The Tennessee Holocaust Commission hosted the summer educator institute, “Women of the Holocaust: Resistance, Rescue, Remembrance” in Nashville on June 4-6. Over 100 teachers and community members attended the keynote address delivered by Dr. Michael Berenbaum, (a founder and former director of the USHMM, former CEO of the USC Shoah Foundation, and international consultant for Holocaust museums and memorials) focused on the resilience of women during the Holocaust. Additional featured speakers included second-generation speaker and film producer, Anna Salton Eisen, spoke on contemporary antisemitism and her mother’s story of resistance as well as educator and child survivor Dr. Miriam Klein Kassenoff who presented the story of her family's escape from Slovakia. The conference also featured speakers from the American Society for Yad Vashem, Jewish Partisan Educational Foundation and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Fifty Holocaust educators from across Tennessee attended the conference at the Hilton-Green Hills. These educators represented middle and high schools, community colleges and universities. Attendees received numerous resources and classroom materials, as well as the opportunity to network with teachers throughout Tennessee and further connect with the Tennessee Holocaust Commission and its programs.

Yom HaShoah Remembrances Around the State

Tony McAleer Visits Knoxville

The Commission hosted Tony McAleer, a former white supremacist and neo-Nazi skinhead, at Temple Beth-El in Knoxville on May 4. Once a vehement Holocaust denier, the birth of Mr. McAleer’s daughter inspired him to transform his life. He founded the organization, The Cure for Hate and works globally to help individuals escape the cycle of hate. Mr. McAleer will return to Tennessee this fall to share his message, “From Violent Extremism to Radical Compassion,” with students and teachers.