Holocaust Educational Foundation

The Holocaust Educational Foundation (HEF) is a nonprofit organization founded by Theodore Zev Weiss in 1976[1] and dedicated to the support of teaching and research about the Holocaust at the university level.[2] A part of Northwestern University since 2013, HEF has helped create curriculum materials about the Holocaust in use at more than 400 colleges.[1]

This article is about the US organization established in 1976. For the unrelated British charity established in 1988, see Holocaust Educational Trust.
Holocaust Education Foundation
AbbreviationHEF
Established1976 (1976)
FounderTheodore Zev Weiss
Founded atSkokie, Illinois
TypeNonprofit
Purposeeducation
Location
  • Evanston, Illinois, USA
Fieldsthe Holocaust
Director
Sarah Cushman
Parent organization
Northwestern University

History

A survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp, Weiss founded HEF in 1976 to record the testimonies of Holocaust survivors. In 1988, HEF provided funding to establish a course at Northwestern University called The History of the Holocaust, and thereafter HEF's mission evolved into the development of Holocaust-related teaching materials.[3] Weiss perceived that, while many states, like Illinois, mandate instruction in the Holocaust, "the state doesn't prepare teachers to teach. This is a very difficult subject, and not having the tools, the teachers are sort of at a loss."[4] On July 9, 2013, the HEF was integrated into Northwestern University.[1] The HEF donated $1 million to Northwestern University and pledged to donate another $5 million to endow the program permanently.[3]

Programming

The Holocaust Educational Foundation of Northwestern University offers several programs: the Summer Institute on the Holocaust and Jewish Civilization; the biennial Lessons and Legacies conference; the Sharon Abramson Research Grants; and teaching grants to support college-level teaching in Holocaust Studies.

See also

References
  1. Alan K. Cubbage (2011-01-17). "Holocaust Educational Foundation to Join Northwestern Northwestern will continue the Foundation's efforts to support Holocaust research, outreach". Retrieved 2011-01-18.
  2. "Holocaust Educational Foundation to Become Part of Northwestern U." Chronicle of Higher Education. 2011-01-17. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
  3. "Holocaust Educational Foundation joins NU". Evanston Now. Evanston Now. 18 January 2011. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  4. Channick, Robert. "Grueling history lessons hit hard: 17 teachers attend an intensive seminar at Northwestern on state-mandated Holocaust courses". Chicago Tribune. No. 29 June 2008. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
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