Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center

We applaud the effort of these leaders to come together and make a positive difference in our communities!

Last week, I joined Rivertown’s police chiefs to address rising antisemitic attacks and the increasing use of hate symbols and speech locally, statewide, and nationally. The event was organized by Hastings-On-Hudson Mayor Tom Drake and included thoughtful presentations by Steve Goldberg of the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center and Andrew Grascia, Chief Criminal Investigator for the Westchester County DA. I am eager work with these partners to ensure we foster a community of acceptance, regardless of religion.

We are so pleased at the response from Lisa's presentation and exhibit, and the engaged students in your school who know the true meaning of being an Upstander!

On Monday May 18th our Executive Director Millie Jasper accompanied Dr. Sabine Hildebrandt who received an honorary degree from New York Medical College and delivered the commencement speech at their Schools of Medicine and Graduate Studies graduation ceremonies. Dr. Hildebrandt is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and is considered the foremost authority in the U.S. on biomedical ethics and anatomy in N**i Germany and on standards for handling human remains of those thought to be victims of the N**is. Congratulations to Dr. Hildebrandt, NYMC, Millie, and the NYMC graduating class of 2026! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwOINYNHfj8 full story https://www.nymc.edu/newsroom/stories/commencement-2026.php

HHREC hosted students from area schools who connected with 2G and 3G participants to learn about their family's Holocaust story and then develop a creative expression for our Living History Project. This year's students and participants included James Blenkle Vikings Valhalla and Elie Abemayor; Taylor Todman Byram Hills Central School District HS and Barbara Lewis Kaplan; Iree Jiang HS and Helene Wurtzel; Allison Lusthaus HS and Jeanette Cohen; Devin Ferrucci New Rochelle High School and Andy Laub; Lily McDermott HS and Bette Sparago; Alaija Wallace HS and Grace Kalfus; and Sophia Coverdale New Rochelle High School and Michael Gyory. Please join as we congratulate these amazing students and their teachers who helped prepare them, as everyone who hears these stories - either firsthand or through a living witness - becomes responsible for ensuring they endure for generations.

It was so nice to gather with our good friends yesterday at our Annual Spring Luncheon at the beautiful Bet Am Shalom Synagogue in White Plains to hear our special HHREC GenerationsForward Speaker share stories from her book Food, Hope and Resilience. June spoke with a uniquely potent blend of humor, and reverence about Holocaust Survivors, and we were all deeply honored to have 12 of them with us as we celebrated their lives as she reminded us to continue to be the voices of those who were silenced.

Still time to make plans to join us Thursday for our Annual Spring Luncheon, and hear June Hersh, best-selling author of Food, Hope & Resilience; Authentic Recipes and Remarkable Stories from Holocaust Survivors, who will sign copies of this book. Her talks focus on the wonderful anecdotes and life affirming stories related to her interactions with over 100 Holocaust survivors, and she has penned the widely acclaimed Iconic New York Jewish Food, a History and Guide with Recipes. To reserve your seat, please visit https://hhrecny.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/hhrecny/eventRegistration.jsp?event=1460

We are very pleased to announce Samantha Levin has joined our HHREC GenerationsForward Speakers Bureau. She is the granddaughter of the late Rabbi Mayer Moskowitz, a Holocaust Survivor from Czernowitz, Romania, and she tells the story of how he endured the N**i occupation of his city as a young boy, witnessed the tragic murder of his father, was later deported to a concentration camp, and eventually made a daring escape. Read the full story at https://www.hhrecny.org/samantha-levin-joins-hhrec-speakers-bureau Please join us as we welcome Samantha to our Speakers Bureau!

ADL deeply mourns the loss of our longtime national director, Abraham H. Foxman z”l. Abe, a Holocaust survivor, served his entire 50-year career at ADL, becoming one of the world’s foremost voices against antisemitism and hate.

May his memory be a blessing.

Please see our full statement here: https://www.adl.org/resources/press-release/adl-mourns-passing-national-director-emeritus-abraham-h-foxman