Antisemitism
International Holocaust Remembrance Day - Jan 27th 2025
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The United Nations General Assembly designated the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau on January 27th as International Holocaust Remembrance Day and 2025 marks 80 years since this liberation.
The annual day of remembrance was established to honour the six million Jews, as well as millions of victims from other groups that perished during the Holocaust. What began as the spread of disinformation and hate speech, led to the support of systemic injustice, discrimination and marginalization and ended with the genocidal killing. This day is a reminder of our collective responsibility to stand up to and counter all forms of hate.
The United Nations calls on individuals to hold memorial services and undertake educational initiatives to learn more and help prevent such genocides from occurring in the future.
In the face of an alarming rise in antisemitism around the globe and right here in Canada, it is more important than ever to recognize the critical lessons of the Holocaust and prevent history from repeating itself.
Suggested Resources (not a complete list), Lesson Plans, and Classroom Activities: (D13 Jewish Advisory Committee)
- Haunted by Auschwitz 80 Years Later (United States Holocaust Museum)
- A virtual event to commemorate the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, recounting the stories of three survivors, Ruth Cohen, Steven Fenves, and Irene Weiss
- Free webcast on Monday, January 27, 2025, Noon ET
- Survivor Stories (Montreal Holocaust Museum)
- A collection of Canadian Holocaust survivor stories
- Teaching the Holocaust and Human Behaviour (Facing History and Ourselves)
- A 23-lesson unit to lead middle or high school students through a study of the Holocaust that asks what this history can teach us about the power and impact of choices.
- Resources Marking Liberation of Auschwitz (Yad Vashem, The World Holocaust Remembrance Centre)
- A vast collection of online artefacts about Auschwitz-Birkenau: the largest Nazi concentration camp, which saw the extermination of over 1 million Jews
- Includes educator guides and suggested lesson plans
- Combating Antisemitism (Liberation75)
- Educator’s Toolkit: collection of lessons by grade level
- Virtual Library: extensive collections of videos free for viewing