The Mission of the Holocaust Education Resource Organization is to:
Remember the survivors and victims
Teach the lessons of the Holocaust
Empower future generations to take action
History of HERO
In 1983, with the support of the Buffalo Jewish Federation, and a non-sectarian group of founders, Toby Ticktin Back brought the dream of a permanent way to honor and remember the survivors of the Holocaust to life when the Holocaust Resource Center of Buffalo (HRC) became part of the cultural landscape of Western New York. HRC’s mission was achieved through documentation and personal testimony of local holocaust survivors, educating future generations with in-school visits and presentations, and through a wide range of in-service workshops. In 2023, as we recognize that the world, our nation, and our community have changed, and we have new challenges, the Holocaust Resource Center of Buffalo transitioned to the Holocaust Education Resource Organization (HERO), to emphasize our importance of providing education and resources to the community.
Meet the Team
Lauren Bloomberg
Director of Holocaust Education Resource Organization
Lauren joins the HERO after a long career working in Jewish Education. She received her Honors Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies, her Bachelor of Education, and a certificate in Hebrew and Judaic Studies from York University in Toronto. Lauren spent her junior year studying at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In addition, Lauren was a Lainer Intern for Jewish Education of North America. Over the past 20 years she has taught in multiple Jewish schools in Canada and the US working with children of all ages. Lauren moved to Buffalo in 2008 and lives with her husband Rich, teenagers Marlowe and Reid, and her dog Buffy.
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Wendy Weisbrot
Manager of Holocaust Education Resource Organization
Wendy spent her career as a beloved elementary school educator in the Williamsville School District. In the last decade, she has also served in various volunteer leadership positions for HERO. Her work included imagining and creating HERO’s Descendants Group and becoming a trained 2nd Generation speaker, sharing her Father, Joe Diamond’s z”l story with hundreds of students and community members. Most recently, in her role as the Chair of HERO, she led the effort to rebrand and change the name of the organization from the Holocaust Resource Center (HRC) to HERO. Wendy’s intimate knowledge of HERO, her educational background, and passion for strengthening Jewish life in Buffalo will be a treasured asset to the future of the HERO.
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Leadership Council
Dr. Ann Marie Carosella, Past Chair
Jeff Blum, Community Engagement Chair
Brenda Feldstein, Community Engagement Co-Chair
Monica Neuwirt, Honoring Survivors and Descendants Chair
Judge Lisa Bloch Rodwin, Social Justice Chair
Andrew Dugan, Social Justice Co-Chair
Justin Loeber, Teacher Support Chair
Naomi Haefner, Teacher Support Co-Chair
Megan Wright, Teacher Support Co-Chair
