This past January marked 75 years since the liberation of Auschwitz. Yet despite the passing of time, Holocaust and genocide education remain crucial to combating anti-Semitism and other forms of hate. That's why Federation is proud to support Voices of Hope, a local nonprofit founded by descendants of Holocaust survivors. With help from your generous contributions to Federation’s Annual Campaign and the Jewish Hartford Rapid Relief & Recovery Fund (established by Federation and the Jewish Community Foundation) Voices of Hope helps our community stand up to hatred by offering a wide variety of programs to remember the Holocaust and support genocide education. And as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, Voices of Hope’s leadership and staff worked tirelessly to transition their engaging in-person offerings to meaningful virtual opportunities.

Last year, Federation allocated $9,000 to support the programs of Voices of Hope’s HERO Center, located within the Maurice Greenberg Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Hartford. In the letter below, Voices of Hope Executive Director Kathy Fishman shares the vital impact of your contributions:

Voices of Hope has been incredibly fortunate to receive the support of the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford. It has made all the difference for our newest exhibit, “Connecticut Remembers the Holocaust.” Thanks in part to 2020 and 2021 Federation allocations and the grant we received from the Rapid Relief & Recovery Fund, we have been able to produce a brand new virtual exhibit - complete with local Holocaust survivor testimony and newly developed curricula for middle and high school classrooms. This new resource is based on the “Hartford Remembers the Holocaust” exhibit at the University of Hartford, and it will enable teachers and students to learn about the Holocaust during a time when in-person tours are not permitted. 

While this project was originally intended to be a physical, traveling exhibit, we are immensely proud of the virtual space we have created with the help of local educators, experts, and the support of our Jewish community. During an unveiling to educators last week, our virtual exhibit was received with great enthusiasm and excitement. It provides educators and students alike an opportunity to practice active remembrance, learn to embrace and celebrate diversity, and encourage standing up against injustice and prejudice. It will ensure the continuation of this important subject matter during this time of distance learning – and it will continue to compliment and provide deeper insight into the subject matter when used in conjunction with a physical display following the pandemic. Without the Federation’s support, as well as that of our community, this wonderful project would not have been possible.

Click here to view Voices of Hope’s Connecticut Remembers the Holocaust virtual exhibit.

Image courtesy of Voices of Hope