About Us

Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.
George Santayana, philosopher

… I have tried to keep memory alive, and have tried to fight those who would forget. Because if we forget, we are guilty, we are accomplices.
Elie Wiesel, in accepting the Nobel Peace Prize (Oslo, 1986)

Genocide is … the criminal intent to destroy or to cripple permanently a human group.
Raphael Lemkin, international jurist and originator of the term

For my soul and my academic self, I believe that Holocaust and genocide studies should be dedicated to be a beacon of reverence and caring for all human life.
Israel W. Charny, executive director of the Institute on the Holocaust and Genocide (Jerusalem)

Mission

Our mission is to assist students, educators, and the community-at-large in learning the history and lessons of the Holocaust, the Armenian Genocide, and other tragedies.  Through innovative educational programming we seek to promote an understanding of the pernicious consequences of anti-Semitism, racism, ethnic hatred, other forms of bigotry, and violations of human rights; and forge awareness, change attitudes, and introduce new methodologies for the protection of individual liberty and the prevention of genocide.

History

Founded in 1980 as an independent non-profit organization to educate and interact with the northern New Jersey and Rockland County communities on the tragedy of Hitler’s war against the Jews and other genocides, the Center is now an integral part of Ramapo College. While it receives support from the College, most of the Center’s funding is from private donations. It is a member of the Association of Holocaust Organizations and part of the network of similar organizations under the New Jersey State Commission on Holocaust Education.

The Gross Center for Holocaust & Genocide Studies
Interim Director: Erin Augis
Email: eaugis@ramapo.edu

Advisory Board

Peter Safirstein, Esq., Chair;
Lauren Gross, Vice Chair

Rachel Azulay, Student Member, Tamara Berman, Christina Connor, Assessment & Instruction Librarian, Leah Kaufman, Tanya Mayer, Stanley Richmond, Dr. Rebecca Root, Professor of Political Science, Dr. Sharon Rubin, Professor Emerita of Ramapo College, Robert Sek, Linda Sokolski, Colleen Tambuscio, Ani Tchaghlasian, and David Terdiman, Assistant Vice President Institutional Advancement

Ex Officio: Dr. Susan Gaulden, Acting Provost, Dr. Susan Hangen, Dean of the School of Humanities and Global Studies

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