City Council Member Chaim Deutsch’s (D-Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach, Brighton Beach, Homecrest, Midwood) Holocaust Remembrance Bill passed the City Council last week, Kings County Politics reported Monday.
The new law recognizes International Holocaust Remembrance Day in New York City on January 27th, and declares the entire week that follows as a citywide Holocaust Education Week.
CM Deutsch, the child of Holocaust survivors, said the new law aims to keep the memories of survivors alive, even as the generation of survivors is sadly dying out.
According to the bill, January 27th will introduce a week of Holocaust education in New York City, with public officials visiting schools around the City, accompanying survivors who will speak directly to students about their Holocaust experience.
Project Witness and the Museum of Jewish Heritage both testified in support of Deutsch’s bill last week, and are conducting educational efforts throughout this week.
“If we want to equip the next generation with the tools they need to build a peaceful future, then we need to educate them about the consequences of prejudice and mistreating others,” said Deutsch, adding, “We are doing a disservice to our children if we do not ensure that they are taught about the six million Jews, including 1.5 million children, who were killed during the Holocaust.”
“As the generation that lived through the Holocaust is dwindling, it is more important than ever that we face the widespread lack of knowledge head-on. We cannot afford to lose the memories, and let the six million be forgotten,” Deutsch said.