The honorees were Rachel Amar, Co-Founder of MODA; Gil Cygler, Board Member of AJCF; Moshe Kinderlehrer, Co-Founder and Co-Publisher of The Jewish Link; Rebecca Sassouni, Of Counsel at Wisselman Harounian Family Law; and Lisa “Malkie” Vider, Operator and Administrator of Oceanview Manor Home for Adults.
NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / August 24, 2026 / The Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation (AJCF) presented its annual Moral Courage Awards at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, recognizing five individuals for confronting antisemitism and hate and posthumously honoring Ousmane Diallo, the 24-year-old Harlem legislative director whose brief life was marked by public service and bridge-building.
The honorees were Rachel Amar, Co-Founder of MODA; Gil Cygler, Board Member of AJCF; Moshe Kinderlehrer, Co-Founder and Co-Publisher of The Jewish Link; Rebecca Sassouni, Of Counsel at Wisselman Harounian Family Law; and Lisa “Malkie” Vider, Operator and Administrator of Oceanview Manor Home for Adults.
Diallo served as Legislative Director for New York State Assembly Member Al Taylor (D-Harlem) and died on July 18. His family accepted the posthumous award. A lifelong Harlemite and longtime youth leader with the National Action Network, Diallo devoted himself to public service and youth empowerment. At the time of his death, he was participating in a JCRC-NY fellowship focused on strengthening relationships between Muslim and Jewish New Yorkers.
At the event, Assembly Member Landon Dais (D-Bronx) announced his commitment to allocate a six-figure capital grant to support the infrastructure needed to expand Decode Hate to schools across New York State.
During the 2025-2026 academic year, Decode Hate reached more than 25,000 New York City public school students across all five boroughs through a partnership among AJCF, the New York City Council and New York City Public Schools. AJCF plans to begin expanding the program statewide during the 2026-2027 academic year due to the support of the NYS Assembly, NYS Senate and Governor Hochul.
Decode Hate combines Holocaust and antisemitism education, digital literacy and civic responsibility. Teacher-led advance and follow-up lessons accompany interactive workshops conducted by trained AJCF facilitators, helping students identify and confront antisemitism, racism, misinformation and online hate.
“The Holocaust and slavery are among the darkest chapters in human history. Education helps us understand that pain and stand together against hatred today,” said Assembly Member Dais. “Ousmane dedicated his life to serving Harlem and building bridges between Muslim and Jewish communities. We honor his memory by continuing that work.”
“Holocaust memory has meaning only when it changes how the living behave,” said Jack Simony, President and Director General of AJCF. “The people we honored understand that confronting hatred is not someone else’s responsibility. Ousmane Diallo embodied that responsibility in a life cut far too short. Assembly Member Dais’s investment will carry Decode Hate into more classrooms, giving young people the knowledge to recognize hatred and the courage to reject it before it becomes normal.”
“After more than 25 years caring for older New Yorkers, I have learned that dignity depends on who shows up when people are most vulnerable,” said Vider. “AJCF teaches young people to recognize hatred early, speak when others are targeted and refuse to stand by. I am honored to receive this award and accept it as a responsibility to continue the work.”
About the Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation
The Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation transforms Holocaust memory into action through education, leadership development and initiatives confronting antisemitism, hatred and extremism. With operations in New York City and Oświęcim, Poland, AJCF educates students, educators, military officers, diplomats, elected officials and civic leaders to recognize the consequences of hatred and act against it.
The Foundation maintains the Auschwitz Jewish Center in Oświęcim, including the town’s last remaining synagogue, a museum and education center, and preserved Jewish heritage sites. Through programs including Decode Hate, the American Service Academies Program and the RISE Leadership Initiative, AJCF prepares current and future leaders to build a more resilient, pluralistic and democratic society.
For more information, visit www.ajcfus.org.
Contact:
Joshua Steinreich
Steinreich Communications
(212) 491-1600
Jsteinreich@scompr.com
SOURCE: Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation
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