Thou shalt not stand idly by...

(Photo by Richard Levine)

This month we are pleased to announce the launch of two new initiatives to educate students and the public about the crisis in Darfur. The Education Department has created a new workshop for middle and high school students, Thou Shalt Not Stand Idly By. As an institution devoted to educating all who walk through its doors about the Holocaust and the universal lessons that can be learned from this unique period of history, the Museum feels a special responsibility to speak out about Human Rights violations.

The workshop’s title refers to the Biblical phrase “Thou shalt not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor.” The initiative features artifacts, images, and written testimony from witnesses to the genocide in Darfur — most of whom are young adults and children — to teach abut the crisis and to offer information about actions students can take. The Museum has also created a dynamic website page devoted to educating teachers, students, and the general public about the situation. Visitors to the site can read background information, download videos, get recommendations for books, and launch their own letter writing campaigns.



We invite you to visit this webpage, bring students to the Museum to participate in the workshop, and most of all to get involved in speaking out against genocide. Click here www.mjhnyc.org/teach_teachers_i.htm