On Monday, November 13, some members of the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) Council of Commissioners made an unprecedented visit to the Montreal Holocaust Museum.
The EMSB has placed a heavy emphasis on students, notably those from non-Jewish areas, visiting the Museum and learning more about the Holocaust and the evils of antisemitism. Most recently, the Council of Commissioners adopted a resolution calling for Holocaust education to become mandatory in the curriculum.
Prior to their visit to the Museum, EMSB Chair Joe Ortona and Director General Nick Katalifos met with Federation CJA President and CEO Yair Szlak, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) Vice-President Eta Yudin and Montreal Holocaust Museum Executive Director Daniel Amar. In the fall, some members of council took part in a professional development session presented by educators from the Montreal Holocaust Museum.
During the 90 minute tour of the Museum, Mr. Ortona, MR. Katalifos and Manager of Marketing and Communications Michael Cohen were joined by Commissioners Maria Corsi, Julien Feldman, Jamie Fabian and Joseph Lalla. They were provided with an excellent overview every step of the way by docent Marcia Shuster.
Go to www.Holocausteducationmtl.com for more details on their programming. Last year a Jewish Community Foundation Nova grant funded the Holocaust education program. This year the EMSB is relying on private donations.
The EMSB is the largest English public school board in Quebec, with 35,000 students in the youth and adult sectors.
