During the IsraelinIHRA online plenary, delegates participated in an important "Shared Learning" session.
The session began with a presentation by Dr. Lev Topor, Head of the Cybersecurity Program, Lecturer, and Research Supervisor at the Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yaffo. Dr. Topor shared his research on Holocaust distortion and denial on the Darknet and Telegram.
He highlighted how anonymous communication tools on these hidden platforms are exploited to spread antisemitic content and extremist ideologies. Using real-world examples, he demonstrated how digital anonymity is used not only to deny historical truth but also to incite hatred and violence.
The second speaker, Mr. Miško Stanišić, co-founder and Director of "Terraforming" and a member of the Serbian delegation to the IHRA, presented the inspiring "Facts, Not Fiction" project: a 24-month initiative co-developed by partners in Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Serbia, and Romania.
This project empowers young people to become active researchers and guardians of Holocaust memory by producing graphic novels, exhibitions, podcasts, and guided tours based on micro-histories of WWII persecution.
Through collaboration with educators, curators, archivists, and others, participating youth engage critically with history and contribute to combating Holocaust distortion. "Facts, Not Fiction" was developed by EuroClio and Terraforming in partnership with Arolsen Archives and the Intercultural Institute Timisoara. It is co-funded by the European Union and coordinated by EuroClio.
The third speaker, Dr. Brian Hughes, from the USC Shoah Foundation, where he serves as Director of the Countering Antisemitism Lab, presented an innovative approach known as Attitudinal Inoculation. This communication and education method has been shown to be effective in preventing individuals, especially those not yet deeply entrenched in hateful ideologies, from adopting antisemitic beliefs.
Described as a hybrid of media literacy and counter-propaganda, the approach equips people with the tools to recognize and resist harmful, manipulative messages by focusing on the narratives and rhetoric used to spread hate. While Attitudinal Inoculation operates at the individual level, its ripple effects can influence communities and societies as a whole.
This work represents a vital step toward building resilience against hate—and ultimately, toward creating a more informed and empathetic world.
"Shared Learning" was an insightful session led by our three distinguished speakers, who shared their expertise and ideas with the delegates, creating the right atmosphere for the continued work of the experts.
