Toronto (February 17, 2022) – Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) is thrilled to announce the launch of a series of Holocaust and antisemitism education training workshops for teachers in Morocco.

The announcement comes after FSWC and the Morocco-based Mimouna Association signed a Memorandum of Understanding in April 2021, declaring a partnership based on shared goals and aspirations, including: combatting antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of discrimination and hatred; peaceful coexistence and mutual respect between the Arab and Jewish peoples and their respective nation-states and diasporas; public education which highlights the important and valued role of the Jewish community in the history and heritage of Morocco as well as other states in the Arab world; and public education about the horrors of the Holocaust as an eternal lesson for all of humanity about the dangers of hatred and intolerance.

Starting on February 17 and over the next four months, FSWC will be delivering five virtual workshops, two sessions each and in French, to Moroccan teachers to help them better understand the Holocaust and antisemitism and equip them with the tools needed to further teach these topics to their students.

“This partnership comes at a time of burgeoning relations between Israel and Arab countries, which are building bridges for peace and prosperity in the Middle East and North Africa region,” said Michael Levitt, FSWC President and CEO. “We are pleased to have this partnership that will help grow awareness of the Holocaust, antisemitism and Jewish heritage among Moroccans and contribute to this new climate of increasing collaboration between Jews and Muslims in Morocco and beyond.”

The workshops will include:

History of the Holocaust: Educator Certificate Course: This intensive program teaches innovative and proven techniques to educate students about the Holocaust.  

Unpacking Intolerance: Equity and Diversity Training for Educators: Participants will recognize antisemitism alongside other forms of hate and intolerance, linking the knowledge of historical and contemporary issues of antisemitism and hate to pedagogy, and gain a framework and tools for the practical application of these topics in a classroom setting.

The Holocaust and North Africa + Among the Righteous: Lost Stories from the Holocaust in Arab Land: The role the North African Arabs played in helping Jews during the Holocaust is uncovered.

Teaching Genocide Certificate Program for Educators: This intensive program looks at a variety of genocides from the 21st century and ways to integrate effective, meaningful lessons into the classroom setting.

Simon Wiesenthal’s Story and a Conversation with Two French-Speaking Survivors: FSWC, in partnership with the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, will present a virtual speaker series featuring survivors of genocide and other mass atrocities.