(September 20, 2007 - Jerusalem) In line with the rising quest for knowledge about the Holocaust in the Spanish-speaking world, the International Institute for Holocaust Studies at Yad Vashem has organized the first-ever international conference on the Holocaust in Spain to take place from 24-26 September.

Under the heading, “The Holocaust and its Significance Today,” the conference, supported by the Marc Rich Foundation for Education, Culture and Welfare (Switzerland), will take place at the CSIC (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas - The High Council for Scientific Investigations) in Madrid, the largest public multidisciplinary research body in Spain. The conference, held in partnership with Casa Sefarad, will feature prominent experts in the field from Israel, Spain, Germany and Belgium, who will hold round-table discussions and workshops covering a range of topics, including: “The Singularity of the Holocaust,” “Why does Spanish Historiography Ignore the Holocaust?” and “Spanish Refugees and Jewish Refugees: the Case of Mexico.”

During the conference, a special pedagogical workshop dedicated to Spanish teachers also will take place. The workshop is being run by Mario Sinay of Yad Vashem’s International School for Holocaust Studies, and includes presentations of the School’s didactic material available in Spanish.

Last week it was announced that Yad Vashem has been awarded the prestigious Prince of Asturias Award for Concord, 2007. The award, presented by the Prince of Asturias Foundation, in Spain, is bestowed upon the person, persons or institution whose work has made an exemplary and outstanding contribution to mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence amongst men, to the struggle against injustice or ignorance, to the defense of freedom, or whose work has widened the horizons of knowledge or has been outstanding in protecting and preserving mankind's heritage.

For more information about the Conference, please contact Prof. David Bankier, Head the International Institute for Holocaust Studies, who is currently in Spain at: +972 506 467 949.