The Holocaust was an unspeakable horror from WWII. After a visit to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. in 2006, Todd Larson and Jason Kalish recognized that the Holocaust is much more than a chapter from a history book. The Holocaust provides important insight into the consequences when a government shifts the mission of police from protecting individuals to supporting the abuse of basic human rights.

How Germany changed in less than a decade from a free, democratic, and scientifically advanced society to a totalitarian regime that systematically targeted and murdered millions of its own citizens is a lesson a free society must learn. In the words of Chief Prosecutor Robert Jackson at the Nuremberg War Crimes Trial in 1945, “Civilization cannot tolerate their being ignored, because it cannot survive their being repeated.”

This seminar, “What You Do Matters”, examines policing within the legal and political framework of Nazi Germany – a journey that eventually turned those who should protect life and liberty into those who intimidated, humiliated, deported, and eventually murdered millions of innocent people. Using historical images and stories from the Holocaust, facilitators engage students in a dialogue about the role of law enforcement in today’s communities and the importance of core values in ensuring the integrity and vibrancy of democracy.

Course Schedule

Working with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Jewish Community Foundation, Todd offers a powerful curriculum to ensure that the core values of our democracy are upheld.

• Course Overview, Discussion Questions - 30 minutes
• Short film - Overview of the Holocaust, and Self-Guided Tour of Exhibits - 30 minutes
• Reflections, short film - The Path to Nazi Genocide - 35 minutes
• Slippery Slope: Examination of Photographic Images - an interactive discussion - 85 minutes
• Lessons from the Holocaust, Closing comments, and Wrap-up - 40 minutes

Session Type:

In-person conference

Cancellation Policy:

• Full refund available up until 14 days prior to date.
• 50% refund available up until 7 days prior to date.
• No refunds will be made within 7 days of the date.