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By Mary Eshet In an era of surging global antisemitism and a political climate increasingly fraught by tensions surrounding Israel, the Stan Greenspon Holocaust Education Center is meeting an
The Charlotte Jewish News- February 2026- Page 23
Beyond the Numbers: The Stan Greenspon Center’ s Expanding Mission in Holocaust Education
counselors, and teachers, these sessions tackle the complex intersection of Jewish identity and antisemitism today. The curriculum is specifically crafted to address how global conflicts and misinformation impact K – 12
remains the cornerstone of the Center’ s pedagogical approach.
The Heart of the Work: A Gift to the Next Generation
While the sheer number of educators trained is impressive, the Greenspon Center’ s true impact lies in its ability to transform abstract history into lived reality, exemplified by Kinga Zay, a German teacher at Providence Day School in Charlotte and a recent graduate of the Greenspon Certification in Holocaust Pedagogy( CHP) program.
The CHP program challenges educators to move beyond staggering statistics and instead view history through the lens of a single human life. Kinga, raised in Hungary and who is not Jewish, felt a deep personal responsibility to confront the silence surrounding the history of her upbringing.
She dedicated her research to Sandor Kaiser, a Jewish café owner in Budapest and the father of a close family friend. Kaiser’ s café had once been a vibrant hub for intelligentsia, but his story – and his life – were obscured by the chaos of 1944.
Through the Center’ s guidance, Kinga’ s journey of discovery became a powerful act of Tikkun Olam or repairing the world:
• Unlocking the Silence: Using archival research techniques from Yad Vashem and the US Shoah Foundation, Kinga uncovered records the Kaiser family had never seen, including confirmation of his forced labor and transport to Buchenwald.
• Providing Closure: By locating his death certificate, she finally resolved conflicting records of his final days, bringing long-awaited peace to a family that had waited decades for the truth.
• Renewing Heritage: Her work inspired the victim’ s grandchildren and great-grandchildren to re-engage with their Jewish heritage. This culminated on November 7, 2025, when the family installed a Stolperstein( stumbling stone)— a brass memorial plaque— in front of Kaiser’ s former home in Budapest.
“ This is what you set in motion,” Kinga said of the Greenspon Center.“ A gift to the next generation.”
A“ Steady Flame” for the Future
For educators like Kinga, the Greenspon Center is the“ spark” that ignites a“ steady flame” of commitment. It provides a powerful way to not only teach history, but to bring home the relevance of that history to contemporary times.
As the Stan Greenspon Center continues to expand its regional footprint through the Certificate in Holocaust Pedagogy program, NCDPI partnerships, virtual workshops, and school and community presentations, it remains anchored in these individual stories.
By bridging the gap between historical data and personal testimony, the Center is not just teaching a subject; it equips a generation of educators and students to reach across time and build a more empathetic world.
Kinga Zay’ s project for the Certificate in Holocaust Education program culminated in the dedication of a stumbling stone in Budapest, Hungary.
unprecedented demand from the front lines of our schools. As anti-Jewish sentiment reaches levels not seen in decades, the Center has evolved into a regional force for educator training and presentations directly to students.
Today’ s teachers require specialized tools, comprehensive resources, and rigorous training to navigate the complexities of the Holocaust, modern antisemitism, and the nuanced history of Israel. The center’ s mission is more urgent than ever: Through education, to honor the history of the Holocaust, deepen understanding of Jewish history and culture, and empower individuals to confront antisemitism and all forms of hate. Meeting Statewide Demand The expanding scale of the Center’ s current outreach is illustrated by its growing partnership with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction( NCDPI).
In Feb. 2026, the Greenspon Center will lead a series of fullday regional trainings across eight geographic areas of North Carolina – from the West Region in Mills River to the Southwest Region in Salisbury.
Designed for administrators, schools, providing educators with concrete strategies to foster empathy among diverse student bodies. With seats limited for these sessions, rapid registration reflects a critical need for professional development that helps school leaders build“ safe, inclusive, and respectful school communities.”
Additionally, on Feb. 6, Katie Cunningham, Assistant Director of the Greenspon Center, will lead a professional development day in Iredell County for educators who teach or support Holocaust education. The program will focus on historical content and pedagogical approaches in teaching the Holocaust, Jewish history and the roots and current manifestations of antisemitism.
The Center’ s influence also extends beyond state lines through virtual platforms. On February 16, the Greenspon Center will partner with Kennesaw State University, the Anne Frank Center, Georgia Southern University, and Elon Hillel for a free virtual workshop.
This collaboration offers pre-service and early-service teachers access to field experts and, crucially, the opportunity to hear directly from a Holocaust survivor – a resource that
Now more than ever, personalized advice matters
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