Holocaust education bill gets boost from New York City officials

A bill that would have state education officials conduct an audit of Holocaust education in New York is gaining support from officials on the local level in New York City. 

The measure is being backed in a resolution by the New York City Council this week, a move that comes on the worldwide recognition of Holocaust Remembrance Day. 

"It is imperative that we teach our students the dangers of anti-Semitic attitudes and actions and that we teach them how to combat Holocaust distortion and trivialization," said Assemblywoman Nily Rozic, the bill's sponsor in the Assembly. "I am grateful that Council Members Dinowitz and Velázquez are highlighting this issue at the city level to make it clear that hate has no place in New York – past, present, or future."

A study released in 2020 by the Claims Conference found New York is among the states with the lowest Holocaust knowledge scores: 58% of Millennials and Gen Z are unable to name a single concentration camp. And the study found 60% of young people were unware 6 million Jews were murdered during the Holocaust. 

"We are in a period of time when there is a disturbing increase in anti-Semitic hate crimes and a troubling rise in the number of people who believe the Holocaust did not even happen. This bill will help ensure our children are learning about this terrible period in our history, and taking those lessons to ensure the horrors of the past are not repeated," said Council Member Eric Dinowitz, chair of City Council’s Jewish Caucus. "I strongly urge the state to pass S121A/A472A."