Education. Advocacy. Community.
For Your Students
The resources listed below are of no cost to schools or educators.
Please call 585-241-8634 to bring these to your classroom!
kindness suitcases
The Kindness Suitcase is a free, educational program available to teachers and librarians in elementary and middle schools in Western New York with kits to teach students in grades K through 6 about empathy, inclusion, and the history of the Holocaust.
Each suitcase contains age-appropriate books and hands-on projects to get students thinking and talking about values, humanity, and courage.
Created by the Holocaust Education Resource Organization (HERO) at the Buffalo Jewish Federation.
For older learners in grades 7-12, rent a Traveling Trunk--a case that contains real artifacts from Holocaust Survivors and lessons that accompany them. Students are encouraged to interact with and be curious about these. Perfect for kinesthetic and visual learners.
STudent to student
The Student to Student program is a peer-to-peer educational initiative where trained Jewish high school students visit middle and high school classrooms to teach non-Jewish peers about Judaism, Jewish identity, and antisemitism.
Student ambassadors visit Social Studies and ELA classrooms in teams of about four to share their personal stories and daily experiences as Jewish teens. This program aims to dispel myths, replace stereotypes with real human connection, and disrupt ignorance that leads to antisemitism.
Presentations are free for public and private schools, fit into standard class periods, and use open dialogue, props (like challah), and personal narratives to engage students.
survivors
in the classroom
We are committed to bringing the stories of Holocaust survivors to life here in Rochester and throughout New York. Our Survivors in the Classroom program is an essential part of that mission, bringing young community members from 6th grade through college face-to-face with those who were there.
We work with educators and local groups to match classrooms, schools, and programs with survivors and their family members to create impactful and meaningful educational experiences.
This experience may be combined with attending Survivors. This one-hour play, commissioned by CenterStage Theatre and the Louis S. Wolk Jewish Community Center of Greater Rochester and written by Wendy Kout, teaches the chronological history of the Holocaust by enacting the actual experiences of Jewish children and teenagers from Europe. Actors portray the Survivors and take us on a perilous journey from innocence through the terrifying rise and rule of bigotry, xenophobia, and violence to the triumph of immigrating to America.
Training
Empower your team with our professional development programs.
strategies for positive change, addressing systemic issues, and building a environment free of bias, aggression, and conflict.
Workshops
Engage in interactive workshops that promote an environment of inclusion and respect for all. Our sessions are designed to spark conversations, challenge biases, and foster a culture of respect and acceptance.
Consulting
Partner with us for expert consulting and guidance on implementing strategies designed to challenge biases. From curriculum design to restorative dialogue, we provide the tools for a more understanding and compassionate community.
Anti-Bullying & Restorative Practices
We consult with administrators and educators when issues arise within the school community to navigate and mitigate hate-based actions and speech on and off campus.
Fight Antisemitism:
the world's oldest hate
Researcher Eric Ward says "all forms of white supremacy are rooted in antisemitism."
To understand this, we offer specialized training AT NO COST in understanding antisemitism and why your awareness of anti-Jewish hatred, tropes, and stereotypes is essential to creating a truly inclusive culture and community. Contact us to schedule a workshop or training.
Need to start learning about anti-Jewish hate right now?
The ADL offers this 45-minute, self-guided, on-demand course; you can also read this article from MJL.
Tools for Change
Rochester has an incredible wealth of resources to support positive change where we live, worship, work, learn, and play. We believe in amplifying the work of these organizations that are dedicated to ending hate and bias for all and for good.
Commission On Racial & Structural Equity (RASE)
Coordinated Care Services Inc.
Pathways To Peace, City of Rochester
Rochester Civil Rights Heritage Trail
