Friends,
While the summer provides a chance to recharge, we at the THGAAC have been busy planning for the months ahead and preparing for a fall filled with important initiatives.
Commissioners heard from Dr. David Patterson of UT Dallas at the THGAAC September Quarterly Meeting on September 3. Dr. Patterson discussed his new book, Redemptive Antisemitism After Ten/Seven, detailing how the horrific attacks on October 7 in Israel led to a global surge of a dangerous new form of antisemitism, one that presents itself as morally justified. His presentation was a timely reminder of the work that lies ahead.
|
As we approach the third anniversary of the October 7 attacks, as well as the 25th anniversary of September 11, we are reminded once again of why our work is so important. These anniversaries give us an opportunity to remember those who were lost and reflect on the devastating impact of hatred in all its forms. Our mission to educate all Texans about the Holocaust, genocide, and antisemitism in order to prevent future atrocities is urgent. We are proud to support communities across Texas as they come together to commemorate these anniversaries and stand against extremism and hatred.
This fall, we will release our new Study on Antisemitism in Texas. The study will provide an updated look at the state of antisemitism in our communities and offer recommendations for meaningful action. We look forward to sharing its findings and continuing the conversation about how we can work together to address antisemitism across our state.
Our work on college campuses will continue as well. Through our Texas Campus Outreach Initiative, we are bringing meaningful conversations about antisemitism to students, faculty, and campus communities. We are excited to work again with the great organization Sharaka as we engage young Texans and create opportunities for dialogue across differences. We will also welcome new partners to this effort, including Judge Roy Altman, Michael Oren, Shabbos Kestenbaum, and Ephraim Wasse. We will keep you updated as these initiatives take shape and make an impact on Texas campuses.
As we look ahead to this work, I am mindful of the many people who make it possible, including THGAAC Commissioners and staff, led by our talented Executive Director, Joy Nathan. I am also thankful for the many educators, partners, and community members who continue to champion the Commission and its work. I am especially grateful to our state legislators for their continued support and for providing funding to strengthen efforts to educate about the Holocaust and genocide and to combat antisemitism in Texas. Their investment allows us to expand our reach to more communities across the state.
There is much to be done. Thank you for being a part of this mission and for helping us build a Texas where the lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides are remembered, and where antisemitism and hatred are confronted with courage and resilience.
In gratitude,
Kenny Goldberg
Chair, THGAAC
|
 |
Preparing for the 90th Legislative Session
Looking forward to the next legislative session, the THGAAC is preparing to bring forward important information and priorities that will help guide the state’s efforts to combat antisemitism and strengthen Holocaust education.
The Commission is currently developing its next Study on the State of Antisemitism in Texas, which will be published this fall and presented to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Texas Legislature. The study will provide an updated look at antisemitism across the state and offer recommendations for continued action.
The THGAAC is also monitoring the legislative process as the state considers its funding priorities for the upcoming session. Among the Commission’s requested exceptional items is $7 million for the Holocaust Mobile Labs Initiative, which would establish fully equipped mobile classrooms capable of bringing immersive, THGAAC-approved, TEKS-aligned, age-appropriate, and grade-differentiated Holocaust education directly to students across Texas. The initiative would expand access to high-quality Holocaust education, particularly for students and schools that may not otherwise have the opportunity to participate in these experiences.
THGAAC’s Campus Outreach work this fall will reach colleges and universities across Texas—urban and rural, public and private. Building on successful spring programming, the Commission is partnering with campuses to engage students, faculty, and communities in conversations about antisemitism.
In October, Sharaka, a Middle Eastern bridge-building organization, will return to Texas for a tour that includes Angelo State University and Sul Ross State University, highlighted by a public event Oct. 7 at the Museum of the Big Bend. Harvard Divinity School graduate Shabbos Kestenbaum, who challenged Harvard’s response to campus antisemitism, and federal judge Roy Altman, whose recent book examines law, history, and antisemitic narratives, will also participate in campus programming. At SMU, THGAAC is supporting L'dor Vador, a new campus learning program focused on engaging students and strengthening efforts to address antisemitism.
Other fall initiatives include a visit by Michael Oren, the former diplomat and expert on global antisemitism, in partnership with the Clements Center at UT Austin, and engagements with Ethiopian-Israeli photographer Ephraim Wasse. A BAMAH Visiting Artist at Texas Southern University this fall, Wasse will also meet students elsewhere in the state, including at St. Edward’s University in Austin.
Summer 2026 Grant Cycle
Congratulations to the recipients of the Summer 2026 THGAAC Education Grant:
-
Chabad of the Brazos: “Speaker Series to Texas A&M Campus for the Broader Public” | $20,000.00
-
Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum: “Natan Sharansky - Fall 2026 Upstander Speaker Series Event” | $15,000.00
-
Dallas Jewish Historical Society: “Innovation, Resilience, and Responsibility: Jewish Leaders in Dallas History” | $5,000.00
-
Holocaust Museum Houston: “Anne Frank Exhibition” | $50,000.00
-
Texas Hillel: “From Memory to Responsibility: A Campus Initiative on Antisemitism, Genocide, and Moral Courage” | $34,500.00
-
UT Chabad: “Campus Antisemitism Education Initiative: Multi-Phase Programming at the University of Texas” | $26,000.00
Fall 2026 Grant Cycle
At our September Quarterly Meeting, THGAAC Commissioners voted on grant funding recommendations for the Fall 2026 THGAAC Education Grant. These recommendations will be presented to the Texas Historical Commission for final approval at their October Quarterly Meeting. Recipients will be announced by November.
Winter 2027 Grant Cycle - NOW OPEN
We are accepting applications for the Winter 2027 THGAAC Education Grant, which is open to all nonprofit organizations headquartered in the state of Texas for projects that align with our mission and legislative mandates. Details, including instructions on applying for the grant, are available on our website. We are accepting applications through October 11.
This October 7, 2026, marks the third anniversary of the October 7 attacks in Israel, a day of profound tragedy whose impact continues to reverberate around the world. Across Texas, communities will gather to remember those whose lives were lost, honor those whose lives were forever changed, and reaffirm the importance of standing against antisemitism and all forms of hatred.
The following public events are scheduled to commemorate October 7 across the state. Additional events may be added as details become available. Visit the THGAAC calendar for the latest information and to find commemorations in your area.
Central Texas
Oct. 7 | Still Dancing: Life After Nova
Presented by Shalom Austin
North Texas
Oct. 7 | Hatikvah: Hope and Resilience
Presented by the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas
Oct. 11 | October 7th Memorial Ceremony at UTD
Presented by Hillels of North Texas
South Texas
Oct. 6 | Commemoration and Special Screening of "The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue"
Presented by the Jewish Federation of San Antonio and the Barshop JCC of San Antonio
Southeast Texas
Oct. 7 | October 7th - Marking Three Years
Presented by the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston and the Evelyn Rubenstein JCC of Houston
Holocaust Remembrance Week will be observed January 25–29, 2027. 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 Holocaust Remembrance Week webpage offers a range of educational resources to support instruction and commemoration during the week and throughout the year. Resources include lesson plans, audiovisual materials, literary and print resources, and opportunities to connect with Holocaust educators and speakers:
As schools prepare for Holocaust Remembrance Week, the THGAAC will work to accommodate speaker requests from across the state. To expand access to Holocaust education, the Commission will coordinate with Texas’s four Holocaust museums, engage first- and second-generation Holocaust survivor volunteers through the THGAAC Speakers Bureau, and draw on in-house educators to provide presentations for Texas schools.
Lone Star Student Task Force on Antisemitism
The Lone Star Student Task Force on Antisemitism works to ensure that the State of Texas has an accurate and up-to-date understanding of antisemitism on high school and college campuses. By centering student experiences and firsthand observation, the Task Force creates a direct channel through which what students see, hear, and experience in everyday campus spaces can inform awareness, decision-making, and potential policy responses.
This August, we hosted our very first Welcome Event for the Task Force in which student representatives from across the state discussed contemporary antisemitism and shared their unique perspectives and experiences with their fellow peers. Students participating in the Task Force contribute by observing and describing the climate on their campuses, including patterns, incidents, conversations, and broader trends related to antisemitism. Their role is not to propose policy, but to provide grounded, experience-based insight that helps the State of Texas understand what is actually happening on campuses across the state.
For more information, or to apply, click here.
Friends of the THGAAC, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2023, continues to expand its efforts to support the educational mission of the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission. Friends raises private philanthropic funds to support programs and initiatives that strengthen Holocaust, genocide, and antisemitism education across the state.
Friends bolsters the Commission’s educational outreach to communities that often have limited access to Holocaust and genocide education. By providing teacher trainings, quality classroom resources, and speaker programs in these areas, Friends helps ensure that students and educators across Texas have opportunities to learn the enduring lessons of the Holocaust and the dangers of antisemitism and hatred.
Support for Friends strengthens the THGAAC’s mission to educate all Texans about the Holocaust, genocide, and antisemitism. To support Friends of the THGAAC and help expand this important educational outreach, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution today.
The THGAAC will hold its next Quarterly Meeting in Houston, Texas on December 2, 2026. The THGAAC Quarterly Meetings are open to the public.
|
