In the post-October 7 world, the fight against antisemitism has never been more critical. Three remarkable Federation grantees — the Farkas Center for the Study of the Holocaust in Catholic Schools, The Mitzvah Project, and the Bay Area Center to Counter Antisemitism (BACCA) — are leading the charge to educate, engage, and empower communities. With the support of the Federation, these unique organizations are making significant strides in Holocaust education and combating antisemitism. These are three of the 26 projects supported by our Combating Antisemitism grant of $670K – on top of the Holocaust education grants we award annually.
The Farkas Center for the Study of the Holocaust in Catholic Schools
The Helen and Joe Farkas Center for the Study of the Holocaust in Catholic Schools exists to honor Holocaust survivors and to bring them together with today’s students. By integrating survivor oral testimonies in educational settings, they teach both students and instructors about social justice and moral courage.
Last year, the Farkas Center provided programs to 550 middle and high school students and teachers.
The program helped them:
- Attain a deeper understanding of Holocaust history
- Foster a stronger connection to survivors’ stories
- Think about the Holocaust in a new way
- Feel inspired to learn more about the Holocaust
- Make connections between the past and human rights abuses today
The Mitzvah Project
“Enlightening Young Minds, Inspiring Compassion, Defeating Holocaust Ignorance.”
The Mitzvah Project brings a high-engagement, Holocaust-themed theatrical-educational program to high school and college students across America. Designed to foster critical thinking and empathy, the 60-minute presentation, consisting of a one-act solo play, lecture, and talkback, poses several critical socio-historical questions:
- Who decides the meaning of culture, race and ethnicity?
- How is one’s identity determined?
- Why do we demonize ‘the other?’
Last year, over 1,000 Bay Area high school students (over 4,000 nationwide) were inspired by The Mitzvah Project. Here are some of their thoughts:
“Thank you so much for the opportunity you’ve given to me and all of my peers — to learn about what can happen when hate and prejudice are allowed to seep into the very soul of a nation.”
“The play gave me a whole new perspective on the Holocaust, by bringing it alive.”
“As a high school German teacher, German history is as important a part of my curriculum as grammar and vocabulary. The Mitzvah Project, as evidenced by many of my students’ comments, made a deep impression on them. They were spellbound during the performance and asked insightful and intelligent questions during the Q&A. I salute Mr. Grunwald and his entire organization for developing this project and presenting it all over the country. Thank you! Carry on!”
The Bay Area Center to Counter Antisemitism
The Bay Area Center to Counter Antisemitism (BACCA) was created after October 7, 2023, to combat the massive rise in antisemitism and safeguard the well-being of the Jewish community by empowering, coordinating, and amplifying the efforts of local grassroots groups to effectively counter antisemitism. These volunteers are working tirelessly to ensure our schools and cities are safe and welcoming for Jews. So far, this consortium of grassroots organizations has:
- Established Jewish parent networks across the Bay Area
- Built Incident Reporting Tool ACTNOWK12.org, with the ADL
- Facilitated 100+ parent and student trainings on antisemitism awareness and response
- Implemented antisemitism training for municipal leadership, school administrators, and educators
- Developed local relationships with school boards and city councils
- Enhanced school board and municipal policies to include the Jewish community
- Assisted families with complaints, appeals, and legal preparations
- Organized pro-Israel rallies with 12,000 attendees
- And much more
The Federation is proud to support the Farkas Center, The Mitzvah Project, and BACCA. These innovators in the battle against antisemitism show how dedicated organizations can make a meaningful impact through education, advocacy, and community mobilization. As our community continues to confront hate and prejudice, the work of these grantees serves as a beacon of hope and resilience.
