The Holocaust Educational Foundation (HEF) is a
nonprofit organization
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
founded by
Theodore Zev Weiss in 1976
and dedicated to the support of teaching and research about the Holocaust at the university level.
A part of
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world.
Charte ...
since 2013, HEF has helped create curriculum materials about the Holocaust in use at more than 400 colleges.
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.
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."
On July 9, 2013, the HEF was integrated into
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world.
Charte ...
.
The HEF donated $1 million to Northwestern University and pledged to donate another $5 million to endow the program permanently.
Programming
The Holocaust Educational Foundation of
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world.
Charte ...
offers several programs: th
Summer Institute on the Holocaust and Jewish Civilization the biennial
Lessons and Legacies conference; th
Sharon Abramson Research Grants an
teaching grantsto support college-level teaching in Holocaust Studies.
See also
*''
Holocaust Studies and Materials''
*
Polish Center for Holocaust Research
The Polish Center for Holocaust Research ( pl, Centrum Badań nad Zagładą Żydów) is an academic and research center at the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, Poland. The center's director is historian Barbara Engelking.
History
The Polish C ...
References
{{Reflist
External links
Foundation Website
Holocaust studies
Northwestern University
1976 establishments in Illinois