Announcing: the Benjamin Ferencz Institute for ethics, human rights and the Holocaust
After much discussion both internally and with valued colleague and peers, we have decided to change the name of the Maimonides Institute for Medicine, Ethics and the Holocaust to the Benjamin Ferencz Institute for Ethics, Human Rights and the Holocaust. The name change will allow us to expand upon our programs and better respond to the world we find ourselves in today, in 2023, as opposed to 2015 when MIMEH was founded. While the core of our organization will always focus on the Holocaust as the singular example of medically sanctioned genocide and its repercussions for modern society, ultimately, we believe that justice is the bridge that can ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust transcend international, intergenerational, interfaith and interprofessional boundaries.
Benjamin Ferencz sought justice in the aftermath of the Holocaust and successfully persecuted Nazi officers for crimes against humanity at the Nuremberg Trials. His dedication to the pursuit of justice and respect for human dignity continued throughout his long and meaningful life. We are honored that Mr. Ferencz's family has seen it fit to allow us to continue his legacy through our longstanding work to educate, empower and advocate with a focus on human dignity, ethical leadership and justice as the newly named Benjamin Ferencz Institute for Ethics, Human Rights and the Holocaust.
Activate
Our mission is to show how understanding the medical, legal, social and political atrocities of the Holocaust are important, not simply as history nor solely to remember the victims, but because it can inform how we can and should act today to better the world. We believe that Holocaust education can serve to promote justice and tolerance, equality and human dignity, for all people. The goal of our programs is to empower people to promote ethical practice in all aspects of their lives.
The Benjamin Ferencz Institute for Ethics, Human Rights and the Holocaust (formerly the Maimonides Institute for Medicine, Ethics and the Holocaust) is a nonprofit organization that uses the Holocaust as the historical framework for exploring current issues in ethics and human rights. Since 2015, we have provided a unique approach that combines educational programming and advocacy to help create change agents who can impact society on a global level.
The Ferencz Institute is proud to announce our Generations of Change Initiative. Consistent with our mission, this new program will help empower the next generation by identifying leaders who are actively working to remember the past and protect the future by acting now. We will provide mentorship and guidance as these emerging scholars and activists develop programs that promote human dignity, health care reform, human rights endeavors, and ethical leadership.
CARE
The first program under the Generations of Change Initiative is entitled College Athletes for Respect and Equality (CARE).
Engage
#RememberTogether
Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, we couldn’t be physically together to commemorate Yom Hashoah in 2020. We asked people all over the world to virtually commemorate this day by printing our slogan.
Virtual Reading
In collaboration with the Davidson College basketball team, we were able to conduct a virtual reading of the names of Holocaust victims.
Davidson College Basketball Reading of the Names of Victims of the Holocaust
#RememberTogether
Connect
We are honored to announce the formation of the Department of Bioethics and the Holocaust of the International Chair of Bioethics - World Medical Association Cooperation Centre (formerly the UNESCO Chair of Bioethics), effective June 1, 2017. The Ferencz Institute (formerly the Maimonides Institute for Medicine, Ethics and the Holocaust) will work closely with this Department to develop programs that further our joint objective of incorporating education regarding the relevance of bioethics and the Holocaust for modern scientific theory, medical practice, healthcare policy and human rights endeavors throughout the world.
Inspire
In 2018, MIMEH partnered with Davidson College and CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center for a life-changing trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau.
