Latvia  

Day of Remembrance: 4 July

Historical Background:
On 4 July 1941, the Nazis burnt down the Riga Choral Synagogue, with many Jews trapped inside.
July 4 is Latvia's national Holocaust Memorial Day. In this date, the people of Latvia remember and honor the victims of genocide against the Jews. On October 3, 1990, the Latvian Parliament instituted this date as a national day of commemoration as part of the law detailing Holiday and Commemoration Days.

Latvia and the Holocaust:
Lexicon entry from Yad Vashem's online Holocaust Resource Center: Latvia, Riga    

Educational Activities:
Every year, a commemorative ceremony is held at the memorial site of the Riga Choral Synagogue. On 4 July, Government representatives, NGOs, cultural personalities, and representatives of the Latvian Jewish community gather at this and other Holocaust memorial sites.
On 9 December, 2003, the Latvian government adopted a decision to erect a monument for Zanis Lipke and other Latvians who saved Jews in Latvia during WWII.
The Holocaust is included in Latvia’s basic history curriculum (approved by the Center for Curricula Development and Examination, Ministry of Education and Science, order No 98/56 of 12 August 1998). Since history is a compulsory subject in Latvia, students in all Latvian schools study the Holocaust. Moral and ethical issues and lessons of the Holocaust are taught in social sciences classes.
Training sessions are organized to equip teachers with further knowledge on the local memorial sites of the Holocaust in Latvia, and methods to incorporate these sites in teaching about the Holocaust. The organizers of these courses include the Association of Latvian History Teachers, with assistance from the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia, the Embassy of the United States of America in Latvia, the Swedish Institute, with the support of the International Task Force.

Teaching Aids:
1. Leo Dribins, “Ebreji Latvijā” - R., 1996 (Leo Dribin. “Jews in Latvia”– Riga: 1996)
2. S. Brukfelds, P. Levins, “Stāstiet par to saviem bērniem” - R., 2000 (Stèphane Bruckfeld, Paul A Levine. “Tell Ye Your Children...”, Riga: 2000)
3. Sorosa fonds Latvija. Metodiskie materiāli “Holokausts” – R., b.g. (Soros Foundation Latvia. Methodological Materials “Holocaust.”)

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