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(SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Oct 20, 2023) The Phoenix Holocaust Association mourns the murder and wounding of thousands of innocent civilians during an unprovoked attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists. We are horrified by the appalling images and testimonies coming out of Israel, which eerily mirror many of the survivor stories we tell in classrooms. We are all now witnesses to the largest loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust. As Holocaust survivors and their descendants, we promote human dignity by inspiring people to speak out and take action against antisemitism, hate, bigotry, intolerance, and discrimination. As such, we, the members of the Phoenix Holocaust Association, call for the immediate humanitarian release of all civilians kidnapped and abducted into Gaza. We pray…

(SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – March 28, 2022) The Phoenix Holocaust Association will hold its annual communitywide Yom HaShoah Commemoration to honor the memory of those who perished during the Holocaust and recognize those who survived. The virtual event will be held on May 1, 2022, at 11 a.m. The theme of the program is: Never Again, BUT HOW? This year’s Yom HaShoah Commemoration will feature a roundtable discussion between high school students and Holocaust survivors, music, and a memorial candle-lighting ceremony spotlighting six Holocaust survivors each lighting a candle representing a million Jewish people murdered during the Holocaust. Additional participants of the commemoration include: Rabbi Andy Green of Congregation Or Tzion, Cantor Seth Ettinger of Congregation Beth Israel, and Shevet Shemesh

(SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – July 1, 2021) – Arizona House Bill 2241, known as the Holocaust Education Bill, passed in the Senate on Wednesday, June 30, ending a more than three-year effort to ensure Holocaust education is taught in Arizona’s public schools.  The bill, which unanimously passed the House of Representatives in early February, received a vote of 27 to 2 in the Senate.  HB2241 is now headed to Gov. Ducey’s office for signature. It will now be law that Arizona’s public schools will be required to teach about the Holocaust and other genocides at least twice between 7th and 12th grades. In anticipation of this mandate, the Phoenix Holocaust Association (PHA) spearheaded a task force to develop resources for teachers on the Holocaust and

(SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – April 14, 2021) – Arizona’s Holocaust survivors and their descendants have long volunteered to share their personal stories with members of the community.  These important stories can be shared virtually to schools, youth and community organizations.  Combining efforts, the Phoenix Holocaust Association (PHA) and Arizona Jewish Historical Society (AZJHS) offer a wide variety of Holocaust education and awareness programs in a virtual environment. These programs are led by Holocaust survivors and their descendants, World War II Veterans, and many other influential individuals with experience and knowledge of the Holocaust as well as other genocides. According to Sheryl Bronkesh, president of PHA and a second-generation survivor, it is so important to chronicle this part of history. “With the aging

(SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – March 14, 2021) The Phoenix Holocaust Association will hold its annual communitywide Yom HaShoah Commemoration to honor the memory of those who perished during the Holocaust and recognize those who survived. The virtual event will be held on April 11, 2021 at 1 p.m. The theme of the program is: Holocaust Education, Inspiring the Next Generation. This year’s Yom HaShoah Commemoration will feature remarks from Holocaust survivors, music and a memorial candle-lighting ceremony. Alma Hernandez, member of Arizona House of Representatives 3rd District, will present the keynote at the Commemoration. Rep. Hernandez has crafted and championed a bill to mandate Holocaust and genocide education. Additional participants of the commemoration include: Rabbi Jeremy Schneider of Temple Kol Ami, Cantor Dannah

(PHOENIX—Jan. 28, 2021) — Arizona’s 7th-12th graders are encouraged to submit original creative work to Phoenix Holocaust Association’s (PHA) Writing and Arts Contest. Contest categories include writing, visual arts and performance arts. Utilizing a personal experience with a Holocaust survivor or having participated in PHA’s recent Holocaust by Bullets exhibit, students are asked to submit an original creative piece that depicts their experience. “Late last year, the Arizona Board of Education decided on a mandate that would add the teachings of the Holocaust and other genocides into school curriculum,” said Sheryl Bronkesh, president of the Phoenix Holocaust Association.  “We have long worked with schools across the state to bring survivors and their families into the classroom to help teach about the Holocaust. 

(PHOENIX – Dec. 23, 2019) The Phoenix Holocaust Association, in coordination with several organizations, is bringing a community-wide education program to Greater Phoenix in 2020.   Holocaust by Bullets (HBB) is a program of Yahad-In – Unum (YIU), a non-governmental organization based in Paris and founded by Father Patrick Desbois. With a life devoted to researching the Holocaust and fighting anti-Semitism, Father Desbois will deliver the keynote address for Genocide Awareness Week on April 20, 2020 on how Yahad-In Unum has identified and documented the murders of over 2 million Jews and Roma in the former Soviet Union at 2,700 execution sites in seven countries and with 6,700 videotaped eyewitness testimonies. Genocide Awareness week is a program of Scottsdale Community College.