Finally. I’m incredibly pleased to share the news about the establishment of Six Million Voices — an educational platform with a mission to transform history’s most painful lesson, the Holocaust, into a deeply meaningful and thought-provoking experience accessible to everyone.
“Six Million Voices” stems from a completely innovative approach to education and self-awareness. We need to grasp how profoundly our reality has changed since the pandemic. Before the pandemic, we adhered to a rather traditional approach to life: there was no remote work, no remote education, but there was a geographical limitation that constrained us. Today, we have a much broader spectrum of possibilities. I am not suggesting in any way that we should completely switch to remote work or education today; it is obvious that human relationships have intrinsic value. However, we have the opportunity to integrate different aspects of our lives.
Observing our first project, the Auschwitz Virtual Tour, its development, and its success, we quickly realized that we could remotely tell the story of the Holocaust. We can showcase tragic places, sites of atrocities, during online sessions using truly incredible materials that we have created ourselves. When it dawned on us that this is possible, we automatically realized that we can tell the story of Auschwitz, the history of extermination in Treblinka or Sobibor, to nearly 8 billion people. There are no limitations, no glass ceiling or other restrictions and obstacles. Initially, we thought we would create a storytelling platform. We started with one session: Auschwitz Virtual Tour, and soon there will be another session: “Beyond Auschwitz – Aktion Reinhardt: the extermination of Polish Jews.” More will come in the second half of 2024.
However, Six Million Voices is something much broader:
“Extremism in all forms is on the rise. Neo-Nazism, white supremacism, antisemitism, and other forms of hate are spreading rapidly through the news, society, and social media. Negative attitudes are steadily creeping into modern behaviors and language – not just of community or political leaders but of ordinary fellow human beings. By learning the horrific impact of unchecked hatred through the lens of the Holocaust, we can learn how to spot the warning signs of baseless hatred, be a voice for moral clarity, and develop the consciousness to never be indifferent to human suffering.”
We go far beyond storytelling – we tell stories to highlight historical processes, shape ethical messages and articulate parallels between the past and the present.
Follow us: www.sixmillionvoices.org
More details coming soon: who we are, titles of upcoming sessions in 2024, Auschwitz Talks, etc.
My sincere thanks to Rabbi Michael B. as well as to Tami Adelman, Dina Rabhan and the East Valley JCC in Phoenix.
