The Memory to Action project was begun by a group of concerned educators, clergy, and professionals, many touched by the Nazi Holocaust, who wanted to create an event to commemorate the Holocaust. We joined together to create a meal based, participatory, commemorative event that would motivate people to engage in social action.
The Memory to Action project seeks to create and establish the practice of an annual participatory event utilizing the project's guidebook to remember the Holocaust and thereby help avert future genocides. We endeavor to heighten participants' empathy to suffering of others and value human diversity, and further, to encourage participants to take personal actions, however small, leading to greater tolerance and personal safety for all. Because it is participatory, interactive and meal-based, this annual event is intended to augment public Yom Hashoah events and Holocaust museums in educating about the Holocaust and other genocides.
Our Goals
To look back and commemorate the horror of genocide in history, particularly the Nazi Holocaust.
To look forward in the spirit of inclusion, compassion and tolerance.
To encourage social action:
We encourage participants to take personal responsibility for each other, regardless of race or religion, thereby helping to prevent the recurrence of genocide anywhere in the world, and to improve their community by personally taking a small step that encourages the acceptance of difference and reduces or prevents discrimination, mistreatment, or violence against others.
To distribute our guidebook nationally and ultimately worldwide:
This will be achieved initially by recruiting institutional affiliates such as synagogues, churches, schools, museums, and community organizations. The guidebook is also directly available on our web site, www.memorytoaction.org, where visitors can download the guidebook with different role-plays. In the future it will be available in multiple languages, starting with German. We also distribute the Memory to Action guidebook in a paperback version. In addition, we plan to make the Memory to Action event available as an official ceremony for such annual commemorations as the Holocaust Remembrance Day observed in Germany and Britain on January 27th (Auschwitz liberation day), and in Israel.
