CARMA Center to Combat Antisemitism and Reinforce Multicultural Acceptance, an initiative of Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey, is proud to have brought the Hate Ends Now Holocaust education Cattle Car immersive presentation to nearly 1000 students at Marlboro Township middle schools and Freehold Regional High School District's Law and Public Service magnet program,at Colts Neck High School, as well as 200+ leaders spanning faith communities, law enforcement, elected officials, educational professionals, and representatives from 3GNY and NJ Commission on Holocaust Education. Federation thanks Marlboro Township Public Schools and Marlboro Jewish Center for their respective sponsorship contributions and the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, Colts Neck Police Department, and Marlboro Township Police for all their support.
The Hate Ends Now mobile Holocaust exhibit and original artifact collection is an educational experience that raises awareness about the Holocaust, antisemitism, and all forms of hate. Housed in an exact replica WWII era cattle car as was used to transport Jews and other targeted groups to concentration and death camps during the Holocaust, it is a powerful 360-degree immersive presentation. Accompanying the exhibit is a rare collection of original Holocaust artifacts from the Darrell English Collection.
The education professionals participating in the adult leaders' sessions after school hours included nearly 100 district and county superintendents, principals and assistant principals, teachers, board of education members, a Holocaust educator, supervisors of curriculum & instruction, a literary coach, occupational therapists, speech therapists, preschool teachers, kindergarten teachers and instructional aids and assistants, school nurses, school social workers, school secretaries, a Spanish teacher, Hebrew school teachers, retired teachers, and more.
Among the many community leaders who experienced the exhibit were Superintendent Michael Ballone of Marlboro Township Public School District and Superintendent Nicole Hazel of the Freehold Regional High School District, both of whom spoke about the significance of bringing the Cattle Car to their students, as well as Les Richens, Interim County Superintendent, Monmouth County; Principals Dr. Brian Donahue from Colts Neck High School, Patricia Nieliwocki from Marlboro Middle School, and John Pacifico from Marlboro Memorial Middle School; NJ Sen. Henry Owen; NJ Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger; NJ Assemblywoman Margie Donlon; County Commissioner Erik Anderson; Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago; Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden; Chief of Detectives, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, John McCabe; Representatives of the NJ State Police Jewish Troopers Association; Wendy Tepper from 3GNY; and representatives from the NJ Commission on Holocaust Education.
“Education has the power to make people feel something, to bring them together, and inspire them to act. The Hate Ends Now Cattle Car experience enabled more than a thousand members of the local community to connect events of the past with our current world, helping shape generations of ethical decision-makers,” said Stacy Gallin, DMH, Director of CARMA. “Thanks to support from superintendents Michael Ballone of Marlboro Township Public Schools and Nicole Hazel of Freehold Regional High School District, we were able to offer this program that will not only impact current students today but create ‘multipliers’ — people to share these lessons with others. Every student, educator, and community member who experienced this exhibit is now a potential agent of change who can go on to create a better future.”
“When we engage with history and each other in meaningful ways such as this, we create opportunities to build bridges of understanding,” said Michael Ballone, Superintendent of Schools, Marlboro Township Public Schools. “This experience is designed to spark important discussions that will help shape a more respectful, unified, and compassionate school community.”
“We are deeply committed to ensuring that the lessons of the Holocaust transcend textbooks and become living conversations that challenge us to recognize the humanity in one another,” added Nicole Hazel, Superintendent, Freehold Regional High School District. “The Hate Ends Now, World War II cattle car exhibit is a unique opportunity for students to learn these lessons and connect with each other to foster a foundation of understanding and unity. We are extremely grateful to have had the opportunity for our students to participate in this exhibition and know that they have taken the message to heart.”
"Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey is strongly invested in distilling and developing broad approaches to combating hate for the specific needs of our local community and surrounding region," said Susan Antman, Executive Director. "Through such efforts as CARMA, our Jewish Community Relationsh Council (JCRC)'s government and multicultural advocacy, and our Security Initiatives, we remain focused on ways to support the growing need for local solutions tackling historic increases in antisemitism and promoting an inclusive environment for all."