HOUSTON, TX (July 23, 2007) – Educators from three countries will have the opportunity to learn the importance of the Holocaust and its relevance to more current examples of genocide from some of the world’s leading experts this July.

Holocaust Museum Houston will hold its fifth annual Summer Institute for Educators beginning July 23, 2007. At least 35 educators from the Houston area, other Texas cities, Arkansas, New York, Croatia and Hungary are expected to attend the week-long conference to learn about the importance of the Holocaust and how to implement its study in their classrooms.     

Participants were chosen based on an application process. Preference was given to teachers who have previous Holocaust education, have used Holocaust Museum Houston’s educational curriculum trunks and have requested educational information from the Museum.

The Summer Institute provides a setting for teachers to work together with internationally known scholars to further their understanding of the Holocaust as they challenge themselves and each other to new ways of thinking and teaching its concepts.

“This program is very beneficial because it acts as a networking system for teachers in continuing education. Our goal for the program is to provide continuing scholarship by introducing these teachers to new concepts and new sources of information. This program is meant to provide ongoing support to teachers who are dedicated to teaching the Holocaust,” said Museum Executive Director Susan Myers.     

Participants will engage in an intensive five-day program that will include lectures by recognized scholars and educators. They will experience an extensive tour of the Museum’s changing exhibit “The Jews of Czestochowa: Coexistence – Holocaust – Memory” and hear readings by Houston-area Holocaust survivors from their book “The Album: Shadows of Memory.” The group will also participate in the Museum’s Summer Lecture series in the evening.     

Speakers at both the Summer Institute and Summer Lecture series will include: Dr. Michael Berenbaum on “Obligations, Implications and Consequences of Responding to Current Issues;” Mark Weitzman, discussing “Antisemitism: The Generic Hatred;” Dr. Gideon Greif, lecturing on “Auschwitz- Birkenau and The Auschwitz Album;” and Sarah Ogilvie; and Scott Miller, speaking on the topic “Refuge Denied – Understanding the Plight and Resonance of the St Louis Journey.”     

Other speakers at the Summer Institute will include Dr. William L. Shulman, president of the Association of Holocaust Organizations; Fred S. Zeidman, chairman of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council; Dr. Christine van der Zanden, director of education, The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous, New York, NY; Dr. Brent Hasty, The University of Texas at Austin; Sigmund A. Rolat, co-sponsor of the “The Jews of Czestochowa: Coexistence – Holocaust – Memory” exhibit; Dr. Simone Schweber, The University of Wisconsin; Deborah Batiste, Anti-Defamation League; Dr. Eleonora Bergman, Jewish Historical Institute, Warsaw, Poland; and Rebecca Johnson, of the Awty International School.     

The Summer Institute for Educators was developed from funding given generously by Max Kaplan and his family to train teachers on strategies and approaches for bringing Holocaust education to the classroom. It is presented with special thanks to Continental Airlines, the official airline of Holocaust Museum Houston.

Holocaust Museum Houston is dedicated to educating people about the Holocaust, remembering the 6 million Jews and other innocent victims and honoring the survivors' legacy. Using the lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides, the Museum teaches the dangers of hatred, prejudice and apathy.

Holocaust Museum Houston is free and open to the public and is located in Houston’s Museum District at 5401 Caroline St., Houston, TX 77004. For more information about the Museum, call 713-942-8000 or visit www.hmh.org.