Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. It’s a time of gratitude and reflection, free from the rush of gift-giving—a moment to truly appreciate the blessings in our lives.
As I sit down to write this note, my heart is heavy. In recent weeks, we’ve witnessed deeply disturbing events. In Amsterdam, Jewish fans were attacked following a soccer game. Soon after, cowards in skeleton costumes, faces hidden, carried Nazi flags in protest outside a performance of Anne Frank in Michigan. Just last weekend, a group dressed in black, wielding swastika flags, marched through downtown Columbus, Ohio, shouting hateful slurs aimed at both Black and Jewish communities. And, sadly, this past week, a Chabad Rabbi was brutally murdered because he was Jewish.
The Anti-Defamation League reports that hate-fueled, organized events have reached a new high this year, with 282 documented incidents. Each one of these moments underscores the need for Holocaust education and the importance of remembering our shared humanity.
Amid these troubling times, I am reminded of the resilience and wisdom of the Holocaust Survivors I’ve had the honor of knowing. They have taught me invaluable lessons, especially pertinent as we reflect on Thanksgiving.
Here are a few that stand out:
As we gather around our tables this Thanksgiving, I want to express my deepest gratitude to each of you. Your support allows us to train teachers, host community programs, send speakers into schools, welcome visitors to our Center, and shape young minds. Your generosity makes our work possible. I’m also profoundly grateful for the remarkable team I work with every day—our passionate staff, our dedicated board, and our tireless volunteers. Together, we strive to make a difference in a world that urgently needs it. And personally, I am thankful that each morning, I have the privilege of coming to work at the Alabama Holocaust Education Center.
In a time of division and unrest, I am blessed to be part of a mission that brings hope and education to our community.
Happy Thanksgiving!
With Gratitude,
Lisa
