Programs on Holocaust awareness are struggling to keep pace with the spread of hate on the Internet, said a speaker at the 2007 Holocaust/Genocide Symposium held as part of last month's Two River Film Festival.

"We're in the midst of a 'good news, bad news' situation," said Mark Weitzman, director of the Task Force Against Hate at the Simon Wiesenthal Center in New York, prior to a screening of two films on genocide. "The good news is that through educational forums such as this, many people become more aware of the acts of genocide that have been perpetrated throughout the world, and they want to know what can be done to stop them.

"The bad news is that advances in technology have made it easier for the perpetrators to spread their messages of hatred and violence."

Weitzman was a panelist, along with Jared Cohen of the U.S. Department of State's policy planning staff, after screenings Nov. 19 of Darfur Diaries and Anti-Semitism in the 21st Century: The Resurgence.

More than 300 people were at Two River Theater in Red Bank to attend the event, which was presented in partnership with Monmouth University and a range of Jewish and community groups.

In his interview with NJJN, Weitzman said media outlets have more material at their disposal as well as a greater obligation to report fairly and accurately.

"Anti-Semitism has a canny ability to survive," said Weitzman. "Hatred of organized religion has been turned against the Bible and the people in it. By the 21st century, we should be saying that anti-Semitism and acts of genocide are gone. But they exist in the new media and have sparked a resurgence we haven't seen in 67 years."

What have emerged are a sense of an anti-Semitism conspiracy and a philosophy of hate that transcend language barriers, he said.

"As the barriers come down and the electronic media allows direct contact, that sense is growing," said Weitzman. "We hope that people with open minds see examples of anti-Semitism and challenge them."

A target audience of young people, many of whom are easily influenced, has become the focus of many hate groups, Cohen told NJJN. However, this same audience can become a source of positive influence, he said.

"It's important to regard this age group as a source of potential, rather than a threat," Cohen said. "Unfortunately, it's a demographic we know the least about. But we do know that they are familiar with the new technology and that political extremists often use these advances to spread their message. We need to use the same media to provide alternatives to what they're offering. You can't stop hate groups, but you can reduce their appeal.

"It's critical that we embrace the technological boom in communications," he continued. "We're in a race with the extremists to win hearts and minds."

The program was sponsored by the Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Monmouth County, the Center for Holocaust Studies at Brookdale Community College, the Ruth Hyman Jewish Community Center, the Darfur Rehab Project, the International Crisis Group, and the Monmouth County Human Relations Commission.

Prior to the screening, the CRC presented Rosellen Otrakji, CEO and founder of the Two River Film Festival, with the CRC's first annual community leadership award.

Using film as an educational tool also is a sign of the times, said Otrakji, who lives in Rumson.

"Young people respond to film, so there's no better way to reach them with an anti-violence message," she told NJ Jewish News. "If you put film and educators together, a powerful message will come through. It will also inspire conversation and communication among young people, their parents, and the general community."

CRC chair Toby Shylit Mack of Marlboro said her organization was proud that the committee is committed to making a difference through education.

"Our objective is to educate others about the Holocaust, raise awareness about the atrocities currently taking place in Darfur, and show how the seeds of hatred can lead to these atrocities," said Shylit Mack. "As a child of Holocaust survivors and a naturalized American citizen, I know how important and meaningful personal freedom is."

As the United States continues to learn about the value of technology's impact in a turbulent world, opportunities will arise that will enable democratic principles to emerge, said Cohen.

"Unfortunately, there's not a 'one size fits all' solution to the threats, and it will take a global effort to cope with them," he said. "But now there are more ways to study many different sensitivities in order to meet the needs of those who possess them. This type of study can interrupt the flow when evils persist."