4th Student Leadership Conference - June 5th

Keith Krivitzky Presentation at OCC

Thanks to our ongoing partnership with the college, Keith was invited to speak on the current situation in Israel.  There were really great questions asked! 

Upcoming programs at the Toms River Library -

May 7, 2024 2 6:30pm
Combatting Hate:
 "America & the Holocaust":
While most historians agree that the nation’s response was inadequate to address the humanitarian crisis in Europe, and that a more forceful and effective rescue policy might have saved many lives, they disagree about what was realistically possible to accomplish under the circumstances. In this program, we'll discuss the roles and actions of the major stakeholders, including President Roosevelt and his advisors, cabinet members and their staffs, and religious leaders against the backdrop of the Great Depression, the stance against foreign immigration, and the German-American Bund movement (including New Jersey's Camp Nordland).

July 23, 2024 @ 6:30pm
Combatting Hate program #3 - Holocaust Survivors
Gela Buchbinder of Toms River, Mona Ginsberg of Toms River, Albert Hapner of Monmouth County

Israel - Hamas Conflict

Presentation February 7, 2024

3rd Student Leadership Conference - November 14th

Thank you to our partners, speakers, schools and students for another great Student Leadership Conference.

Ocean County Student Leadership Conference

With our partners at Ocean County College, Ocean County Cultural & Heritage Commission, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, and others we sponsored a second Student Leadership Conference.  Students from 11 school districts throughout the county participated.

After hearing from the keynote speaker students attended one of 8 break out sessions.  Break out sessions highlighted: 

  • a discussion with a Holocaust survivor
  • a panel of Latina Georgian Court students
  • a discussion with Orthodox neighbors
  • an attorney discussing cyber bullying
  • mindfulness
  • how to organize a school social justice-diversity club.

Keynote speaker, Arno Michaelis. Photos courtesy of Ocean County Prosecutor's office.

Over 400 students from 9 school districts in Ocean County were welcomed to the Student Leadership Conference with this video.

Thank you to Ocean County Prosecutor's office for the signs and to Ocean County College and Grunin Theater for hosting

Manny Lindenbaum addresses the students

The Lindenbaums with Pastor Edmonds

 


See Our Chhange partnership update
highlighted in Ocean JPages

 

THE COURAGE TO REMEMBER EXHIBIT
 

We're proud to be a sponsor of the exhibit travelling throughout Ocean County.  The Courage to Remember exhibition developed by the Simon Wiesenthal Center consists of 40 panels depicting the horrors on the Holocaust.
 

As part of the opening of the exhibit at the Toms River Library, Esther Feder-Lesell (pictured with her daughter Rita) shared her experience during the Holocaust. 
 

It is our responsibility as those who understand what happened in the Holocaust, to pass that message forward to our next generation and to use every tool at our disposal to create new and innovative ways to teach our children so they will pay attention and stop history from repeating itself.


Federation has a new initiative designed to counter hate being made available to schools and students in Ocean County, thanks to a new partnership with Chhange, the Center for Holocaust, Human Rights & Genocide Education.


We are happy to offer schools funding to participate in these programs. Please email federation@ocjf.org for more information

On Wednesday, May 11th students from 7 schools in Ocean County attended the annual Colloquium.
 

Our ongoing partnership will bring a Summit and Leadership Conference to Ocean County this fall.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented and challenging event in the lives of many, particularly adolescents. This virtual workshop will invite educators to consider the ways their students can document and process their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic through artistic expression. The workshop keynote will feature Alexandra Zapruder, author of Salvaged Pages: Young Writers' Diaries of the Holocaust and co-creator of "Dispatches from Quarantine," a project dedicated to recording the stories of young people across the country during the pandemic through writing, art, photography, and music.


Educators will have the opportunity for their students to be part of Chhange's Annual Student Art Installation.

FEEDBACK FROM OUR FIRST PROGRAM 
 

Everything was wonderful. I loved getting to hear Alexandra Zapruder and Arlene Smelson speak. It felt like such a gift.  I also thought that hearing from other educators who have participated in the past was incredibly helpful.
 

This being our school's first year, I felt very supported as CHHANGE provided examples of work, pictures, and even mentioned ways to introduce this art project to our students. 
 

I felt very supported, examples were given, and we were even able to see the artwork by survivors that was in the CHHANGE museum.  For this being a virtual workshop, it was impeccable!
 

Thank you!

CJ
8th grade teacher
Pt Beach

We hosted a film screening and panel discussion

Honoring Heroes Against Hate