Education as a Response to Antisemitism.

In recent years, Australia—like many other democratic societies—has witnessed a disturbing rise in antisemitic incidents, hate speech, and acts of violence targeting Jewish communities. The attack at Bondi Beach was not only a shock to the nation but also a painful reminder that antisemitism is not an abstract historical problem; it is a contemporary reality that demands serious reflection and responsible action. Education must be one of the central pillars of that response.

The project “100 Auschwitz Virtual Tours for 100 Australian Schools” is conceived as a direct educational answer to this challenge. Its goal is not only to teach history, but to help young people understand how hatred, dehumanization, and collective blame develop—and how they can be recognized and resisted before they turn into violence.

The Auschwitz Virtual Tour is a live, interactive educational session conducted by experienced educators working with the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial. Using high-quality visual material, historical documentation, and guided interpretation, students are taken through the former German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau in a way that is respectful, age-appropriate, and intellectually demanding. Importantly, this is not a passive presentation, but a dialogue—students are encouraged to ask questions and engage critically with the material.

Teaching about Auschwitz is not merely about recounting the crimes of the past. It is about drawing conclusions for the present. One of the most difficult questions young people ask today is how it is possible that crimes similar in nature to those committed eighty years ago are still happening in the world. Avoiding this question, or separating Holocaust education from contemporary moral challenges, weakens its meaning. The Auschwitz Virtual Tour directly addresses this tension, showing that genocide and mass violence do not begin with camps or weapons, but with language, stereotypes, exclusion, and the normalization of hatred.

In the Australian context, this educational effort has particular relevance. Antisemitism today often appears in subtle forms: conspiracy theories, collective accusations, or the transfer of distant political conflicts onto local Jewish communities. Holocaust education helps students recognize these mechanisms and understand why assigning collective responsibility to entire groups—whether Jews or any other minority—is morally wrong and socially dangerous.

Intention. The ambition of this project—to reach 100 Australian schools through 100 dedicated virtual sessions—is grounded in the belief that education can still shape moral awareness. Young Australians are capable of nuanced thinking, but they expect honesty, coherence, and courage from educators. They quickly recognize when difficult issues are avoided. This program offers schools a chance to confront these issues responsibly, with historical depth and ethical clarity.

At a time when antisemitism is again testing the values of open societies, the Auschwitz Virtual Tour is not only a lesson about the past. It is an investment in the moral resilience of the next generation—an effort to ensure that “Never Again” remains a commitment, not a slogan.

Project Goal. The goal of the project is to conduct 100 Auschwitz Virtual Tour educational sessions in 100 Australian high schools, enabling students to gain a deeper understanding of the Holocaust. We aim not only to educate youth but also to encourage reflection on the mechanisms leading to hatred, intolerance, and genocide.

Program Description. Each Auschwitz Virtual Tour session is an interactive meeting led by an expert, during which students can participate in a virtual journey through the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp site. The presentation uses authentic archival materials, photographs, films, and survivor testimonies, helping participants better comprehend the tragedy of those events.

Each session includes:

• A virtual tour of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp with expert commentary,

• A historical explanation of the so called Final Solution of the Jewish question.

• A Q&A session for students.

Target Group The project is targeted at Australian high schools, history and civic education teachers, and students interested in 20th-century history, human rights, and ethics.

Why Is This Important? Holocaust education is key to understanding contemporary mechanisms of exclusion, dehumanization, and propaganda. Analyzing the historical processes that led to the Holocaust helps young people recognize the dangers of authoritarianism, extremism, and discrimination. With modern technology, we can reach students worldwide and pass on these important lessons.

Collaboration and Partnership. We invite Australian schools, educational organizations, and institutions focused on historical remembrance to collaborate on this project. We believe that together we can provide youth with valuable educational experiences that will shape their worldview and sense of responsibility for the future.

Summary. The "100 Auschwitz Virtual Tour Sessions for 100 Australian Schools" project is an initiative aimed at spreading knowledge about the Holocaust through modern teaching methods. Through interactive sessions, students in Australia can better understand history, develop empathy, and draw lessons for the future. Through education, we build a better, more aware world.

Become an Ambassador of the Auschwitz Virtual Tour Sessions in Canada.

History has the power to shape future generations. Remembering the past helps us build a better world based on the values of equality, respect, and truth. The Auschwitz Virtual Tour Ambassador Program is an initiative for those who want to contribute to the historical education of youth in Canada.

The program's goal is to introduce Auschwitz Virtual Tour sessions to every high school in Australia, giving students the opportunity to explore the Holocaust and its consequences in a modern, interactive way.

Your Role as an Ambassador. Ambassadors of the program play a key role in spreading this initiative. Thanks to them, students and teachers learn about the Auschwitz Virtual Tour and can benefit from this unique educational tool.

As an Ambassador, you may:

• Support education in your community by becoming a donor to fund school sessions in your region.

• Establish contact with schools/donors and encourage them to participate in the program,

• Promote Auschwitz Virtual Tour sessions in your community,