The Holocaust is widely considered the defining genocide of modern times. It prompted the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, forcing the world to fully consider how human beings ought to treat each other. Despite the vows of “never again,” ethnic and religious cleansing, state-ordered mass killings, and gendered forms of violence continue—from the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia to the atrocities in Darfur. It is clear that there are lessons gone unlearned and wounds that remain unhealed.
Fund for Holocaust and Genocide Studies
The purpose of the Fund for Holocaust and Genocide Studies is provide support to the Portland Center for Public Humanities (PCPH) and accompanying activities to engage students, faculty, and the Portland community in the study of the Holocaust and other examples of genocide. Furthermore, PCPH programming aims to highlight the local dimensions of the global impact of genocide through collaborations with local organizations that work with survivors of genocide.
The historic and systemic genocide of the Jewish People has established a cultural tradition that is attentive to social justice and anti-genocide movements. And in many ways, the Holocaust remains a cultural touchstone for us all, an indelible mark in our collective history. Using that moment in history and building on common cultural understanding, the Fund for Holocaust and Genocide Studies will create opportunities for Portland State and the surrounding community to be empowered to engage difficult issues.
You might also be interested in the profile of Nathan Cogan, donor of the Fund for Holocaust and Genocide Studies.