Opportunities
Descendants of Holocaust Survivors Group
Our Descendants group consists of children (second generation) and grandchildren (third generation) descendants of Holocaust survivors. We meet monthly to share our family Holocaust stories, articles, books, films and discussions pertaining to our shared Holocaust experiences and family legacies. If you would like to join our Descendant group, please contact lauren@buffalojewishfederation.org.
Student to Student
Modeled after a national program initiated in St. Louis nearly 20 years ago, Student to Student® uses peer-to-peer dialogue that strives to foster understanding, empathy and connection by educating others about what it’s like being Jewish. The program trains Jewish students to talk about their lives as Jewish teens, facilitates discussions that dismantle antisemitism and puts a human face to Judaism. During the past year, LiNK Jewish Buffalo worked with twelve teens to make 25 presentations and 9 new teens have been trained for 2023. Contact Mike Steklof at mike@buffalojewishfederation.org to schedule a Student to Student® presentation for your classroom or community group.
A Conference for Educators
The Holocaust Education Resource Organization sponsors an annual conference for educators. This year’s professional development conference will give teachers the tools to teach and initiate important discussions about the complex lessons of the Holocaust.
Conference will take place on
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Arts and Writing Contest for Students in Grades 7-12
The Holocaust Education Resource Organization of Buffalo sponsors an annual Arts and Writing Contest, which asks area middle school and high school students to contemplate a Holocaust-related topic and respond to it either in writing or in art.
Deadline to apply is
Friday, April 19, 2024
Abek Feigenblatt Student Upstander Award
The Abek Feigenblatt Student Upstander Award, is awarded to a WNY student in grades 7-12 who speaks up, lends a helping hand and demonstrates kindness. Nominate a student in grades 7-12 who stands up for what is right.
Nominations are due by
Friday, April 19, 2024
Sophia Veffer Upstander Award
The Sophia Veffer Upstander Award is named in honor of local Holocaust survivor, Sophia Veffer. Sophia has dedicated her life to creating a more just world by encouraging individuals to act as global citizens, assisting those in need and standing up in the face of adversity.
The recipient of this award is an individual who has strongly impacted the Buffalo region by focusing on standing up for others while promoting equality, social justice and human rights. The recipient can be of any background, and does not need to be connected in any way with the Holocaust Education Resource Organization.
Washington, DC Trip for Teachers
The Holocaust Education Resource Organization’s premier teacher training trip to Washington D.C. provides educators with the opportunity to tour and receive teaching materials from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the National African American Museum of History and Culture and the United States Institute of Peace. The trip runs every other year.
This trip was founded by Richard and Roberta Handel.
Joe Diamond Speakers
Training Program
Every other year, the HRC facilitates the Joe Diamond Speakers Training Program that allows 2nd and 3rd Generation Descendants to attend a formal training with the Director of Education at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie, IL. The attendees are trained to learn how to tell their parent/grandparent’s story of survival from their perspective in a meaningful and relevant way, creating a specialized Power Point with the goal of joining the HERO’s Speakers Bureau to share their family legacy with students, teachers and community members.