminar. Decisions will be announced in mid-November 2015. Please direct inquiries to Leah Wolfson, senior program officer, University Programs, Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies, at lwolfson@ushmm.org. (more…)
The following Call for Papers, recently received by the Louis D. Brandeis Center, may be of interest to some of our readers: Life in the aftermath – Displaced Persons, Displaced Children and Child Survivors on the move: New approaches in education and research 30 May – 1 June 2016 Max Mannheimer Studienzentrum (MMSZ), Dachau, Germany Joint event organised by Max Mannheimer Studienzentrum (MMSZ), Dachau, Germany International Tracing Service (ITS), Bad Arolsen, Germany with consultance by the Holocaust Studies Program of the Western Galilee College, Akko, Israel For PDF version of this CFP see http://www.wgalil.ac.il/files/Conferences/2015/CfP_DPChildren_ChildSurv.pdf In the past few years, interest in the aftermath, social and individual consequences of the Shoah, forced labour and Nazi-persecution has increased. These topics include early testimonies, the immediate Allied care for the Displaced Person (DP) population, regional micro studies and the ongoing displacement in following generations. This academic workshop on Displaced Persons, displaced children and child survivors as specific groups after 1945 is planned as the opening event for the Exhibition on Displaced Persons, curated by ITS (Bad Arolsen) and to be shown in the MMSZ, Dachau. The aim is to bring together scholars and educators from various disciplines who are engaged in education and research on Displaced Persons and child survivors. Opening lectures, a movie lecture and round-table discussions as well as visits of e.g. the Dachau memorial site and locations of former DP camps will be included in the finalised programme. The workshop focuses in the first part on historical education regarding DPs and in the second part on research about child survivors and DP children as specific survivors’ groups with special emphasis on organizations working with them, such as the Child Search Branch of UNRRA and the IRO. Of course, the topic of displacement is of special importance in times when the world is facing a tragedy of millions of refugees – the highest number of people forced to move since WW II. Although the historical and the present situation are different, we believe that examining history can provide some directions and insights that can be helpful today. (more…)
Last Tuesday, eight members of Congress launched the Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating anti-Semitism to respond to the international resurgence of anti-Semitism. This task force is intended to alert other members of Congress of the recent upheaval of hatred toward the Jewish people all over the world, and to share solutions with the executive branch and foreign leaders. The Co-Chairs Chris Smith (Republican), Nita Lowey (Democrat), Eliot Engel (Democrat), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Republican), Kay Granger (Republican), Steve Israel (Democrat), Peter Roskam (Republican), and Ted Deutch (Democrat) explained: “Jewish populations are facing increased levels of hatred, frequently under the guise of political differences or other alibis, but in reality it is solely because of their faith. It is the responsibility of everyone who believes in basic universal liberties and freedoms to condemn this trend and work together to root out the hatred which underlies anti-Semitism.” The task force is designed after a wave of anti-Semitic violence in Europe. The most violent ones included the January attacks on a kosher supermarket in Paris, the shootings at a Copenhagen synagogue last month, and the bloodshed at the Jewish Museum in Brussels in May 2014. But the task force also expresses concerns about the everyday acts of anti-Semitism rising in Europe and in the US. (more…)
We have received the following CALL FOR PAPERS which may interest our readers: International Workshop “Music as Resistance to Genocide” Organized by the USC Shoah Foundation Center for Advanced Genocide Research in collaboration with the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 26 October 2015, Los Angeles, CA The Center for Advanced Genocide Research at the USC Shoah Foundation in collaboration with the Thornton School of Music announce the international workshop “Music as Resistance to Genocide” at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. For this international workshop, which will take place at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles on 26 October 2015, we seek applications from scholars of any discipline for papers focused on the general question: “What role does music play for individuals or groups of people to effectively resist and prevent genocide or other forms of mass violence?” We invite papers which address the following research questions: When does Music playing or composing constitute resistance towards mass violence? Can music support resistance? How do we classify oppositional music? How does music which was originally not written as an oppositional act become resistance? Are certain kinds of music more oppositional than others? Do individual or group music activities have more impact, and can they help stop the violent radicalization of a genocidal society? Which cultural traditions support the development of musicians and/or music opposed to violence? Does hidden or private music playing have the same impact as public performances? We appreciate case studies on individual musicians during genocides (ranging from colonial genocides of the 19th century to more contemporary examples as Guatemala and Rwanda) as well as more analytical work on the role of music within one genocidal state—such as orchestras or music groups as one kind of resistance groups in various societies—and also on group resistance in countries that did not turn genocidal, such as South Africa. Since the aim of the workshop is to enhance the understanding of how to resist genocidal processes, we also seek contributions that will discuss music and resistance from a theoretical standpoint, drawing on resources from disciplines such as psychology, sociology, history, philosophy, anthropology, etc. The workshop will include paper presentations and discussions as well as musical performances. The USC Shoah Foundation Center for Advanced Genocide Research (http://sfi.usc.edu/cagr) is dedicated to advancing new areas of interdisciplinary research on the Holocaust and other genocides. One area of research addresses the fundamental question of what enables people to oppose or resist racist ideologies, state discrimination practices, or the active participation in mass atrocities. Other research interests include Research on Violence, Emotion and Behavioral Change and Digital Genocide Studies. The USC Thornton School of Music is one of the premiere music schools in the United States and has been at the forefront of Holocaust education for many years. It was the first music school in the United States to offer courses in music related to the Holocaust and other genocides, and it was represented on the California Legislature citizens committee that helped draft successful legislation mandating the teaching of genocide awareness in California schools. The University of Southern California provides unique research resources: the USC Shoah Foundation’s Visual History Archive with nearly 52,000 interviews from survivors and eyewitnesses of the Holocaust and other genocides, The Lion Feuchtwanger collection, a new Holocaust and Genocide studies collection, and private papers of persecuted musicians such as the Hanns Eisler papers. Please send a CV and a one-page abstract of the proposed paper before 1 March 2015 to cagr@usc.edu.
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Yesterday, here in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) issued a timely and cogent statement on the alarming recent spike of anti-Semitism in Europe: In the first half of the 20th century, the nations of Europe failed to protect their Jewish communities, leading to the murder of six million Jews. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is gravely concerned about the alarming escalation of antisemitism—perhaps the greatest since 1945—in the lands where the Holocaust happened and beyond. These antisemitic actions have included physical attacks on Jews gathered to pray and celebrate, demonstrators on the streets of Berlin and other German cities calling for “Jews to the gas,” and assaults in parts of Amsterdam on Jews wearing yarmulkes. The prime minister of Turkey outrageously stated that the actions of Israel have “surpassed Hitler.” Swastikas and antisemitic imagery reminiscent of Nazism are often used to incite the public and terrorize Jews. A range of people from average citizens to national leaders are exploiting the war with Hamas—which pledges to “obliterate” Israel—for their own political, and often hateful, ends. The Museum applauds public statements from the leaders of France, Germany, United Kingdom, and Italy condemning these actions and calls upon all government and societal leaders in the European Union and elsewhere to take the necessary steps to ensure that all their citizens can live in peace and that the deadly antisemitism that engulfed their countries in the 20th century is not allowed to reemerge. As the Holocaust teaches us, hate is a virus that can spread. The Nazis and their collaborators began by targeting Jews and ultimately killed millions of others as well. The statement is especially interesting in light of the USHMM’s history. During its early years, the museum focused exclusively on the destruction of European Jewry between 1937 and 1945. More recently, the USHMM has cautiously begun to explore more recent examples of anti-Jewish hatred. This evolution has been natural, appropriate, and wise. We can only hope that the USHMM continues to bring attention to contemporary anti-Semitism as well as to the worst manifestations of that hatred during the last century. We thank Prof. Alvin Rosenfeld for bringing this statement to our attention. Dr. Rosenfeld, who heads Indiana University’s anti-Semitism research center, serves on advisory boards for both the Louis D. Brandeis Center and the USHMM.