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International Commission presents conclusions to Romanian
President
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Participants in seminar for future leaders in Romanian
Holocaust education. Center (standing): Mina Yanco, Deputy
Director, Righteous Among the Nations Department
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On 11 November, members of the International Commission on the
Holocaust in Romania, chaired by Nobel Prize laureate and Vice
Chairman of the Yad Vashem Council Professor Elie Wiesel,
presented its final report to Romanian President Ion Iliescu at a
special ceremony in the Presidential Palace in Bucharest. The
400-page report details the history of the Holocaust in Romania as
well as the Commission’s recommendations on how the government can
foster Holocaust awareness, remembrance, and education in Romania.
(The full report may be viewed on the Yad Vashem website:
www.yadvashem.org)
Yad Vashem has been involved in the Commission’s work since its
establishment by President Iliescu in November 2003. Organized
with the assistance of Yad Vashem, the United States Holocaust
Memorial Museum, the American Jewish Committee and B’nai B’rith
International, the Commission is comprised of Holocaust scholars,
social scientists, historians and public figures; leaders of
international Jewish and Romany organizations; representatives of
the Romanian-Jewish community, and representatives of the Romanian
Presidency. Commission members came from Romania, Israel, the
United States, France and Germany.
In presenting the report to President Iliescu, Commission Chairman
Elie Wiesel expressed his hope that it would have a broad and
lasting impact on Romanian society. Chairman of the Yad Vashem
Directorate Avner Shalev welcomed the report.
“This report is an important step in Romania’s confrontation with
its past,” Shalev said. “I hope that the Commission’s conclusions
will lead to more awareness among Romanian society of the
Holocaust in Romania. It is important to stress, however, that the
Commission’s work represents only a starting point in an important
and meaningful process whereby the Commission’s recommendations
will be implemented.”
Seminar for Romanian Educators
Yad Vashem’s support of the Commission included allowing the
Commission access to its research and hosting it in September,
when the report was finalized. In addition, Yad Vashem’s
International School for Holocaust Studies has developed the
knowledge, expertise and pedagogical tools necessary to widen and
professionalize Holocaust education in Romania. Following the
visit of Romanian Minister of Education Alexandru Athanasiu in
March, a seminar for Romanian educators was held at the
International School this fall, headed by the Chief Historical
Inspector at the Romanian Ministry of Education,
Doru Dumitrescu.
The participants remarked on the high level of
academic presentations, organization and personal attention they
received during the course. In particular, they valued the
educational units and pedagogical aspects presented to them,
through which they were able to learn many new teaching methods.
“I appreciated your open mind and flexibility when dealing with
our ‘difficult questions’,” said
participant Iulia Dumitrachescu, English inspector at the
Ministry of Education. “With the information I learned, I hope to
devise ways in which the subject of the Holocaust may be used
during English lessons, as well as history ones.”
Copyright ©2004 Yad Vashem The Holocaust
Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority |
