The Toronto Holocaust Museum’s 41st annual Neuberger Holocaust Education Week (HEW) will be taking place November 4 – 10, 2024.
Neuerger HEW 2024 will present a thoughtful array of public programs and commemorations that offer compelling ways to engage with the history of the Holocaust and its legacy.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2024 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Dialogue for Descendants Symposium | Speakers
Exclusive program for children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors and their partners.
This year’s D4D symposium features a thought-provoking and participatory lecture by Rachael Cerrotti, an award-winning author, educator, and curator. Rachael is the creator of We Share the Same Sky, a decades-long story that follows the wartime history of her grandmother, Hana Dubová. Rachael will lead descendants through reflective exercises that help us consider the impact of the stories we inherit and the role of memory in shaping our present.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2024 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Opening Night: Final Verdict | In Conversation | Launch
In Tobias Buck’s new book, Final Verdict: The Holocaust on Trial in the 21st Century, Buck explores the historic trial of Bruno Dey, a former SS guard at Stutthof Concentration Camp. In conversation with Sarah Fulford (Editor in Chief, Maclean’s), Tobias will delve into his work and its convergence with his personal family story, including his German grandfather’s complicity and the silence that surrounded it. Explore the weight of 21st century justice in the face of rising antisemitism and uncover what we can learn from Germany’s struggle with its Nazi past.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2024 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
The Humanity of Grief | Speaker
Join us for an intimate conversation with Rachael Cerrotti, an award-winning author, educator, and storyteller, as we explore the complex and multifaceted experience of grief.
After losing her husband at just 27, Rachael turned to her grandmother’s story of survival, navigating her own profound loss while uncovering themes of loneliness, isolation, and the transformative power of memory. Rachael will be joined by Lesley Suchter, a social worker and certified bereavement educator with expertise in grief and trauma counseling. Together, they will delve into both universal concepts and personal experiences of grief, particularly in the context of mourning the Holocaust survivor generation and the shared Jewish experience of grief we have experienced over the past year.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2024 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
The Spoils | Screening
The Spoils is a powerful new documentary that explores the complex struggle for the restitution of Nazi-looted art. The film reveals the complexities in the ongoing battle for justice in art ownership amidst the rise of the far right in Germany.
Following the film, join us to learn more about the making of this documentary with director Jamie Kastner.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2024 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Professional Lunch and Learn with Dr. Irit Felsen | Speakers
This 90-minute webinar is designed for clinicians, caregivers, social workers, medical professionals, and anyone working with the ageing survivor generation and their descendants.
Learn from clinical psychologist Dr. Irit Felsen in a focused session for people working with Holocaust survivors and their descendants. Gain insight into how this community experiences and responds to trauma and loss differently, including the events of October 7 and their aftermath.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2024 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Kristallnacht Commemoration: Hasidism and Anti-Jewish Violence in Poland | Commemorative | Community Event
An evening of dialogue and music centered around the Hasidic community in Poland. In his new book, The Light of Learning (2024), author and historian Glenn Dynner tells the story of Hasidism in the context of an increasingly violent interwar Poland and genocidal Nazi occupation. Dynner explores Torah study not only as a spiritual-intellectual endeavor but a political practice that fueled a culture of resistance. He challenges ideas of Hasidic decline, showcasing its role as a vital cultural force before and during the Holocaust.
The program also includes a candle-lighting ceremony to mark the 86th anniversary of Kristallnacht and features musical accompaniment.
For more information on any of these events please follow this link.