Workshops at Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center include:

	Engaging and interactive three-hour presentations delivered by dynamic and experienced certified teachers
	Material that adheres to, complements and enhances the Ontario curriculum expectations
	Opportunity for students to reflect on pressing local and global issues from a newly acquired historical perspective
	Follow up classroom Personal Reflection Activity
	Access to the Harry and Barb Silverberg Reference Collection (Resources for Students and Educators)

In 1982, 16-year-old Marina Nemat was arrested on false charges by Iranian Revolutionary Guards and tortured in Tehran's notorious Evin prison. At a time when most Western teenaged girls are choosing their prom dresses, Nemat was having her feet beaten by men with cables and listening to gunshots as her friends were being executed. She survived only because one of the guards fell in love with her and threatened to harm her family if she refused to marry him. Soon after her forced conversion to Islam and marriage, her husband was assassinated by rival factions. Nemat was returned to prison but, ironically, it was her captor's family who eventually secured her release. An extraordinary tale of faith and survival, Prisoner of Tehran is a testament to the power of love in the face of evil and injustice.

Presentations are:

• available at both school sites within the greater Toronto area and the FSWC Resource & Leadership Training Centre
• directed to Grades 10 and up
• appropriate for Educator groups on Professional Development days

Heroes Among Us
Who is a hero? Someone who possesses exceptional courage or ability? Someone who demonstrates noble qualities? A role model? How do you define a hero? This workshop will investigate the idea of a hero – what defines a hero, the role they play in our everyday lives, and who can be a hero. Discussions on character traits such as respect, empathy, integrity, and responsibility will be used to creatively investigate historical and modern day figures, including Simon Wiesenthal, Romeo Dallaire, Craig Kielburger, and Benazir Bhutto. Students will also have the chance to focus on their own lives, their defining characteristics, and the ways in which they can be a hero and affect change.

[This program complements Ontario Curriculum in Grades 5 – 8 Language (Oral Communication, Reading, Writing), Grades 5 – 8 The Arts (Visual Arts)]

Racism and Anti-Semitism in Canada
For over a decade incidents of anti-Semitism in Canada have been on the rise. Through this program students will explore what racism is, how racism affects them, and how racism affects the Canadian community. Students will also learn about different forms of racism in Canada, focusing on anti-Semitism and hate crimes both locally and nationally in the hopes of creating awareness and dialogue. This program will enable students to foster attitudes of respect and tolerance in their home, school, and community.

This program complements Ontario curriculum in Grades 7 & 8 (Language), Grade 9 (English), Grade 10 (Canadian History & Civics), or Grades 11 & 12(World History).



The Lessons and Legacy of the Holocaust
A Survivor Speaks
“The Holocaust is not just a Jewish story, but a human story.” This program offers an introduction to the Holocaust through a study of the events surrounding Europe at this time, as well as through testimony of a survivor. Students have the opportunity to meet a Holocaust survivor, listen to his or her story, ask questions, and gain a better understanding of the impact the Holocaust has had on society. This program encourages students to examine the lessons they can draw from the Holocaust as individuals, citizens of a democracy, and as Canadians.

This program complements Ontario curriculum in Grades 7 & 8 (Language), Grade 9 (English), Grade 10 (Canadian History & Civics), Grade 11 (World History), or Grade 12 (The West and the World).



Genocide and the Power of Action
(There is pre-visit material for the teacher to cover in class prior to this particular field trip.)
The 20th century was plagued with genocide and this phenomenon continues to impact the world today. This hands-on program will enable students to examine what genocide is and how to be an informed and active citizen. Students will have the opportunity to apply their new knowledge to create an exhibition to educate others about the current genocide emergency in Darfur, Sudan. By creating a mini-exhibition, students will develop methods to deliver information in an effective and engaging way. Students will decide the best way for using their mini-exhibition as a tool to educate others in their home, school, and community.

This program complements Ontario Curriculum in Grade 10 (Civics), or Grades 11 & 12 (World History).
There is also an Introduction to Genocide program that complements Ontario curriculum in Grades 7 & 8 (Language) or Grade 9 (English).



Who was Simon Wiesenthal?
The key to a tolerant society is through education, this was what Simon Wiesenthal believed. Students will view I Have Never Forgotten You: The Life and Legacy of Simon Wiesenthal (2007), which documents his life and the contributions that he made to the world. Through discussion of the contributions and attributes of Simon Wiesenthal, students will begin to identify positive character traits and ways in which to model these characteristics in their home, school, and community.

This program is suitable for Grades 7 to 12 students.



Rick Rotchild, is a social worker and bodybuilder. He facilitates anger management workshops and an outreach project to assist both parents and children with issues. Over the past 15 years Rick has worked in group homes, foster homes and dozens of schools with troubled latency and adolescent children.

After emigrating from Canada at a young age, Rick attended junior kindergarten in Israel where he was ridiculed and teased as a child. Later, he returned to Canada only to be on the receiving end of bullies. Rick’s story is one of overcoming and individual action, and he translates this to his young audience with ease.

Rick develops unique problem solving strategies to deal with difficult behaviors dependent on the child’s specific needs. This workshop is suitable for students from Grade 4 and up. Please note content is subject to change dependent on age and needs of students.