The Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission has been busy meeting mission and vision.
The THGAAC crisscrossed our great big state providing resources and tools to utilize the lessons learned from the Holocaust and other genocides to confront, combat, and ultimately eradicate antisemitism in Texas.
Relationships with the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Association of Rural Schools, public universities and school districts, and the four Texas Holocaust museums have helped increase our reach in many areas. In light of rapidly increasing antisemitism, we have developed a greater understanding of security and safety measures needed in religious, social, and cultural facilities. We have expanded our resources for Holocaust, genocide, and antisemitism education for all age levels. We are also starting another grant cycle that will provide state funds to eligible organizations promoting mission-driven initiatives across Texas.
The THGAAC received strong support from Texas legislators during the last legislative cycle, enabling us to achieve greater change in 2026. With new dollars provided by the state, we will recommend resources and programming to specifically combat antisemitism on college campuses. We also received additional funding that has allowed us to hire two new full-time employees. Our Campus Outreach Coordinator will work on fighting antisemitism in public schools, and a new Educational Coordinator will partner with school districts in support of our mission. Currently, we are educating state legislators and working with the governor’s office and Governor Abbott himself to prepare for the next legislative session.
We are preparing for our role as the designated leader for Holocaust Remembrance Week in January when every public school in Texas will be required by law to teach about the Holocaust. And in May, we will lead the state in programming for Jewish American Heritage Month.
We are grateful to our partner agency, The Texas Historical Commission; state legislators; and Governor Abbott for having the confidence in the THGAAC and providing resources to us to expand our ability to provide more-than-ever Holocaust, genocide, and antisemitism education to all Texans on our vital issues.
With gratitude,
Kenneth E. Goldberg
Chair, Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission
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Governor Greg Abbott and First Lady Cecilia Abbott hosted a celebration of Hanukkah at the Governor's Mansion on December 14. The evening, which coincided with news of the horrific terrorist attack against the Jewish community of Australia, included a welcome and introduction of the Governor by THGAAC Vice Chair Sandra Parker, lighting of the first night of Hanukkah candles by First Lady Cecilia Abbott and Governor Abbott, Hanukkah blessings and remarks from THGAAC Chair Ken Goldberg and Sherry Goldberg, and closing remarks from THGAAC Executive Director Joy Nathan.
Governor Abbott emphasized the importance of the THGAAC and reiterated his commitment to preventing and combating antisemitism.
Holocaust Remembrance Week occurs the week of January 26–30, 2026. During this week, Texas Education Code, §29.9072 requires public schools to provide age-appropriate instruction on the Holocaust using resources developed or approved by the THGAAC.
The THGAAC web page for Holocaust Remembrance Week provides the following resources, including lesson plans, audiovisual resources, and literary/print materials, which can be used during Holocaust Remembrance Week as well as year-round:
We are committed to honoring every speaker request received during another busy Holocaust Remembrance Week season. To meet demand, the THGAAC will coordinate presentations with the four Texas Holocaust museums, work with first- and second-generation survivor volunteers from our Speakers Bureau, and schedule in-house educators to speak in schools.
We are working closely with our partners at the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the Texas Association of Rural Schools (TARS) to ensure that effective communication plans are in place to prepare schools with resources and materials.
The THGAAC has opened a new grant cycle! Our Spring 2026 Education Grant is open to all nonprofit organizations headquartered in the state of Texas and will be awarded for projects that best align with our mission and legislative mandates. We are accepting applications through January 31. If you haven’t received a THGAAC grant previously, we recommend starting your application process with a letter of intent, to confirm eligibility and to provide us with a general understanding of your project. The grants will be evaluated by an independent scoring committee, and Commissioners will vote on the committee’s recommendations at our March Quarterly Meeting. These grants will cover projects that take place between May 2026 and October 2027. For more information, visit our website, or contact Grants Specialist Cheyanne Perkins at (512) 463-5674 or cheyanne.perkins@thgaac.texas.gov.
Combating Antisemitism on College Campuses
The THGAAC received an additional $1 million from the Texas Legislature for fiscal year 2026 to address the growing threat of antisemitism on college campuses. We have engaged with senior leadership across Texas's major university systems to better understand each campus's unique needs and to share ideas on the best opportunities to reach both faculty and students. In the coming year, we will bring together leading experts and partner organizations with deep experience in combating antisemitism in higher education to support campuses already experiencing antisemitic activity, while proactively equipping others to prevent future incidents.
Preparation for Commemoration Events
One of the statutory duties of the THGAAC is to annually coordinate events in the state memorializing the Holocaust and other genocides, including January 27, International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The THGAAC calendar provides opportunities for Texans to participate and build public awareness of commemorative events, and it lists programs and educational initiatives, with a focus on April (Genocide Awareness Month) and May (Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day).
Jewish American Heritage Month
Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) in May is an opportunity to counter Jewish hate by recognizing Jewish contributions to Texas culture, history, military, science, government, and more. The THGAAC 2025 Study on Antisemitism for the Texas Legislature recommended that the state's commemoration of Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) each May include formal Capitol programming and provide educational resources for schools to incorporate into their teaching. This year, we will continue to work with a cross-section of organizations to build awareness and expand programming statewide under the JAHM umbrella.
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We have a new employee at the THGAAC! Alexander Suster started in October as the Campus Outreach Coordinator, a new position created to support public high schools and colleges. Alexander is a recent graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, where he majored in International Relations and Global Studies, with minors in Hebrew and Business. He served as President and VP of External Affairs at Texas Hillel, was a StandWithUs Emerson Fellow, and an Undergraduate Clements Center Fellow. |
Friends of the THGAAC, a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization, was founded in 2023 to assist with the educational mission of the THGAAC by raising private philanthropic support for the projects and programs of the Commission.
Friends Executive Director Scott Kammerman and Friends Chairman Steve Finkelman have been working with their outstanding new board in planning and implementing events and ideas for organizational development and securing funding.
Support for Friends strengthens the THGAAC’s mission to educate all Texans about the Holocaust, genocide, and antisemitism. Friends focuses on funding projects and programs that bring unique and immersive educational opportunities to underserved Texas communities while providing supplemental assistance to the work being undertaken by our partners in large Texas cities. To support the Friends of the THGAAC, make a tax-deductible contribution here.
In December, Friends of the THGAAC hosted Parlor Meetings in Houston and Austin (pictured below).
On Sunday, October 5, the UT student group Longhorn Students for Israel hosted an October 7 Commemoration (pictured below). Six hundred people were in attendance virtually and in person. The event featured Judith Ranaan, a hostage survivor, interviewed by Tanya Zuckerbrot and UT President Jim Davis. This program was funded with a $10,000 grant from the Friends of the THGAAC.
THGAAC Chair Ken Goldberg and THGAAC Executive Director Joy Nathan presented at the ADL Texoma Regional Board Meeting on December 11. Pictured below: ADL Regional Board Chair Chuck Butler, Joy Nathan, Ken Goldberg, and ADL Regional Director Texoma Alex Horn.
THGAAC Chair Ken Goldberg spoke on a panel for the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) with State Senator Phil King on December 5 in Ft. Worth. They presented to an audience of mostly State Representatives and State Senators from across the USA, who learned about Texas and the work of the THGAAC. Pictured below left: Senator Phil King, Ken Goldberg, and CAM founder, Adam Beren. Bottom right: Group photo with Combat Antisemitism Movement
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The THGAAC held a Quarterly Meeting in Houston on December 3. Invited speaker Brandon Simmons, Director of Institutional Policy and Oversight for the Texas Higher Education Board, along with Ben Proler, Texas Southern University Regent, addressed the Commissioners. Pictured below top left: Elizabeth SoRelle, Commission Educator (a new position, joining the THGAAC in January); Alexander Suster, Campus Outreach Coordinator; Dr. J.E. Wolfson, THGAAC State Coordinator of Education; Kristen Worman, THC General Counsel; Joseph Bell, THC Executive Director; Top right: Brandon Simmons; Bottom right: THGAAC Commissioner Providence Nkrunziza; THGAAC Commissioner Lucy Katz; THGAAC Secretary Jay Zeidman; and Chair Ken Goldberg; Bottom left: Ben Proler
 During the week of November 3, Regional Coordinator Lauren Fryer (pictured below) presented on the Holocaust to 10 middle schools in Brownsville, Texas, reaching a total of 880 students in grades 6-8.
The THGAAC continues to be grateful to our Texas leadership, including Senator Phil King (pictured below far left), for speaking at a national legislative conference about Senate Bill 1517 from the 88th Texas Legislative Session, a recommendation from the THGAAC that prohibits public universities from engaging in academic boycotts.
On October 10 State Coordinator of Education Dr. J.E. Wolfson was the invited speaker at UT Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), where he presented: “The Antisemite’s Worldview Explained: How and Why So Many People Have Obsessed Over One Tiny Minority, from the Middle Ages to the Nazi Era.” He is pictured below with Harvey Burg, who coordinated OLLI’s speaker series.
On October 3, THGAAC Chair Ken Goldberg participated in the student-led October 7 Commemoration Ceremony at the University of Texas at Dallas Campus. The student speaking at the podium is Jade Steinberg, President of Hillel and member of the THGAAC's 15-25 Club. Pictured below left: Josh Arbital from StandWithUS, UTD Hillel Co-Presidents Jade Steinberg, Noa Yurman, and Chair Ken Goldberg.
In support of our mission to educate all Texans about the Holocaust and other genocides, the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission (THGAAC) connects speakers to classrooms, commemorations, and community events.
The THGAAC Speakers Bureau is comprised of scholars; survivors, liberators, or their descendants; and other experts who are willing to share their knowledge and experiences regarding the Holocaust, genocide, or antisemitism.
As you plan your calendar, please let us know if we can provide a free speaker to support your event. You may request a speaker on our website.
Pictured below are two of our THGAAC speakers from the THGAAC Speaker's Bureau. Second-Generation Survivor Anna Salton Eisen (below left) and Second-Generation Holocaust Survivor Claudia Loewenstein (below right) presented this past fall.
The THGAAC will hold its next Quarterly Meeting in Austin, Texas on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. The THGAAC Quarterly meetings are open to the public.
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