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CJF's REMEMBER Program: A 6 Month Review

Here at the Charleston Jewish Federation, we are reflecting on the past year - one of tremendous activity, growth and success for our community's REMEMBER Program for Holocaust Education and Genocide Awareness.  Everything we accomplished, everything we do, is because of your passion and support. THANK YOU!  
 
With 5780 just beginning, our thoughts at this time turn to the victims of the heartbreaking incident over Yom Kippur – a shooting outside a synagogue in Germany by a white supremacist. Moreover, with the upcoming one year anniversary of the deadliest attack against the American Jewish community, this time of reflection is powerful. These events, coupled with troubling increased numbers of anti-Semitic and bullying incidents in K-12 schools, we are doubling down on our work with youth in 5780. 
 
To learn more about what we have in store for 2020 or to get involved, please contact Samantha Krantz at remember@jewishcharleston.org
 
Here are some of the highlights from the past 6 months:

REMEMBER Program for Holocaust Education and Genocide Awareness

Highlights of Impact: April – September 2019

Holocaust Survivor Updates:

May 1, 2019 was declared “Joe Engel Day” by the SC legislature. Joe was honored in both the House and Senate chambers. 

There are currently 7 Holocaust survivors in Charleston that receive ongoing support and attention from Charleston Jewish Federation and Charleston Jewish Family Services. 

 

Holocaust Proclamations:

For the first time, Mayor Tecklenburg issued a proclamation designating April 2019 as Genocide Prevention and Awareness Month in Charleston. Holocaust Proclamations were also issued in 6 city council meetings in March and April.

 

Holocaust Creative Arts Competition

Our annual reception for the Holocaust Creative Arts Competition brought 150 teachers, students and parents together at the Charleston County Public Library (CCPL). Last year's theme was "Women in the Holocaust". Thank you to Homegrown Hospitality Group for their annual sponsorship of this competition and to Sandra Brett and her committee for their leadership of this program. We are thrilled to announce that Homegrown Hospitality Group has increased their financial sponsorship of the program for the 2020 Competition!

 

Community-Wide Yom HaShoah Holocaust Remembrance Program and other community-wide programs

Yom HaShoah 2019 brought over 200 members of the community together to commemorate the Holocaust at the Gaillard, with a silent march to the Holocaust Memorial.

With the Charleston County Public Library partnership, we also hosted a panel for Children of Holocaust Survivors, facilitated by Dr. David Slucki from CofC Jewish Studies Program, and presented the play A Life in a Jar aboard the Yorktown.

Charleston JCC’s JCC Mini Filmfest directed a portion of proceeds to the Remember Program in March.

CJF supported the Flowertown Players’ production of “The Diary of Anne Frank” in Summerville in September – each performance was sold out! After one of the shows, Holocaust Survivor Ann Fields shared her story of being a Holocaust survivor with the audience. At the following showing, Anita Zucker, child of Holocaust survivors, joined Anne for another talkback!

 

Speaking Engagements

From churches to schools, Holocaust survivors and children of survivors spoke in over 40 locations, reaching approximately 4,000 educators, teachers and community members so far in 2019.

 

In the Schools: Highlights

• In partnership with the Charleston County School District, SC Council on the Holocaust, Ann Frank Partnership and the US National Archives, we provided a day of professional development training for History teachers in August. Children of Holocaust survivors also attended

• We partnered with the Anti-Defamation League to provide a day of anti-Bias training at a local school (confidential) in response to reports of anti-Semitism on the campus in August.

• Wando High School’s Theater Department invited Reggie Guigui, child of Holocaust Survivors and Co-Chair of our Remember Program for Holocaust Education and Genocide Awareness, to share her family’s story. This cast will be producing the play “I Never Saw Another Butterfly” this Fall.