Holocaust Education

We use the lessons of the Holocaust to educate students and adults through both short and long term programming initiatives.

Heidi Sarno Straus

Chair, Holocaust Education

Each year, Jewish Nevada funds the 12th grade International Baccalaureate class from Valley High School for an overnight field trip to visit The Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust and Manzanar Japanese Internment Camp.

Some of the statements we've received from the students who've taken the field trip include:

"I want to thank you for changing my life. I was able to see life from a different perspective."
"This trip was simply amazing, so many memories were made and your donation to us was crucial. Thank you for our bus, awesome meal at the Jewish deli in LA, and the ever-interesting Holocaust museum. I will never forget this trip for the rest of my life. It was terrific. Thank you."
"I changed my perspective of many things in my life because of you."
"Thank you for providing the funding we needed to go on the Holocaust trip. It was truly a life-changing experience as I learned so much about history and how impactful it was to society and many Jews. It made me more self aware about these events, and I want to spread awareness so history does not repeat itself. It impacted me positively. Thank you."

Museum artifacts from the collection of the Nevada Center for Humanity

Jewish Nevada and Nevada Center for Humanity were invited to educate the students of Faith Lutheran Middle School and High School, March 2024.

Click here to view media coverage of the exhibit, "Introduction to the Holocaust: How Did It Happen?"

With Deadly Deception at Sobibor director and producer Gary Hockman, second from the left, with Stefanie Tuzman, Heidi Straus, and Neil Popish, Las Vegas Jewish Film Festival.

Del Sol Academy of the Performing Arts production of The Diary of Anne Frank, a collaboration between Jewish Nevada, Nevada Center for Humanity, and Del Sol Academy. From left to right: Stefanie Tuzman, Susan Huff, Heidi Straus, Dino Taronis.

Students engaged in Holocaust study.

The Women in the Holocaust Book club features books curated by Heidi Straus and Susan Dubin.
Open to both men and women, we use these books as a starting point to consider the vast range of women's Holocaust experiences.

Books Covered To Date

Irene's Children by Tilar Mazzeo

All But My Life by Gerda Weissman-Klein

Survivor Cafe by Elizabeth Rosner

In My Hands by Irene Gut Opdyke

Anne Frank, Diary of a Young Girl

The Children of Willesden Lane by Mona Golabek

Holocaust Education Day at Nellis Air a force Base

Heidi Straus & Stefanie Tuzman at Holocaust Education Day at Nellis Air a force Base

Valley High School Field Trip

Canter's Deli and Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust

Yom YaShoah Commemoration

The WP Pomegranate event coincided with this day of remembrance. Each guest received a candle with the name and date of one who perished in the Holocaust. We were honored to share the evening with Holocaust survivor Simone Salen. Lighting a commemorative candle, (Lt-Rt) are Darcy Spears and Annette Aerenson.

Congratulations, Educators!

Congratulations go out to 5 winners who attended the Nevada Holocaust Educators Conference and won the essay contest about how they will use the Holocaust Education in their classrooms next year! Among the winners include
Jamie Lofthouse, Adriana Guizar, Jamis Quashnock, Amy Grace, and Agnes Poliquin (Pictured)

Stephen Nasser Day

Mayor Carolyn Goodman declared May 6, 2021, as Stephen Nasser Day. A Holocaust Survivor, Stephen "Pista" Nasser was the sole survivor of 21 family members who perished. He is the author of "My Brother's Voice," has produced a play about his survival and tours the country speaking to students about the dangers of bullying and hate. (Pictured: Francoise Nasser, Stefanie Tuzman, Stephen Nassar and Heidi Straus)

The Sperling Kronberg Mack Holocaust Resource Center offers in-person and online courses. Holocaust Education classes and workshops are open to Nevada teachers for Professional Development Credit as well as anyone with an interest in learning.