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“Texas will always support Israel and the Jewish people, and I thank THGAAC for swiftly answering my call to research ways we can continue to combat antisemitism across our state. Now, more than ever, we need to support our friends in the Jewish community. Through THGAAC’s work, we will continue to raise awareness and combat acts of hate in Texas to chart a course toward a brighter future for every Texan.”
~ Governor Greg Abbott
In a very, very sad way, The Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission’s business has been extremely brisk since October 7th.
When Hamas terrorists brutally and savagely attacked, killed, and took hostage innocent Israeli civilians, we saw a call to action in our efforts to heed the lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides: to educate Texans on the dangers of antisemitism. As a result, we circulated our first ever public statement; we connected with community, faith, and educational leaders; and we called upon government officials to reinforce our efforts.
On October 30th, the THGAAC held an emergency commission meeting hosted by Governor Greg Abbott. Our friends, Israeli Consul General Livia Link-Raviv, and Senators Phil King, Tan Parker, and former state senator, Florence Shapiro also joined to address the commission. Governor Abbott talked to us passionately about the need to confront and combat antisemitism across our great state and made the case for supporting and defending Israel, a great partner of the state of Texas. He challenged the commissioners to take our work to a new, heightened level, and we agreed to meet his request.
Current actions:
With the invaluable help of our friend, Gary Susswein of New West Communications, the THGAAC completed and circulated an addendum to the first ever Study on Antisemitism in Texas to all 181 members of Texas’s 88th Legislature. This addendum offers updated recommendations on ways to identify, report, and preempt acts of antisemitism across the state.
We initiated “Friends of the THGAAC” by hosting parlor meetings in Austin and San Antonio and received several individual contributions. These funds will supplement those received from the state and will allow us not only to raise our visibility in Texas but also to increase our impact by allocating more dollars to significantly engage Texas communities.
We are partnering with our friend, Senator José Menéndez, to assess the impact of Holocaust Remembrance Week in Texas schools. To ensure that we are doing the best job possible in our educational responsibility of teaching the Holocaust to grades K-12, we will implement a survey to public school districts throughout the state that will help us identify strengths and impediments to Holocaust education.
Our dedicated professionals continue to work across the state in underserved areas, letting all Texans know that we are here as a resource on Holocaust and genocide education and combating antisemitism.
We continue to expand our volunteer base by creating a Speakers Bureau to spread our work across Texas. We are interested in developing creative programming on historical and contemporary explorations of genocide and antisemitism utilizing our team of survivors and educational experts.
As we move forward with a new sense of urgency, we stand with all Texans and our partners at The Texas Historical Commission in rising to the challenge of educating, funding, and supporting the residents of the great state of Texas in any way necessary.
Kenneth Goldberg, THGAAC Chair
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This week is the 5th Annual Holocaust Remembrance Week, January 22-26. As part of these efforts, the THGAAC develops and approves resources for age-appropriate Holocaust instruction to assist these educators, along with parents and community members, in navigating these important lessons. Schools and other organizations can request speakers for events, review guidelines and best practices, choose lesson plans, and access literary and audiovisual materials through our website. The THGAAC, with the assistance of the Texas Education Agency, will also conduct a survey of public school districts to review the implementation of Holocaust Remembrance Week and develop recommendations to increase its impact.
Commissioner and Chair of the THGAAC, Kenneth Goldberg, co-authored an Op-ed on the importance of Holocaust education, which was featured in the Dallas Morning News.
Lucy Katz
Listening to my parents talk about their experiences as well as mine, seeing the pain in their eyes, and feeling the pain in their hearts from having experienced and survived concentration camps such as Annenberg and Birkenau/Auschwitz gave me an understanding of antisemitism of which no one should ever experience again. As a young adult, I committed myself to creating an environment around me of compassion, acceptance, and kindness toward others' differences. As an adult, I learned of the murder of my biological mother at the hands of the Nazis. I also learned that my grandfather had three infant grandchildren and could only save one from Nazi murder. While I was hidden by a loving Polish Catholic family, my two infant cousins were thrown out of windows at the hands of the Nazis that found them. They died instantly. I was the lucky one, saved while all of my huge family, except my dad, one of his brothers, and one of my biological mother's sisters survived. I grew up in a community where there were no old people. All the old people had been murdered.
I've spoken throughout the State of Texas, in classrooms, universities, and military bases, telling audiences about my family's as well as my experiences as a Holocaust Survivor. I remind them that we all must take responsibility to combat and confront hatred, prejudices, and indifferences, which is the Mission Statement of the THGAAC. Being a Commissioner allows me to participate in the vehicles that staff create, to develop education, and to make a greater impact on our state’s citizens, enabling them to better understand their prejudices and biases. I hope that they will be able to relate to my family history and to understand that they could find themselves in a place where, because of their differences, they too could be discriminated against. In today's world, there is no room for indifference. It is my hope that through education and relationship building, we will dismantle antisemitism, genocide, and other potential future atrocities. When my grandchildren ask me, "Bubbie, you were the lucky one, what did you do to honor those who risked their lives to save you?" I can tell them that as a Commissioner, I hope that I've made a difference in the lives of those who have heard me speak and with whom I've had the privilege to interact. I hope that I've changed their paradigm to be accepting of others and to set their own bias aside.
I am a Professional Businesswoman, community activist, married to my husband Joel, and have two sons, daughters-in-law and seven grandchildren.
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In early December, we submitted an Addendum to the 2022 Study on Antisemitism in Texas to the Texas Legislature on behalf of the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission (THGAAC).
This addendum was made necessary by the surge in global antisemitism we have seen since October 7. Jewish communities in Texas are on high alert for attacks, from social media and public spaces to high schools and universities.
The THGAAC and Gov. Abbott's office have taken multiple steps to raise awareness and fight this hatred, which are detailed in this Addendum.
As directed by Gov. Abbott, this Addendum also includes two recommendations to help Texans identify acts of antisemitism and quickly report them to law enforcement and for law enforcement to take preemptive action before dangerous acts occur.
In the coming months, we will develop additional recommendations to fight antisemitism as we continue working directly with you and your communities, pursuant to our mission under House Bill 3257 from the 87th Legislature.
Following the THGAAC Emergency meeting on October 30th that addressed rising antisemitic activities throughout Texas since the beginning of Israel’s war against Hamas, Austin community leaders Carol Silverberg and Lily Saad hosted a parlor meeting at the Silverbergs' home that brought together over 25 community leaders to learn about the THGAAC and Friends of the THGAAC.
In advance of THGAAC’s December Quarterly meeting, on December 5th, Commissioner Sandy Parker hosted a beautiful dinner and parlor meeting that secured $17,540 in pledges and gifts from members of the San Antonio Jewish community.
Inaugural Friends Board Chair Steve Finkelman is working with Director Scott Kammerman to build a robust and diverse board capable of being able to attract supporters from throughout the Lone Star State.
Friends of the THGAAC, a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization, assists with the educational mission of the THGAAC by raising private philanthropic support for the Commission's projects and programs.
St. Sarkis Armenian Church in Carrollton, Texas invites secondary teachers to attend Seeing the Humanity in Each of Us: The Lessons of the Armenian Genocide. This one-day workshop addresses TEKS requirements for teaching the Armenian Genocide, hosts experts from The Genocide Education Project and SMU’s Human Rights Program, and is presented free with the support of an Education Grant from the THGAAC. The workshop takes place on February 2, 2024. In-person and virtual registration here.
The THGAAC launched a pilot speaker training program in November, graduating four participants to bring meaningful and accurate Holocaust instruction to Central Texas students during Holocaust Remembrance Week 2024. The THGAAC Introductory Training for Holocaust Speakers in Texas Schools, led by THGAAC State Coordinator of Education, Dr. J.E. Wolfson, prepared descendants of survivors on content that meets educational standards and student needs for Holocaust Remembrance Week while creating space for each member’s family story to be told. The THGAAC congratulates all participants and welcomes every opportunity for these unique voices to strengthen the understanding of the Holocaust for Texas students.
The Office of the Governor opened the 2024 Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) application window from January 15, 2024 to March 14, 2024. Multiple webinar opportunities outlining the program will be offered to help grant officials navigate the application process. Participation is strongly encouraged. For those interested, please find the registration links below:
The THGAAC will hold its next Quarterly Meeting in Houston, Texas on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. The THGAAC Quarterly meetings are open to the public.
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Recently shared post from Christians United for Israel featuring Commissioner Sandra Parker addressing the Judiciary Committee in 2017. |
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