Compassion to Action Heads to Israel

Following a full week in Poland, where participants learned about the Holocaust, Compassion to Action is now in Israel delving into the country's history and modern day life. Over the last few days, the delegation has visited Yad Vashem to uncover the names of Holocaust victims and pay tribute to their memory, met with Israel's Major General Avshalom Peled, toured the Knesset and visited the Golan Heights.

‍

By providing your support today, you help fund important educational programs like Compassion to Action - bringing Holocaust and human rights education to people of all ages.

Click here to donate.

‍

Canadian Holocaust Denier on Trial in Germany for 'Incitement to Hatred'

Monika Schaefer and her German-Canadian brother, Alfred Schaefer, are currently on trial in Munich for Volksverhetzung, which officially translates to “incitement to hatred.” The two Canadians are under suspicion of denying the genocide of Jews in the Holocaust during World War II. If found guilty, the sentence for the crime ranges from a fine up to five years in prison. 

Read More

‍

10 Arrested Over Alleged Antisemitic Attack in Berlin

German police arrested 10 people on Sunday following an alleged antisemitic attack in Berlin. Police said a chain with a Star of David was ripped from the victim’s neck by the attacker, who was also spewing “antisemitic insults” and then allegedly punched the victim in the face before fleeing. While the three female and seven male suspects were subsequently released, a special branch of investigators dealing with politically motivated crimes have taken over the case. 

Read More

‍

Auschwitz Escapee Told the World About Nazi Genocide

In May, 1944, he managed to escape Auschwitz and tried to alert the world to the genocide perpetrated by the Nazis. The information brought forward by Czeslaw Mordowicz provided the first account of the most murderous chapter in Auschwitz history, the deportation and killing of Hungarian Jews. A report produced by Mordowicz and another escapee, Arnost Rosin, was included in the Auschwitz Protocols that was circulated outside German-occupied Europe. Though eventually deported back to Auschwitz, Mordowicz survived the Holocaust, moving to Israel and then Toronto.

Read More

‍

Israel Ranks in Top 10 List of World's Most Powerful Countries

According to the US News & World Report 2018 "Best Country" rankings, Israel is the eighth most powerful country in the world. Reasons include the large role the country plays in global affairs, its technologically advanced market economy, and it being "highly developed in terms of life expectancy, education, per capita income and other human development index indicators."

Read More

‍

South Carolina Is First State to Adopt Uniform Definition of Antisemitism

On Friday, South Carolina became the first state to adopt a uniform definition of antisemitism, although it will only be on the books for the next year. Under this new measure, universities will have to take the definition into account when reviewing charges of discrimination or bias. Using the State Department definition of antisemitism, which includes calls for violence against Jews and Holocaust denial, it reportedly does not target speech - only unprotected conduct such as harassment, assault and vandalism.

Read More

‍

From the Arab World

According to a UN official and a group closely monitoring the Syrian war, most Syrians who were displaced by recent fighting and stranded at the border with Jordan have returned to their homes. The return came two days after Syrian troops regained control of the Naseeb border crossing with Jordan and a long stretch of the border between the two countries. Some 330,000 Syrians were displaced since June 19 when Syria’s government looked to retake the province of Daraa from insurgents.

‍

Spots Available for Upcoming Educator Certificate Courses

Attention all educators! There are still some spots available for the upcoming Holocaust and genocide educator certificate courses. Start the school year with new tools and techniques that will help you bring meaningful lessons on this difficult history into the classroom.

To sign up for one or both courses, please email education@fswc.ca.

‍

Report Antisemitism and News of Concern to FSWC

If you would like to report antisemitism or news of concern to Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, please email aborisovsky@fswc.ca.