Dr. Miriam and Sheldon Adelson became the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial's largest private donor with their recent $25 million contribution to support its International School for Holocaust Studies. The $25 million donation, announced at the 30th anniversary dinner of the American Society for Yad Vashem in New York in November, is the second donation of its kind to Yad Vashem from the philanthropic family. The Adelsons donated $25 million in 2006, becoming a major collaborator with Yad Vashem. The two donations make the Adelsons the largest private donors to Yad Vashem in its history. The donation will enable the International School for Holocaust Studies to significantly expand its program and provide additional seminars and hire more teachers and advisers. The school provides seminars ranging from 10 to 21 days in which pupils are taught how to teach about the Holocaust, meet with survivors and hear their stories, and build a concrete foundation of knowledge. After completion, students return to their respective countries of origin where they teach the Holocaust themselves. Over the past five years, dozens of non-Jewish students from around the globe have attended the seminars. Students have hailed from Spain, Greece, Hungary, Serbia, Estonia. Other recent graduates include professors from China, Muslim Tatars from Russia and Moroccans. "I thank our dear friends Dr. Miriam and Sheldon Adelson for their extraordinary contribution that will serve to advance training teachers throughout the world. It is the most effective way to fulfill our obligation to "remember." Thanks to the Adelsons the number of teachers who have completed the seminars at Yad Vashem has grown dramatically," said Yad Vashem Chairman Avner Shalem. "We have seen the incredible impact of Yad Vashem seminars on educators of all backgrounds over the past five years. We look to these educators to bring the lessons of the Shoah to their students," said Dr. Miriam Adelson. We encourage others to join us in supporting Yad Vashem in its crucial work," she said. Full disclosure: The Adelsons are also the primary shareholders of Israel Hayom.
Get the Israel Hayom newsletter sent to your mailbox!
Like our newsletter? 'Like' our Facebook page!
