ABOUT
What was the Holocaust?
The Holocaust was the systemic, bureaucratic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million Jews and others by the Nazi regime during World War II. The Nazis, who came to power in Germany in 1933, believed that Germans were “racially superior” and that the Jews, deemed “inferior”, were a threat. The Nazis also targeted and murdered other groups of people based on their perceived racial and biological inferiority.
Mission
Our mission is to create a comprehensive resource center in the San Francisco East Bay area to educate people of all faiths about the Holocaust and honor its victims. We also wish to promote a spirit of universal tolerance and peace, using the lessons of the Holocaust to serve as a reminder that genocide can happen at any time, at any place.
We are committed to preserving the memory of this horrific event by providing educational programs for residents of the San Francisco East Bay region.
Past Programs
Since being founded as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation in Pleasanton, CA on January 8, 2021, the East Bay Holocaust Education Center has sponsored over 20 Holocaust education events, many of them free to the public.
During its first year of operation, these programs included:
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Free online teacher training for high school teachers.
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Free online Holocaust exhibit for high school students and teachers.
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Two free online Holocaust films for high school students including The Crossing and Inside Hana’s Suitcase in collaboration with the East Bay Jewish International Film Festival.
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Student Holocaust Art and Writing Contest with $3,500 in prize money.
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Streamed version of the one-woman Holocaust-based Shakespeare and the Alchemy of Gender featuring Lisa Wolpe.
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Free Holocaust talk on the Kindertransport given by Linda Waldroup, who talked about her mother’s experiences on the Kindertransport.
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Live and streamed stage-reading of Diane Samuel’s Kindertransport play in collaboration with Shakespeare’s Performing Arts Regional Company
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Free online Read to Remember adult reading group, some with the author’s participation
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Two Holocaust adult education courses including Beyond Never Again and Outsmarting Antisemitism in collaboration with Chabad of Tri-Valley
During its second year of operation, EBHEC sponsored the following programs:
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In-person Holocaust Exhibit at the Firehouse Theater in Pleasanton
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In-person Holocaust Exhibit at the Alcosta Senior and Community Center in San Ramon
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Free talk and book signing by author Henry Michalski of his book Torn Lilacs, which is about his family’s Holocaust experiences and subsequent imprisonment in Stalin’s gulags
Events planned in the latter half of 2022 include:
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In-person Holocaust exhibit at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
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Resuming in-person Holocaust exhibits at East Bay high schools
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Two free in-person Holocaust films for high school students including When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit and Persian Lessons in collaboration with the East Bay Jewish International Film Festival.
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In-person Teacher curriculum training and development session
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Second annual Student Holocaust Art and Writing Contest with $2,500 in prize money.
During the latter half of 2022, EBHEC will be focusing on preparations and planning for Violins of Hope East Bay, planned for January and February 2023.
Leadership
Below are Directors of the Board, who will be leading EBHEC. We expect to be adding more board members in the future. In addition, we will be forming an Advisory Board consisting of community leaders of diverse backgrounds and skills.
Advisory Board
The Advisor Board consists of religious and community leaders of diverse faiths, who meet periodically with EBHEC’s Leadership to be briefed about current programs and to advise them on strategy, future programs, and community involvement.
Abdul Awwal, Engineer, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
Lisa Belk, Associate Director for Business, LLNL
Gina Bonanno, Livermore City Councilmember, Retired-LLNL
Dan Goldblatt, Rabbi, Congregation Beth Chaim, Danville
Peg Folta, Retired Scientist, LLNL
Nancy Davis Lewis, Special Counsel, Kennedys Law
Katie Marcel, Director of Brand Marketing, Innovation TriValley
Martie Muldoon, Retired Teacher, Pleasanton Unified School District
Trish Munro, Livermore City Councilmember
Bill Nebo, Pastor Emeritus, First Presbyterian Church, Livermore
Josh Zebberman, Rabbi, Chabad of Tri-Valley, Pleasanton