Working with Anti Defamation League ADL

Our project has been enormously uplifted by our partnering with ADL Anti Defamation League. We helped create 2 educator conferences in San Diego entitled The Practice of Never Again. In 2010, 75 public school middle and high school educators heard keynote speaker Stephen Smith, MBE, PhD, D Law current Executive Director of USC Shoah Foundation.

Dr. Smith is shown in center of photo wearing tie with our very own Holocaust Survivors from San Diego New Life Club . This year's conference grew in size and had 100 educators, with 25 returning advanced track participants. This year the keynote address was delivered by Rachel Korazim Ph.D., the former Academic Director, Distance Learning Programs, Jewish Agency for Israel. All of the educators received a Butterfly Classroom kit generously donated through Leichtag Family Foundation. We worked like crazy to assemble 100 kits in time for the conference and they were eagerly received by the teachers!! Participants commented that the panel we added this year with the Holocaust survivors sharing their stories was the most powerful part of the day.

Butterfly Project Interfaith Events with Dr Edith Eva Eger

Dr. Edith Eva Eger shared her story of survival and transformation with San Diego Jewish Academy Students and students from St. Johns Catholic School in Encinitas Ca. and their parents. There was not a dry eye in the room as she shared her painful and courageous story and declared the worth of every child in the room and that they are powerful and should never let anyone pollute their minds. It was an incredible moment when our SDJA students joined theirs on the campus of St Johns to install their butterflies.

Girl Scouts from Christian, Muslim and Jewish faiths listened intently as Dr. Eger shared her story stressing cooperation and understanding between people is the only way for a better world , where people are allowed to be who they are. Afterwards they asked questions and painted butterflies as an expression of hope and transformation. It was an inspiring afternoon at The Islamic Center of San Diego.

Butterfly Project

Watch the video from our incredible Zikaron V'Tikvah partner Levine JCC in Charlotte, North Carolina- Watch how they came to educate their students and create a sculpture by Paul Rousso. Special thanks to Wilma Asrael for making it all happen in this city.

Seacrest Retirement Village Encinitas Ca.

Quote from their Magazine "Happenings"

"The butterflies in our exhibit were made together by residents of Seacrest Village and students of the San Diego Jewish Academy. I can think of no better way than to have our very own residents, many of whom are Holocaust survivors themselves, teach our children to remember the past, act responsibly in the present and to create a more peaceful future, the very essence of this project."

West Coast Site Visits 2011

Abraham Joshua Heschel Day School in North Ridge, California made a huge installation and commitment to teach, display and inspire their community. Next we went to Kadima Hebrew Academy, West Hills California and congratulated them on their display. Hillel Academy in Beverly Hills, California enhanced their library with fluttering butterflies around the bookshelves and windows.