For Immediate Release
Toronto — A group of Aboriginal educators gathered at the offices of B’nai Brith Canada today in preparation for their participation in an upcoming Holocaust and Hope education program in Israel organized by the League for Human Rights of B’nai Brith Canada.
The League for Human Rights is a national volunteer agency dedicated to combating racial discrimination and antisemitism, bigotry and hate, and to promoting human rights for all Canadians. The Holocaust and Hope program, created almost 20 years ago, offers educators an opportunity to learn about the Holocaust through a multi-faceted program of lectures, on-site visits and personal contacts with survivors.
“This is a very significant event,” said Toni Silberman, Chair of the League for Human Rights, Ontario Region of B’nai Brith Canada. “It is a tangible demonstration of the sincere desire among Aboriginal and Jewish Canadians to reach out and learn about one another. We have a shared legacy that impels us to bear witness, and we hope that all of the participants will be inspired with a sense of our individual and collective strengths and possibilities as a society.”
“The idea to create a Holocaust and Hope tour specifically tailored to our friends in the Aboriginal community came during a meeting we had last January with First Nations leaders following the Ahenakew affair,” added Rochelle President of B’nai Brith Canada. “It’s great that we’ve been able to ensure that something positive comes out of that sorry episode and we are determined not to let the momentum of this program dissipate.”
Participants depart for Israel July 28 and return to Canada August 7.
The creation of an Aboriginal Holocaust and Hope program was one of several initiatives agreed to between B’nai Brith Canada and First Nations leaders aimed at promoting understanding and cooperation between Jewish and Aboriginal Canadians. Others include a visit by First Nations leaders to Israel and a fact-finding tour by Canadian Jewish leaders to First Nations communities throughout Canada.
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For further information contact: Joseph Ben-Ami, Director of Communications at 613-294-7313
B’nai Brith has been active in Canada since 1875 as the community’s foremost advocacy and volunteer organization.
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