WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum launched R³: Remembrance, Reflection, Response, a free, online Museum youth service program that honors the memory of the more than one million Jewish children who were murdered during the Holocaust and which encourages participants to confront antisemitism, hatred and genocide in today's world. R³ is geared to ages 11-15 and designed to be used in conjunction with community service requirements for schools, youth institutions and religious organizations.

"Technology can be a powerful tool in transmitting Holocaust memory, particularly to young people," says Museum Director Sara J. Bloomfield. "We hope that R³ participants will not only learn about the Holocaust, but also consider the timely questions that it raises about their responsibilities in today's world."

Participants build a personalized home page and examine Holocaust history through an interactive online program that features personal testimonies, exploration of Museum artifacts, maps, and more. As participants complete the sessions, they learn the story of one child who experienced the Holocaust. This is followed by lessons on the continuing problems of hatred, antisemitism and genocide. Students are encouraged to reflect on ways in which they can address these issues and share this information with friends and family members.

Organizations that would like to incorporate R³ into their community service and educational offerings should contact Shira Mitchell at R3Program@ushmm.org. The program can be accessed directly at http://r3program.ushmm.org or through the Museum's Web site, www.ushmm.org.

A living memorial to the Holocaust, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum was created to inspire leaders and citizens to confront hatred, prevent genocide, promote human dignity and strengthen democracy. Federal support guarantees the Museum's permanence, and donors nationwide make possible its educational activities and global outreach. For more information, visit www.ushmm.org.