IHE News and Updates
Summer 2019
The IHE office has been buzzing with activity during the past few months. Since our last newsletter, we have worked with our community partners and volunteers to coordinate multiple events such as: The Week of Understanding , Art & the Holocaust , the Tribute to the Rescuers Essay Contest, and our annual Yom HaShoah Holocaust commemorations in Omaha and Lincoln.

In all, we touched the lives of more than 6,000 people since March in an effort to further our mission of providing educational resources, workshops, survivor testimony, and integrated arts programming to students, educators and the public.

After catching a quick breath, we are excited to continue our work with an upcoming survivor luncheon and staff retreat in June!
Yom HaShoah
This year's Omaha  Yom HaShoah commemoration was held at Temple Israel on May 1. Videos from our local survivors highlighted the message of hope, while second and third generation survivors took part in a meaningful candle lighting ceremony. The moving tribute was attended by more than 400 members of the Omaha community.

Community members from around the state gathered at the Nebraska State Capitol for the annual Nebraska Holocaust Commemoration on May 5. The 2019 Legislative sponsor was Senator Megan Hunt, and Beth Seldin Dotan was the Keynote Speaker. Pictured below is Senator Hunt, Holocaust survivor Kitty Williams and Yazidi survivor Shireen Jardo Alhanto.
Art and the Holocaust
Middle school students from eight metro schools put their artistic talents to work in creating portraits of Holocaust survivors as part of their art curriculum. The program is designed to encourage middle school art classes to study the Holocaust and to make connections between the history and art of that period. The April reception, held at the JCC galley for the artists, displayed the top ten percent of the art pieces and was made possible by a grant from the Jetton Foundation.
Tribute to the Rescuers Essay Contest
More than 400 high school students submitted essays about individuals who encountered injustices and demonstrated moral courage. Three winners were selected in each of the 9th & 10th grade and the 11th & 12th grade categories.

Winners were recognized at the Awards Ceremony held on April 29. The Awards Ceremony was mc'd by Lacey Studnicka and included a Keynote speech by Dr. Ari Kohen. The Essay Contest is made possible by the support of the Carl Frohm Memorial Foundation. Pictured below are our 2019 winners.
Week of Understanding
This year's Week of Understanding program took place from March 25-29. Over 6,000 students, educators, and community members heard testimony from five Holocaust survivors and two second generation survivors.
Joining us this year were Magda Brown, Fred Kader, Kitty Williams, Peter Metzelaar, Hazzan Michael Krausman, Agnes Schwartz, and Steve Wees. Pictured above is survivor Magda Brown giving her testimony to students at Skutt High School in Omaha.
The speakers visited 20 area schools and gave multiple public speaking events throughout the week. Pictured above is survivor Dr. Fred Kader speaking about his life as a hidden child to students at Mercy High School in Omaha.
The above photo highlights staff, guests from ESU2 and IHE volunteers enjoying a social night at Biaggi's Restaurant during the Week of Understanding .

Week of Understanding is generously funded by the Omaha Public Schools and the Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Supporting Foundation.
As illustrated above, our tireless judges worked to read and score each round of essays in the competition to arrive with this year's winners.
2020 Calendar
Mark your calendars for these important dates coming up in 2020!
Institute for Holocaust Education