November Webinars for WV educators
Student Webinar: The "Kristallnacht Pogrom" - How and Why Did it Happen?
Student Webinar: The "Kristallnacht Pogrom" - How and Why Did it Happen?
Student Webinar: The "Kristallnacht Pogrom" - How and Why Did it Happen?
The November Pogrom, which the Nazis called Kristallnacht- "the Night of Broken Glass", was a turning point during the Holocaust. But it didn't come out of nowhere. How and why did it happen? Explore this critical event with Sheryl Ochayon, Project Director, Yad Vashem, in a program geared for students and teachers.*
Nov. 5, 2026 at 2 PM ET
AI In Holocaust Education: Challenges and Opportunities
Student Webinar: The "Kristallnacht Pogrom" - How and Why Did it Happen?
Student Webinar: The "Kristallnacht Pogrom" - How and Why Did it Happen?
AI is reshaping how we teach, learn, and engage with the past. How can educators harness this tool while safeguarding the principles at the heart of responsible Holocaust education? Join Jen Goss, Project Director, Echoes & Reflections, and Yael Richler, Pedagogical Director at Yad Vashem, for an in-depth discussion surrounding this growing topic.*
Nov. 16, 2026 at 4 PM ET
Virtual Tour of Yad Vashem's History Museum: Everyday Life in the Łódź Ghetto
Virtual Tour of Yad Vashem's History Museum: Everyday Life in the Łódź Ghetto
Virtual Tour of Yad Vashem's History Museum: Everyday Life in the Łódź Ghetto
In this virtual tour of Yad Vashem's Holocaust History Museum, Yael Eaglstein, a Yad Vashem educator and guide, will explore how the Łódź Ghetto is presented. Yael will highlight artifacts and museum exhibits that tell the story of everyday life in Łódź, where more people died of starvation than in any other ghetto during the Holocaust.
Nov. 30, 2026 at 3 PM ET
How We Remember: The Legacy of the Holocaust Today
Virtual Tour of Yad Vashem's History Museum: Everyday Life in the Łódź Ghetto
Virtual Tour of Yad Vashem's History Museum: Everyday Life in the Łódź Ghetto
Examine the pursuit of justice at Nuremberg, the effect the trials had on how we understand the Holocaust, how survivors coped with the trauma to build new lives in the aftermath, and how we remember and memorialize the Holocaust today.
After completing this course, you will be able to support students to:
- Examine the global response to the crimes of the Holocaust and its perpetrators.
- Identify the ways survivors built new lives in the aftermath of the Holocaust.
- Understand how the Holocaust is memorialized today.
One interactive module, approximately 4 hours to complete in total. Receive a 4-hour certificate with an opportunity to earn graduate credit through the University of the Pacific.
Course Dates: November 9 - 22
The Crocus Project
Applications for the 2026-2027 Crocus Project are now open. Sponsored by The Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh, the Crocus Project is a project of Holocaust Education Ireland. The goal of this initiative is to have more than 1.5 million crocuses in bloom, which are planted in memory of the 1.5 million Jewish children who perished in the Holocaust and the thousands of other children who were victims of Nazi atrocities.
The yellow flowers recall the stars that Jews were forced to wear under Nazi rule. The Crocus Project is a tangible and age-appropriate way to introduce students to the Holocaust. Students and teachers can work together to create a meaningful display of the bulbs, which will come up year after year. When people admire the flowers, students can explain what they represent and recall the children who perished in the Holocaust.
Educators can apply for a grant to receive free crocus bulbs and resources from the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh. These grants are only available for educators located in our outreach region, including Western Pennsylvania, parts of Ohio, and parts of West Virginia.
West Virginia and Holocaust Education
The WVCOHE is featured in a new book edited by Holocaust scholar Jason Schulman. Authored by Barb Lewine and Laurent Levy, the chapter entitled "Challenges in Holocaust Education: Navigating the Country Roads of West Virginia" provides detailed history about the Commission as well as accounts of ongoing legislative challenges. One of the first states in the country with a Commission, we remain one of the only states without accompanying mandated legislation. Holocaust Education in America illustrates how politics have played a role in Holocaust education in various states, including West Virginia, Alabama, South Carolina, Michigan, and others. Available in paperback or Kindle versions.
Help fund our efforts
The Commission presently does not receive state taxpayer funding for its mission and relies solely on your support. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to the Elizabeth Hoolmann Memorial Holocaust Education Foundation in support of our efforts. Thank you!
