The immediately-prior Blast e-mail encompassed the major historical components of the effort to

ensure all PA high-schoolers graduate with a rudimentary knowledge of the Holocaust [coupled with
awareness of Genocide and Human Rights Violations, in a single educational-unit]. As noted, we care not
whether monies are appropriated, whether the PDE composes a model-curriculum, whether surveys are
to be conducted subsequently to gauge efficacy. We want the mandate passed, period, and we witness
inane conduct by opponents to what should be intuitivein amazement, in anguish, in disgust. Thus,
readers are invited to ID any hole in the aforementioned analysis, for the synthesis of what must now
transpire is contingent upon there being absolutely no doubt about our veracity. [Disclaimer: Although
reference is made to my having worked with Rhonda and Chuck, they do not purport to own either
the content of my Blast e-mails or the style employed when conveying them; obviously, they have not
granted prior-approval of these assertions, although they are tightly congruent with their initiatives.]

It is within this mindset that the article in todays Exponent is to be reformulated; know
that I did not discuss these issues with its author, although he will be provided a copy of
both this and the preceding Blast e-mail [although I believe I sent him an earlier
iteration of these points, weeks ago]. Know that this annotation is as terse as possible.

Debate Continues Over Holocaust Education
MAY 28, 2014
By: Eric Berger

Holocaust education advocates are again grappling with the best course of action in
pushing for legislation that would increase the number of students studying the subject
in Pennsylvania.

{This is inaccurate; only we are attempting to increase exposure, for
they are focused on the quality of content.}

There still appears to be a divide over whether passing a bill that does not require
students to learn about the Holocaust can be considered a success and, conversely,
whether a bill that does include a mandate has any chance of passing in the Republican-
controlled legislature.

{This is accurate, regretably; this is why it was necessary to sleuth-
around assertively, for this methodology smoked-out the IDs of those
who were functioning behind-the-scenes to gum-up-the-works.}

Earlier this month, the board of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia endorsed
the latest proposal, which does not include a mandate, marking the first time it had
taken a formal vote on the matter.

{This is accurate, regretably; the fact that they were ambushedand
the fact that they acted while knowing theyd only heard one version
reflects poorly upon both the organization and its leadership.}

Meanwhile, Rhonda Fink Whitman, one of the most vocal supporters of a mandate, has
criticized Jewish groups for not pushing hard enough to get a more complete bill and
continues to release videos lobbying for that.

{This is accurate, regretably; each time we think we have provided
sufficient education to a particular individual, we necessarily worry that
the lobbyistswith whom they have developed relationshipswill
swoop-down and be able to reverse commitment to the Mandate.}

The proposal supported by Federation would amend a bill introduced by state Rep. Paul
Clymer, a Republican from Bucks County, and would:

provide teachers with Holocaust education and training;

establish a statewide study to determine which schools are teaching the Holocaust
and call for recommendations to the State Department of Education if targets are not
met; and

direct the DOE to create a statewide curriculum with the help of organizations like the
Shoah Foundation.

{This is accurate; we have no problem with anything they want to do,
just as long as the subject is taught to everyone.}

Everyone the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition, the Federation, independent experts
wants there to be a mandate, said Matt Handel, who chairs the coalition, which
represents federations in Harrisburg, and who presented to the Philadelphia Federation
board this month. But the biggest change, I think, is a recognition of what can be
achieved right now.

{This is accurate; without naming names, we feel some prior opponents
have grown to recognize the importance of a Mandate, and we can now
confirm that Governor Corbett is eager to sign this bill (as per a brief
eyeball-to-eyeball chat held 12 days ago, when I saw him in Blue Bell).}

The board initially supported legislation that would enable schools to receive funding for
the subject, though it did not require it to be part of public schools curriculum. Some
Federation leaders later changed their position to support mandating such education.
Federation president-elect Bud Newman had said that making Holocaust education
voluntary is unacceptable to us.

{This is accurate; thus, the energies expended to achieve a Board-level
reversal of the posture of the president-elect must have been gigantic.}

But after hearing from the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition, he said, he and other
Federation leaders understood the situation differently. We as a board of directors
embraced their approach and are 100 percent behind their perspective now.

{This is accurate, regretably; assuredly, they were not given complete
education because, if nothing else, I harbor info that I know they dont
knowand I know that Rhonda and Chuck ALSO have additional info
that would have had the potential to impact this precipitous move.}

The bill could be passed into law before the end of the legislative year, said Robin
Schatz, director of government affairs at Federation.

{This is accurate; we remain resolute, and we know other groups share
our posture in this regard (because of the rectitude of our efforts).}

State Sen. Andrew Dinniman, a Democrat from Chester County, has proposed an
amendment to Clymers bill that frames the debate over a mandate differently. The bill
would require schools to recognize Holocaust Remembrance Day the way other days
are observed with an assembly or activity and call for 12 hours of instruction on the
subject before or after the program.

{This is accurate; we approved this effort within one hour of having
been apprised of its existence (after having notified key-colleagues of
what was transpiring, to be polite) via a reply e-mail to key-players.}

Im trying to avoid the controversy of mandate versus non-mandate, said Dinniman,
who is Jewish and chairs the Senate education committee.

{This is accurate; we had thought that his draft-amendment had been
OKed by key-recipientsnotwithstanding re-emergence of lobbying c/o
Hank Butler and Robin Schatzand we continue to view it positively.}

It is not clear if his approach actually represents anything different from past attempts
to require that students learn about the Holocaust.

{This is accurate; it is for this reason that we envisioned we had
bipartisan support for such legislation, recalling a mandate had been
passed unanimously by the Senate Appropriations Committee.}

Of course its a mandate, Steve Miskin, spokesman for the House Republicans, said of
Dinnimans proposal. Hes trying to put another curriculum mandate on our schools,
and house members are a little antsy about a curriculum mandate, but teacher training
absolutely.

{This is accurate, regrettably, based upon prior personal interactions;
know that the word another was deftly inserted when one notes the
initial (false) assertions of Hank Butler (namely, that our effort would
establish a precedent) and those who allegedly are a little antsy can
be helped to appreciate the trenchant-priority of including this topic.}

Miskin, who is also Jewish, said he doesnt comprehend the mindset of Holocaust
education advocates like Fink Whitman who have taken a hardline approach on the
mandate.

{This is accurate, regretably; therefore, he will receive enlightenment in
this regard by reading The Holocaust Just Got More Shocking, for he is
probably ignorant of the fact that researchers have cataloged some
42,500 Nazi ghettos and camps throughout Europe, spanning German-
controlled areas from France to Russia and Germany itself, during
Hitlers reign of brutality from 1933 to 1945.}

Fink Whitman produced a popular video last year showing the lack of Holocaust
knowledge among college students in the Philadelphia area. In another video she
produced a couple of months ago, she said, Were on our way, but were still getting
resistance. Yeah, Im talking to you, Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition. A little bit of
sabotage going on there.

{This is accurate; Rhondas memo focused countered back-door efforts
of Hank Butler, the hypocrisy of which was necessarily, overtly exposed
(for he says he wants a Mandate, but behaves in contrary fashion).}

Miskin and others have said mandate supporters have taken to bullying those who
would like to see Holocaust education legislation passed but dont see a mandate as
realistic.

{This is inaccurate, regretably; perhaps he is channeling the charge by
Hank Butler that my scattered phone calls to Harrisburg made at least
one individual cry (despite my dogged efforts to include receptionists
in episodic follow-up e-mails), although it is possible he is specifically
referencing the fact thatthrough gentle-questioningI had IDed his
colleague, David Transue, as the author of a patently-false staff-memo
regarding this topic (when, as detailed previously, I demonstrated that
current-statute does NOT provide cursory coverage of this topic).}

Theyre threatening people, he said. Ive been called a Nazi sympathizer. Ive been
called a Holocaust denier. I mean, come on. My mothers entire family was wiped out.

{This is may or may not be accurate, although its tangential to the issue
at-hand; in any case, I will formally request that he state the particulars
of this chargeor rescind it forthwith.}

Documented in these Blast e-mails has been acute/subacute/chronic evidence of anti-Semitism, both
in Europe and elsewhere; also documented has been global anti-Christian savagery by Islamists. Thus, it
behooves opponents of our extensive-effort [which is pointedly not limited to Jews, nor even to Nazis]
to see-the-light and to recognize the urgency of ensuring students are armed with this level of education
[for the contemporary impact thereof cannot be overestimated, as Americas influence wanes].

Therefore, we will redouble our efforts to encourage the Senate to vote on the bill that
was shepherded through the Senate Appropriations Committee by Sen. John Rafferty;
thereafter, we will work to ensure that the 99-99 vote on Rep. Brendan Boyles effort
will receive a handful of additional votes [after Reps. have noted Senatorial action].
Perhaps we will then be able to plan a field-trip to Harrisburg, to witness the bill-signing.
Any recipient of this Blast e-mail [or its immediate-predecessor] who disagrees with either a fact or an
opinion contained thereinis invited to call or write; all responses will be dutifully recycled to everyone.