Agudath Israel is welcoming the Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons Act (HEAL), legislation which would require a study of Holocaust education efforts in states, local educational agencies and public elementary and secondary schools. Leading the effort are Representatives Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Michael McCaul (R-TX), Kathy Manning (D-NC) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). The bill was introduced on International Holocaust Remembrance Day with bipartisan support.

“Raising the level of Holocaust awareness within United States, and particularly among our young people, is the call of the hour,” according to Rabbi Abba Cohen, Vice President for Government Affairs and Washington Director of Agudath Israel of America. “The pattern of hate crimes that have targeted American Jews of late, and the shocking level of ignorance about the Holocaust as demonstrated in recent polls, make Holocaust education an important weapon in the battle to combat this hate.”

Under the bill, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum will be instructed to survey the states to determine, among other things: whether Holocaust education is mandatory or optional; the respective state standards and their implementation; the use of quantitative and qualitative strategies; the types of instructional materials and comprehensiveness of lessons; and, how schools are assessing outcomes. HEAL will also require the results of the study to be reported to Congress.

The HEAL Act follows the 2020 passage of the Never Again Holocaust Education Act, which provided funding to expand support for resources and curricular material for educators, and for professional development.

Agudath Israel is supporting and helping to promote the bill and is praising Reps. Gottheimer and other sponsors for their devotion and unity regarding this issue.

“The more today’s youth learn about the Holocaust, the more they understand the evil and horror of antisemitism and other forms of hatred,” noted Rabbi Cohen. “With so much at stake, we must ensure that Holocaust education is being conducted with the utmost in excellence and effectiveness, and that is what this legislation is about.”