Observance of International Holocaust Day by The North Carolina Holocaust Foundation at Sysco Corporation

The Charlotte Jewish News, February 2023

By Mitch Rifkin

The North Carolina Holocaust Foundation facilitated a panel discussion on the current climate of increased antisemitic incidents for North and South Carolina Sysco Corporation employees on Friday, January 27, International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Holocaust survivor Dr. Zohara Boyd was the featured speaker along with Anson County high school teacher Albertia Burgess. Mike Abramson, chairman of the North Carolina Council on the Holocaust, moderated the conversation.

The values of Sysco in many ways reflect the mission of the Foundation. Sysco DEI Officer (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) Nicole Pfister stated, “At Sysco, we aspire to create a global culture that is decidedly diverse, equitable, and inclusive — one where we foster belonging as we care for one another and connect the world through food and trusted partnerships. We are Better Together.”

Dr. Boyd, a Holocaust survivor from Poland, spoke about her wartime experiences and how the Holocaust impacted her life. Dr. Boyd continues to speak to schools and is a part of the Holocaust Council’s statewide speaker’s bureau. She preaches the values of inclusion and democracy.

Albertia Burgess told the employees how the Holocaust has influenced her life. Albertia came from a poor African American community. She explained how her study of the Holocaust gave her hope and inspiration to become a contributing member of the community.

Michael Abramson discussed the glaring rise of antisemitism and how the Holocaust Foundation and Holocaust Council educate students and the public on the lessons learned from the Holocaust. Those lessons included the values of plurality and an- ti-bullying.

Approximately 500 employees watched and listened to the 95-minute discussion through Sysco’s internal live streaming educational platform.

The Holocaust Council led the statewide effort to pass the Holocaust Education Act in 2021. The Act mandates that Holocaust education be taught in North Carolina public school beginning in seventh grade. As an update, the Holocaust curriculum for North

Carolina public schools, which the Holocaust Council has created, is scheduled to roll out in the 2023-2024 school year. North Carolina is one of only 17 states that has mandated Holocaust education.

For more information regarding the North Carolina Holocaust Foundation, contact Mitch Rifkin, Foundation chairman, at rif121@carolina.rr.com.