Gail Rosenthal

In Judaism, Tikkun Olam is a major tenet meaning to “repair the world,” or, “change the world for the better,” which was first written in the Talmud in the 1st millennium. Tikkun Olam teaches the importance of acting ethically, striving for justice, donating to charity, and working to achieve peace. I love Tikkun Olam because its central message, its primary focus, and its core belief is very, very similar to Islah, which is a major tenet in Islam meaning to “correct the world,” or, “make things right in the world,” which was written in the Quran. Just like Tikkun Olam, Islah teaches the importance of acting responsibly, improving ourselves, donating to others, and exhibiting peaceful behaviors.

The similarity between these two concepts was taught to me by my college professor, and second- mother, Gail Hirsch Rosenthal, who was Director of the Holocaust Resource Center at Stockton. Gail was a passionate educator with a loving heart because she was so impressed that an American-Muslim was interested in Holocaust studies that she worked tirelessly to teach me when I interned for her in the fall semester of 2007. From an early age, my parents always taught me the value of education, so I wanted to learn as much as I could as an intern at the Holocaust Resource Center at Stockton – now called the Sara & Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center at Stockton University.

When I started the Holocaust internship, Gail taught me to not only memorize facts or numbers, but to truly understand the Holocaust as well as the importance of Holocaust education in the world. This was a concept that took time to learn, but Gail invested all her time, energy and effort in me because she saw something in me, and believed in me throughout my college career. Gail saw my passion, my drive, and my motivation to want to change things in the world, and she worked with me, taught me, explained complex concepts to me, and recommended I read several books on the Holocaust so that I could truly understand the history, significance and importance of Holocaust education.

Gail was more than an educator because she explained the history of the Holocaust using videos, audio recordings, and actual sources from Nazi Germany, and explained concepts within their proper context because “context is just as important as education itself, Zunair,” as she used to tell me. It is because of Gail that I had the opportunity to not only learn about the importance of Holocaust education, but to apply my knowledge of Holocaust education in the real world in order to bring about real change because Gail taught me the importance of “whoever saves one life saves the world entire.”

It is because of Gail's hard work, effort and commitment to Holocaust education, that I have done so much in my life, yet I hope to continue doing even more, on a much larger scale, because I want to genuinely thank Gail, and pay her back for believing in me during a time when I didn't even believe in myself. After Gail's passing on October 13, 2023, I wish I had the opportunity to tell Gail how much her Holocaust internship changed my life forever. I wish I had the opportunity to tell Gail how much I value studying the Holocaust and how much I value teaching others about it. I wish I had the opportunity to tell Gail that no matter which internship I received afterwards at Yale University, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations, the Israel Peace & Leadership fellowship or the U.S. Senator's office, Gail single-handedly had the greatest impact in my life because she opened my eyes in ways that allowed me to continue teaching the world about the importance of Holocaust education – something the world needs to know, now, more than ever.

It is because of Gail that Stockton University offers dozens of courses on Holocaust and Genocide Studies. It is because of Gail that Stockton University is known throughout the world for its prestigious Sara & Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center. It is because of Gail that scholarships are awarded to Stockton University students studying Holocaust and Genocide studies. Gail worked tirelessly for Stockton, and tirelessly for me, and the very least I can do is honor her legacy on teaching the importance of Holocaust education.

From the bottom of my heart, I genuinely and sincerely cherish Gail for all the time, energy and effort she invested in me, and I promise to do everything in my power to follow in her footsteps and continue teaching the world about the history and importance of Holocaust education – because Gail embodies the very concept of Tikkun Olam. May your soul rest in peace, Gail Hirsch Rosenthal.

Zunair Ashfaq, MSW, MBE, is a bioethicist, social worker, human rights defender, and writer

www.linkedin.com/in/zunair-ashfaq-281b3415