Athletes against antisemitism consortium launched
Aug. 2—The Benjamin Ferencz Institute for Ethics, Human Rights and the Holocaust and CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center have launched a new consortium for athletes to raise awareness regarding the Holocaust, antisemitism, and other forms of identity-based hate.
The consortium aims to embolden student-athletes to stand up and speak out when faced with intolerance and injustice and serve as ethical role models.
It was inspired by the success of the 2018 Davidson College men's basketball journey of remembrance to Auschwitz-Birkenau and similar programs.
Among the consortium participants is Dr. Alex Kor, son of Holocaust survivor and CANDLES founder Eva Mozes Kor.
"With discrimination and hate continuing to proliferate in our country and worldwide, I am extremely excited to be a part of this initiative along with some truly phenomenal people," Alex Kor said in a news release.
The "Athletes Against Antisemitism and Discrimination" Consortium will include a curriculum that uses books, videos, interactive online discussions, in-person and virtual lectures featuring an internationally recognized speakers' bureau, and immersive, guided tours to Auschwitz-Birkenau.
In 2018, the Maimonides Institute for Medicine, Ethics and the Holocaust — now the Benjamin Ferencz Institute for Ethics, Human Rights and the Holocaust — and CANDLES organized a life-changing trip to Auschwitz for the Davidson College men's basketball team led by Eva Mozes Kor.
One of the goals for the consortium will be to support other team trips to Auschwitz-Birkenau beginning in the summer of 2024.
Said Stacy Gallin, founding director of the Ferencz Institute, "The goal of this consortium is to educate a new generation of leaders about the specific violations of human dignity and human rights that took place during the Holocaust and help them understand the relevance of these lessons for today's society. We want to inspire athletes to use their platform to stand up and speak out when they witness antisemitism, discrimination and identity-based hatred and become a force for change in the world."
The Consortium will be headed by recently retired Davidson College Coach Bob McKillop.
The consortium launches at a time when antisemitism and other forms of identity-based hate are on the rise not only in the United States but throughout the entire world and when recent studies have illustrated that younger generations are increasingly unaware of the Holocaust, according to a news release.
Said Alex Kor, who accompanied the Davidson team in 2018, "College basketball programs are typically measured by the number of wins and championships that they achieve. Yet, years from now, the wins and losses may be forgotten but lessons of hope, healing, humanity, resilience and overcoming adversity that the Davidson team learned from their journey to Auschwitz-Birkenau will be remembered by all forever." Kor said.
More information on the consortium can be found at: https://ferenczinstitute.org/athletes-against-antisemitism-and-discrimination/
