"Antisemitism and Us", Teachers' Seminar

From December 6 to 8, 2024, we hosted the seminar Antisemitism and Us in Terezín for teachers and peer educators from the Anne Frank Youth Network (AFYN). The event was organized in collaboration with European Practitioners against Antisemitism (EPNA), and with support from the German Federal Foreign Office.

Program and Key Speakers
The seminar offered a rich program focused on how to teach about antisemitism and the Holocaust in a way that has a tangible impact while avoiding unintended antisemitic outcomes. We were honored to welcome outstanding speakers:

• Tomáš Kraus, who guided participants through the authentic environment of the Terezín ghetto, sharing his family’s stories to enrich the educational experience.
• Jakub Drábik, who gave a lecture titled What is Fascism?, exploring its origins, manifestations, and methods of prevention.
• Peter Weisenbacher, who presented FRA research and additional data on how antisemitism is perceived and experienced by members of the Jewish community in Slovakia.

Teachers and peer educators shared their experiences and discussed methods for recognizing and addressing antisemitism effectively in classrooms. Additionally, we explored tools such as Golden Arrows and Deep Democracy, which promote constructive dialogue on controversial topics.

Survey Findings and Participant Feedback
During the seminar we presented the first version of a survey on anti-Semitism in schools, on which we collaborated with teachers, representatives of the Jewish community and a sociologist. Although most teachers have not seen an increase in anti-Semitism, we know from school preventionists that they see an increase, especially in the form of conspiracy theories.

Participants appreciated the practical approach, shared examples, and concrete tools for teaching. Some of their feedback included:

• "What was new for me? Methods, the approach to the topic of antisemitism, lesson preparation, and information from the lectures."
• "I liked everything, especially the combination of practical and professional perspectives, the opportunity to share experiences, and the interaction with young people."
• "I will use almost everything in teaching."

Acknowledgments
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all participants – teachers and peer educators from AFYN (Anna Dvořáková, Antonie Fraňková, Karolína Škaroupková) – for their active engagement and contributions.

Special thanks to the Terezín Memorial for the support and cooperation, and Terezín Fortress, and Hotel Memorial for hosting us. We are also deeply grateful to EPNA and the German Federal Foreign Office for their support in making this seminar possible.

We look forward to continuing our collaboration and our efforts to combat prejudice in schools.

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