Yet another Holocaust injustice

BILL STRAUS

On March 3, all of us heard and read much about the Holocaust.

That day, I chose to attend the Educators' Conference on the Holocaust at Beth El Congregation. This is an annual Bureau of Jewish Education event for public school teachers, of which 120 attended. The daylong event introduced Arizona teachers to a subject about which they previously knew relatively little.

I was there primarily to hear Paul Wieser, our Anti-Defamation League associate regional director and director of education, speak on the subject of "Methodology Surrounding the Teaching of the Holocaust." Wieser is a former Fulbright scholar with a master's degree in Holocaust studies. He was provocative and spellbinding. One could easily tell he connected on many levels with the educators.

But this enlightening program was not the Holocaust event that dominated our airwaves and newspapers on March 3. And that was an injustice.

What you probably saw and heard about was the notorious People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals exhibit, "Holocaust on Your Plate," that appeared March 3 at Arizona State University. This is the exhibit that purports to draw a parallel between the human victims of the Holocaust and the plight of animals raised for the purpose of feeding people.

It is the exhibit that ADL's National Director Abe Foxman says "raises chutzpah to new heights."

I received more calls from the media on the PETA exhibit than any other issue in my two years with ADL. That is sad. But sadder is the fact that two events concerning the Holocaust took place on March 3, one enriching and educational, the other misguided and attention-seeking. And the latter got all the attention.

I did take advantage of the calls to connect reporters with Holocaust survivor Carl Ofisher for his reactions to the PETA exhibit. The result was dramatic. Some of these reporters had never spoken with a survivor. One of the reporters was so moved by Ofisher's story that he called me back with thanks and assurances that he would be at Ofisher's Holocaust presentation at Beth El in April.

Breshin back with ADL
This week, ADL welcomes back an old friend who will significantly strengthen our organization. Joel Breshin, formerly the regional director of the Arizona chapter of the ADL for 14 years, has returned to ADL as civil rights/law enforcement consultant. Since leaving ADL almost four years ago, Breshin has been working in the Civil Rights Division of the Arizona attorney general's office. His position was recently cut by budgetary restraints.

The opportunity to bring someone with Breshin's reputation back into the ADL fold was one I couldn't resist. And thanks to a donor who wishes to remain anonymous, that opportunity has become a reality. The attorney general's loss is ADL's - and the Jewish community's - gain.

Bill Straus is the regional director of the Arizona chapter of the Anti-Defamation League. Contact him at 602-274-0991.

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