On this International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education joins the rest of the University of Toronto in commemoration of the victims of the Holocaust. Please read the statement by Kelly Hannah-Moffat, VP, People Strategy, Equity & Culture
In 2005, the United Nations General Assembly declared January 27 as the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust.
January 27 marks the liberation—just 77 years ago—of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest of the Nazi Concentration Camps. On this day in 1945, the world confronted the consequences of allowing hatred and discrimination to grow unfettered, gain collective support, and ultimately justify a plan of mass extermination. The Holocaust claimed the lives of more than six million Jewish men, women, and children as well as members of other persecuted populations, including Romani, 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, persons with disabilities, and political dissidents. Worldwide, we continue to grapple with its legacy today.
The International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust encourages remembrance, reflection, and education about the causes and consequences of the Holocaust. It is also a day for citizens around the world to confront and address the many ways that anti-Semitism—and, by extension, other ideologies of hatred and discrimination—finds expression in our current times. According to the Ontario Human Rights Commission, “an unprecedented increase in antisemitic incidents” occurred in 2021, including vandalism of the National Holocaust Monument in Ottawa and physical and verbal assaults against Jews in communities across Canada and on university and college campuses.
Anti-Semitism also exists at the University of Toronto. This January 27, I encourage students, staff, faculty, and librarians to gain insights into its forms and strategies to address them by reading the Final Report of the University of Toronto’s Anti-Semitism Working Group. Last month, I joined the President and Acting Vice-President & Provost in accepting all the Working Group’s recommendations. We will be sharing progress on implementing these recommendations—along with information about other strategies to create a more inclusive U of T—on the Commitments at U of T website.
One significant part of our Division’s work this year and in the years ahead will be providing, through the Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office (or ARCDO) and the tri-campus Equity offices, workshops, trainings, and restorative spaces to address anti-Semitism and increase inclusive practices for the U of T community.
On January 31, our Race, Action and Equity Speaking Series will feature a talk by Dr. Deborah Lipstadt, author and Dorot Professor, Holocaust Studies at Emory University. On March 22, we look forward to offering, in partnership with the Multi-Faith Centre, the workshop “Understanding and Addressing Anti-Semitism,” facilitated by Dr. Shari Golberg of the Ministry of Labour.
ARCDO will continue to work with community partners to provide restorative programming, including recently offered spaces by Rabbi Ariella Rosen, that promotes the well-being of Jewish members of our community. These initiatives are part of a larger program to offer community spaces of wellness, healing, and critical dialogue, helping to address the impacts of racism and faith-based discrimination for members of the University.
I’ve shared additional information about these initiatives below. More can be found on the ARCDO website.
Upcoming Programming
Antisemitism: Here And Now
January 31, 2022, 10:00 am – 11:30 am
A talk by Dr. Deborah Lipstadt, author and Dorot Professor, Holocaust Studies at Emory University, this session will look closely at her recent book, Antisemitism: Here and Now. It will also explore the overt and subtle manifestations of anti-Semitism on university campuses, discuss the noticeable increase in anti-Semitic incidents experienced by Jewish communities across post-secondary institutions in North America, and identify tools that universities can employ to address anti-Semitism and foster inclusive environments.
Understanding and Addressing Anti-Semitism
Facilitated by Dr. Shari Golberg of the Ministry of Labour
March 22, 2022, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Facilitated by Shari Golberg, Ph.D., Team Lead, Apprenticeship Branch, Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills, this workshop will explore the roots of anti-Semitism, its relationship with other interlocking forms of oppression, and how to identify and address it in post-secondary contexts.
Recently Offered Programming
Connection and Hope: Restoration for the Jewish Community with Rabbi Ariella Rosen
January 18, 2022, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
January 21, 2022, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Students who identify as members of the Jewish community are welcome to engage in restorative practice and conversation informed by the teachings of Jewish tradition and culture.