By Samuel Asher, Executive Director, Virginia Holocaust Museum
In his autobiography, “Songs My Mother Taught Me,” Marlon Brando uses the word “seichel” to sum up his view of the Jewish people as a whole.
He wrote, “There’s a Yiddish word, seychel, that provides a key explaining the most profound aspect of Jewish culture. It means to pursue knowledge and to leave the world a better place than when you entered it …”
At the Virginia Holocaust Museum, we strive toward sentiment every day by providing the best in Holocaust education as the cornerstone of everything we do.
I’m proud to report that in June and July, more than 100 educators from around the state came to the Museum to learn the best practices about teaching the Holocaust for our annual Teacher Education Institute, commonly referred to as TEI.
More than half of the educators in the first session were new to our TEI curriculum. Over 20 were so impressed by the quality of the workshops on the spot.
It’s common to get notes from participants sharing feedback about their experiences. But the words from one recent graduate really made me smile.
She wrote, “I wanted to send a note to thank you all for a wonderfully impactful, eye-opening, and emotionally moving institute over the past three days. Not only has my knowledge and understanding of the Holocaust grown, but I’m inspired, empowered, and excited to impart what I’ve learned to my students. I’m incredibly grateful that we have such a rich resource in the Virginia Holocaust Museum that’s right in our backyard. Thank you for all your hard work in making this institute a success. I look forward to seeing you again in July!”
In August, our attention turns to preparing for the fall and our Annual Meeting, which will be held on October 18th this year.
Annual Meeting
At the Annual Meeting, we will feature a short concert of “The Music of Terezin” starring soprano, Susan Lewis Friedman, and pianist, Paul Dykstra, honoring the lives of composers and musicians lost to the Holocaust, and showcasing works by Isle Weber, Gideon Klein and Simon Sargon.
If you haven’t been to the museum in a while, August is a great month to do so because most schools are still out and it’s less busy than at other times of the year.
Until Next Time,
Samuel Asher, Executive Director
For more happenings at the VHM, visit www.vaholocaust.org/
