NYC Gazette

Speaker Carl Heastie, Education Committee Chair Michael Benedetto, and Assemblymember Nily Rozic have announced that the State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2024-25 Budget will invest $500,000 to review and update the curriculum on the Holocaust in public schools. The funding comes at a crucial time as antisemitism incidents have been on the rise in New York, with the Anti-Defamation League reporting a significant increase in such incidents.

Heastie emphasized the importance of this funding by stating, "With antisemitic attacks on the rise across our state, this funding arrives at a critical time for our children." Benedetto echoed this sentiment, noting, “We cannot properly prepare our students for the future without ensuring they’ve learned the lessons of our past.”

Rozic highlighted the urgency of providing accurate and comprehensive information to students, saying, “With the latest wave of antisemitism and disinformation, it’s imperative that New York's educational system provide students with accurate and comprehensive information and knowledge on how quickly hate can spread.”

Assemblymember Simcha Eichenstein emphasized the role of education in combating hate, stating, “Hate does not exist in a vacuum; it is the result of ignorance and misinformation. This vital funding will help ensure that our state curriculum represents a true and accurate account of Holocaust history.”

Assemblymember Sam Berger shared his personal connection to the Holocaust, expressing the importance of educating the next generation about the horrors of the past. He stated, “The stories my grandparents shared with me about their experience surviving the Holocaust continue to guide me to this day. It is incumbent upon leaders to never allow humanity's capacity for evil to be forgotten.”

Assemblymember Charles D. Lavine commended the budget allocation for Holocaust curriculum review, emphasizing the need to combat ignorance about the historical events. He stated, “Too many people remain ignorant of the indiscriminate wholesale murder of more than 6 million Jews by the Nazis during World War II."

Assemblymember David Weprin underscored the significance of educating students about the Holocaust, especially as the number of survivors decreases. He emphasized, “With the number of Holocaust survivors dwindling, it is imperative that New York memorializes the horrific events of the Holocaust."

The funding allocated in the SFY 2024-25 Budget will ensure that New York's Holocaust curriculum is thoroughly reviewed and updated to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of this dark chapter in history.