Programs on Ethics, Religion, and the Holocaust

Planning Commemorations for Faith and Interfaith Communities »

The Holocaust raises profound theological, ethical, and historical questions for people of all faiths. All too many Christians in Germany welcomed the rise of National Socialism, and all too few engaged in protest, rescue, or resistance. The widespread complicity and involvement of “ordinary people” in this genocide challenge us to rethink our assumptions about human decency and morality.

To explore these important questions, the Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies offers a variety of programs and resources through the Committee on Ethics, Religion, and the Holocaust. These programs and resources focus on the history of the churches’ response to the Holocaust and the ways in which religious institutions, leaders, and theologians have addressed this history and its legacy since 1945. They make this Museum a resource for scholars, faculty, and students of all religions as they address the historical aspects and profound moral implications of the Holocaust. The Center works with religious groups and academics in developing educational and commemorative materials, and offers seminars and programs that investigate the relationship of the Holocaust to the past history and future potential of interfaith relations.

Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies programs on religion and the Holocaust serve

Individuals and groups grappling with the ethical and philosophical issues raised by the Holocaust and contemporary manifestations of antisemitism
Seminaries and religious studies departments seeking to incorporate material on the Holocaust in their curriculum
Scholars conducting research on the history of the churches during the Holocaust
Scholars who study the intersections of religion and genocide
People actively involved in interfaith work
Leaders and members of all faith communities

The Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies works actively with the Council of Centers on Jewish-Christian Relations (CCJR) and other interfaith organizations. The Center’s program partners include many member seminaries in the Association of Theological Schools as well as leaders of all faiths, and it is a Related Scholarly Organization of the American Academy of Religion (AAR).

For more information, please visit our Teaching Resources for Faculty page, our Articles and Resources page, and our Programs page.

For information on the Committee on Ethics, Religion, and the Holocaust, please click here or contact

Victoria Barnett
Staff Director
Committee on Ethics, Religion, and the Holocaust
Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW
Washington, DC 20024-2126
Tel.: 202.488.0469
Fax: (202) 479-9726
E-mail: crc@ushmm.org