New Books in the Library!

Last week I mentioned some of the new DVDs we have available; this week I'm highlighting a few of our new books!

Dividing Hearts:
The Removal of Jewish Children from Gentile Families in
Poland in the Immediate Post Holocaust Years
by Emunah Nachmany Gafny

From the back cover:
"It is difficult for us to agree that because of financial limitations, Jewish children will not be able to return to their people. That was undoubtedly the last wish of the parents who were martyred -- that their children should return to Judaism." (Members of the presidium of the Zionist Koordynacja for the Redemption of Children)

These words express the feelings of the Jewish activists in Poland after the Holocaust. Shortly after the liberation of Poland from Nazi occupation, several Jewish organizations were created in order to locate Jewish children who had been hidden during the war by Polish Christians, so as to transfer them to Jewish children's homes.

Emunah Nachmany Gafny's book deals with questions posed by these operations: Why did several organizations come into being for the same purpose? What were the relations among them? What was the nature of the operations of each body? What were the reactions of the Polish rescuers? How did Polish courts view the removal of the children to Jewish orphanages? What was the attitude of the Church? How did the children themselves react?

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The Momuments Men:

Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History

by Robert M. Edsel

From the Author's Note:

"Most of us are aware that World War II was the most destructive war in history. We know of the horrific loss of life; we've seen images of the devastated European cities. [...] But what if I told you there was a major story about World War II that hasn't been told, a significant story at the heart of the entire war effort, involving the most unlikely group of heroes you've never heard of?  What if I told you there was a group of men on the front lines who quite literally saves the world as we know it; a group that didn't carry machine guns or drive tanks, who weren't official statesmen; men who not only had the vision to understand the grave threat to the greatest cultural and artistic achievements of civilization, but then joined the front lines to do something about it?

These unknown heroes were known as the 'Monuments Men,' a group of soldiers who served in the Western Allied military effort from 1943 until 1951. Their initial responsibility was to mitigate combat damage, primarily to structures -- churches, museums, and other important monuments. As the war progressed and the German border was breached, their focus shifted to locating movable works of art and other cultural items stolen or otherwise missing. During their occupation of Europe, Hitler and the Nazis pulled off the "greatest theft in history," seizing and transporting more than five million cultural objects to the Third Reich. The Western Allied effort, spearheaded by the Monuments Men, thus became the "greatest treasure hunt in history," with all the unimaginable and bizarre stories that only war can produce."

Coming to theaters February 2014! Film website and trailer: http://www.monumentsmen.com/

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The Weaver's Scar: For Our Rwanda

by Brian Crawford (local author!)

 

From the publisher:

"The Weaver's Scar is the first young adult novel written in English and for an American audience dealing directly with the Rwandan genocide.

It is a story of a Rwandan boy who manages to escape the 1994 genocide of the Tutsis and make it to America. It is a story that is both horrific and inspiring.

Faustin is a normal schoolboy growing up and very good at running and soccer. But dark secrets of the past hang over his family, and his father disapproves of his friends and his football games. Things only start to make sense when the teachers at school begin to emphasize the division between the Tutsis and Hutus, a division that even makes its way to the soccer field.

As the terrible events of the genocide unfold, Faustin discovers what caused his father’s disability, experiences the cruelty of his schoolteachers, and sees first-hand the horror of neighbor against neighbor. With his family slain, his only chance of survival lies in his running and sheer courage to outwit the enemy. He does not have to do it alone, as he discovers the value and courage of an unlikely friend."

For teachers who might be interested in using this book in the classroom, there is also a teacher guide available from the publisher. Check out the website for more information: http://www.rfwp.com/book/weavers-scar-for-our-rwanda.

6th Grade Students & Parents from TDHS Visit the Holocaust Center

Thank you to the 6th grade students and their parents who visited the Holocaust Center this past Sunday.  The annual visit is part of Temple De Hirsch Sinai's 6th grade curriculum.

Students and their parents had the opportunity to explore artifacts and to hear from survivors Susie and Hester.

New DVDs in the Library!

Recently we have added the following  DVDs to our library:

"The Last Survivor: Four Tragedies. Four Journeys. One Purpose."

The Last Survivor is an award-winning documentary that explores the idea of genocide in the 21st century.  Following the lives of the survivors of four different genocides and mass atrocities -- The Holocaust, Rwanda, Darfur, and Congo -- the film presents the stories of Survivors and their struggle to make sense of tragedy by working to educate, motivate and inspire a civic response to mass atrocity crimes. Offering real world examples of Survivors who have become powerful agents of change, The Last Survivor presents a unique opportunity to learn from the lessons and mistakes of our past in order to have lasting social impact on how we act collectively in the face of similar issues today.
92 min.

"Hitler's Children"

 

Hitler had no children, but what about Goering, Himmler and Frank? "Hitler's Children" introduces us to descendents of these infamous men. Niklas Frank, son of Hans Frank and godson of Hitler, has spent his adult life vehemently speaking out against his father and the Nazi regime. Bettina Goering, grandneice of Hitler's second in command, Hermann Goering, lives in voluntary exile in Santa Fe. These, and many others, discuss how they have coped with the fact that their last names are equated with terror and genocide. 
83 min.

Bonus Short Film:
"Kun 65"

A painting found on the street leads to an inspirational journey from Israel to Budapest while revealing the fascinating personal story of a holocaust survivor.
24 min.

"The Story of Human Rights"

 

Human rights are the basis of everything people value about their way of life. In their absence, lasting happiness is impossible, because there is no personal security, no freedom and no opportunity. Yet it took a world war and the deaths of tens of millions of people to bring the leading nations together to create a truly universal charter of rights -- the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Today's grim reality, however, is one of many nations deeply involved in torture, human trafficking, starvation, injustice, and discrimination and other human rights violations. These countries are in flagrant noncompliance with the Declaration. So who will make sure human rights are respected?
9:30 min.

Bonus features: 30 award-winning public service announcements that illustrate each of the articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and an award-winning UNITED human rights music video.

New Books at the Holocaust Center!

 

Lives Lived and Lost, by Kaja Finkler and Gold Finkler

Golda and Kaja, mother and daughter, each survived the holocaust and tell their stories from differing perspectives. Their story paints a rich picture of Hasidic life before the holocaust and the terrible decision Golda, who was about to be sent to a slave labor camp, and her husband, who was to stay in the ghetto, would have to make: with which parent to send their daughter Kaja. After the war, mother and daughter were reunited in Sweden and eventually moved to America to establish new lives.

The Death of the Shtetl, by Yehuda Bauer

Unlike most books about life in pre-war Jewish towns in eastern Europe and their subsequent destruction during the holocaust---which are riveting narrative personal histories—Professor Emeritus of Holocaust Studies at Hebrew University and Yad Vashem, Yehuda Bauer, takes a purely academic approach. Using newly translated Russian texts and Nazi files, he traces how the shtetls of eastern Europe were systematically destroyed. Yet resistance to the Nazis, such as the Bielski brothers’ family camp as seen in the recent movie Defiance, tells an additional story of Jewish courage. Because it is an academic analysis, the book may seem dry and be at too high of an academic level for a general audience. But for the reader who wants to read primary sources and delve into the chapter end-notes, it is ideal.

Reviews by Dr. Gene Printz-Kopelson.  Gene generously volunteers his spare time while in Seattle at the Holocaust Center.

New Film in Library!

A new film from Disney Education Productions, "They Spoke Out: American Voices Against the Holocaust 1938-1945" is now available and in our library! 

In the tradition of WWII-themed graphic novels such as Maus, six remarkable motion comics tell the dramatic stories of the brave people who raised their voices to advocate for Jewish refugees victimized by the Nazis.  The series aims to inspire today's youth to speak out in the face of injustice.

Intended for grades 6-12
Running Time: 76 Minutes

New Books in the Library!

New books have been added to library, including: 

Difficult Questions in Polish-Jewish Dialogue 

             A collaborative project between the Forum for Dialogue Among Nations Foundation and the American Jewish Committee, this book endeavors to build bridges between Poles and Jews regarding the history of the Holocaust. 

The Pharmacist: In the Krakow Ghetto-- Tomasz Bereznicki 

             A graphic novel about the experiences of Tadeusz Pankiewicz, a pharmacist who continued to run his pharmacy even after it was incorporated into the Krakow ghetto. By keeping his pharmacy open he managed to help and rescue Jews over the course of two years.

Thank you for being a sponsor of the 2013 Voices for Humanity Luncheon!

See more sponsors!

New Year, New Books!

New for Middle School Trunks: Terrible Things by Eve Bunting!  Request a trunk for your class today!

        The animals in the clearing were content until the Terrible Things came, capturing all creatures with feathers. 

        Little Rabbit wondered what was wrong with feathers, but his fellow animals silenced him. "Just mind your own business, Little Rabbit. We don't want them to get mad at us."

        In this unique introduction to the Holocaust, Ms. Bunting encourages young children to stand up for what they think is right, without waiting for others to join them.

We also have a new book available to borrow: A Convenient Hatred: The History of Antisemitism by Phyllis Goldstein!  We have ten copies available! 

To request this or other books, please contact us: info@wsherc.org or 206-744-2201.

        A Convenient Hatred chronicles a very particular hatred through powerful stories that allow readers to see themselves in the tarnished mirror of history. It raises important questions about the consequences of our assumptions and beliefs and the ways we, as individuals and as members of a society, make distinctions between "us" and "them," right and wrong, good and evil. These questions are both universal and particular.

Student Projects and Thank You Notes

Occasionally, teachers send us some of their students' work inspired by the books they read in the Teaching Trunks.  In Paul Regelbrugge's class at Finch Elementary in Spokane, students created picture books and ABC books about the books they read.  Below are pages from a few of the projects.

The students also sent letters sharing how the trunks have affected them.  Below are a few excerpts.

"In the Holocaust chest that you sent to Finch Elementary, I read Faces of Courage, by Sally Rogow... Thank you for helping me get that opportunity to read such courageous stories from some amazing people.  Reading these stories helped me understand how much simply standing up for someone being bullied can change the world... If I ever have the chance I will make an impact in the world. No. Even if I have to fight to make a difference. I WILL make a change."

"The book I chose to read was Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, and let me say I am amazed how much this book and suitcase you sent has changed me. It just makes me cringe when i think about all the people in the world who have had to face death, or life-threatening injuries, just because of their skin color, religion, or for even being handicapped or gay.  And because of you one of my new favorite quotes is "change begins with me."... Lowry's bok helped me realize that I need to embrace who I am and not be ashamed of the color of my skin [I am African American]."

"The story [Number the Stars by Lois Lowry] made me realize how terrible this war was.... It makes me sad how someone could do this.... I wish to help people and teach them about this terrible event. I hate to know about this but at least it helps us be able to teach this scary event. To teach kids and other people about it and be able to learn that I don't want to be a bystander."


Thank you Paul Regelbrugge and your students for their great work!

New Book !

Thank you to Carl Shutoff for loaning us this great new book! More details below:

Title: Art Against Death

This book showcases the permanent exhibitions of the Terezin Memorial in the former Magdeburg Barracks. It focuses heavily on the musical and artistic aspects of living in the Terezin ghetto.

New Books in the Library!

Three books have now been added to our library collection!

The books include


Ghetto Diary by Janusz Korczak

The diary of a successful pediatrician in Warsaw who gave up his career in order to take care of orphans in the ghetto. He was eventually sent to the Treblinka death camp with the same children that he took care of.

Het Hocker Album: Auschwitz door de lens van de SS  from the Holocaust Library 

Hoeker Album: Auschwitz through the lens of the SS 

An album thought to be compiled by Karl-Friedrich Hocker an SS officer, showing the lives of the officers who ran Auschwitz-Birkenau. (In Dutch) 

Holocaust &Human Rights from the Kazerne Dossin 


The Kazerne Dossin in Belgium has created a catalog to remember and reflect on the themes present in the museum's displays. 

New resources now available!

We are happy to announce two new additions to our online resources!

"Teaching about Holocaust Literature": a lesson plan by Josephine Cripps.
Effective teaching of Holocaust literature can be broken down into four basic steps: 1. Exploration of students' prior knowledge; 2. Contextualization; 3. Acitivities that support active reading; 4. Assessment

"Another Time, Another Place": a play by Evan Tannenbaum Cummins.

For over 20 years Eva has performed a one-woman play based on her story. In 2013, with the help of Josephine Cripps, Eva formally wrote down her play. READ "ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE"

In the author's note, Eva writes:
In 1991, a director with whom I was working asked me to dramatize my childhood. The result is this one-woman “staged memory.” Performed first in New Orleans, the piece traveled with me, in 1995, to my new home in Seattle. The play’s framing device is a conversation between my grandchildren, Jess and Sierra, and me. Out of this conversation I hope that new ones will arise. Another Time, Another Place embodies my three enduring passions: the theater, education, and my Jewish identity. As one of the last remaining survivors of the Holocaust, I feel an urgency to honor my heritage and share it.
In that regard, I thank the Washington State Holocaust Education Resource Center.  The Holocaust Center has helped me bring my story to stages, libraries and schools, and community centers throughout the region. We all have a story, and this is mine. I hope it helps you understand another time, another place.
Eva Tannenbaum Cummins January 2013

More on Eva Tannenbaum Cummins - http://www.wsherc.org/teaching/testimonies/default.aspx

Josh Gortler visits Northwest School

Survivor Josh Gortler spoke to students at the Northwest School in Seattle.  Their teacher created an online response board which effectively encouraged students to think more deeply about Josh's presentation. The questions and responses can be found here.  Below are a few excerpts from the students' responses.

"From Mr. Gortler's talk, I took the message that we can't deny our own history. There are horrible things that have happened throughout history which illustrate the evil of which man is capable. In order to create a society which highlights the best aspects of humanity, we must not shy away from these atrocities. They are a part of our shared history, and because of that it is only through studying them, documenting them and learning from them that we can prevent their reoccurence, and create a better future. Additionally, part of this learning from the past involves recognizing and responding to the injustices that we see around us."

"This quote ["My life is not defined by the Holocaust.  If we keep living in the past we have no present and no future..."] to me means that in every life there is struggle, there are going to be things that happen to you which are angering and horrible. But even with those events: life moves on. Mr. Gortler experienced one of the most horrific genocides in human history: but instead of defining his life as a Holocaust Survivor, he is taking the messages and lessons he learned and turning them into something new. He has created a life influenced undoubtedly by his experiences, but not shaped around them. His life, and all lives, are what the person makes them."

"I appreciated him saying that ["I am a witness to history -- now so are you."], it made me feel very lucky but I was very effected by what he said about us as a group of student, and what we must do with the education we are receiving... With all the opportunities I have had and continue to have I want to do something that will justify how blessed I am, but am very intimidated.. It is a big responsibility to make the world a better place, as Josh expects of us."

"The part I found most memorable was his excitement and the way he embraced his role of a storyteller. He was animated, and wanted to spark a discussion among the students. He took the terrible things that happened in his life, and turned them into a positive, a reason to connect and inform young people of the history he witnessed."

"The overarching message I took away from the presentation was that the memory of the Holocaust should be kept alive at all costs, and that it is important to stand up in the face of prejudice, cruelty, and denial to prevent anything like the Holocaust from happening again."

You can learn more about Josh and his story on our website by visiting: http://www.wsherc.org/center/survivorstories/survivorstories.aspx

Klaus Stern passes away at 92

  

Dear Friends,

It is with great sadness that I inform you that Klaus Stern passed away yesterday evening. He was one of the founders of our Holocaust Center, a speaker in our Speakers Bureau, a long time Board member, a strong advocate for Holocaust education and for many of us, a dear friend. He will be missed.

We send peace to his family in their time of sorrow and to all who mourn.

Tributes can be made to the Klaus Stern Holocaust Education Fund by going to www.wsherc.org or by mail to 2031 Third Avenue, Seattle WA 98121. The fund will support speaker outreach throughout the Pacific Northwest. 

Please call the Center if you have any questions (206) 774-2201.

Dee Simon

__________________________________

Klaus and Paula Stern established their permanent home here in Seattle in 1946. At a time when people where discouraged from talking about the Holocaust, Klaus spoke out, telling his personal story to others. For over 40 years Klaus has informed and educated local, national and international students and communities.

A longtime member of the Washington State Holocaust Education Resource Center's Speakers Bureau and one of the Center's founders, Klaus served the Center's mission to inspire teaching and learning for humanity in the schools and communities of this region through study of the Holocaust. Klaus educated students and the community about his experiences during the Holocaust, encouraging generations of young people to speak out for what is right, to respect others, and about the tragic consequences of intolerance. He travelled throughout the Pacific Northwest to tell his story, and was hosted by the German government to share his experiences. He was a member of the Jewish Club of Washington, and of Emmanuel Congregation in Seattle.

Born in 1921 in Breslau, Germany (now Wroclaw, Poland), Klaus grew up in Berlin. He and Paula were married in 1942 in the midst of Nazi deportations. Fearing for their future, the couple agreed that if they were separated, they would meet in Paula's hometown, Ahrnstadt, after the war. They were both deported to Auschwitz nine months after their wedding and were separated for 25 months, never knowing if the other was alive.

Klaus survived Auschwitz, Sachsenhausen, Flossenburg, Leonberg, Mühldorf, and the death marches. Liberated in May of 1945 by American troops, Klaus wrote a note to Paula and sent it with several soldiers heading in the direction of Paula's hometown. After three months in an Allied hospital Klaus regained his strength and traveled for three weeks through war-ravaged Europe to joyfully reunite with Paula in her home town of Ahrnstadt. They immigrated to the United States the next year and became the first Holocaust survivor family to settle in Seattle. Klaus worked for Langendorf Bakeries in Seattle for 36 years, while Paula raised their two children, Marion and Marvin. They were married for 71 years.

Always sources of strength to each other, both Klaus and Paula said that it was their love for each other and the hope of being together again that kept them going in horrible circumstances.

Survived by his beloved wife Paula, his two children, and four grandchildren, Klaus passed away due to complications from pneumonia.

View a brief biography and timeline of Klaus' life, and view three short video clips here.

Thank you Key Bank!

Thank you Key Bank for supporting the Holocaust Center!

"Change Begins with Me" Display

We love the display created by 5^th graders in Ms. Poole’s class at Schmitz Park Elementary, in West Seattle!  Students hosted a survivor and used one of the Holocaust Center’s teaching trunks.  Great job Schmitz Park!

New Books in the Library!

We are happy to announce the inclusion of four new books and a DVD to our library collection!  These items are part of The Azrieli Series of Holocaust Survivor Memoirs.

The new books include:

Gatehouse to Hell by Felix Opatowski, recipient of the 2012 Independent Publisher Book Award



Tenuous Threads/One of the Lucky Ones by Judy Abrams/Eva Felsenburg Marx
 

Little Girl Lost by Betty Rich


If Home is Not Here by Max Bornstein


The DVD is a collection of short films based on each of the books.

The Azrieli Series of Holocaust Survivor Memoirs was "established to preserve and share the written memoirs of those who survived the twentieth-century Nazi genocide of the Jews of Europe and later made their way to Canada."  For more information about The Azrieli Foundation and their series, please visit http://www.azrielifoundation.org/memoirs/

Yom Hashoah: Holocaust Remembrance Day

Holocaust Remembrance Day, or Yom Hashoah, will be on Monday, April 8th this year.  To remember those whose lives were lost and in an effort to never forget the tragic events that took place, many temples, schools, and organizations will be holding Holocaust Remembrance Day programs that are open to the community.  Please see below for a list of programs in the area.

The list will continue to be updated as more information becomes available.  If you have an event that you would like added to this list, please let us know!  Email ilanak@wsherc.org.

Teaching materials for Holocaust Remembrance Day - click here

"In My Hands: Memories of a Holocaust Rescuer"
Jeannie Smith, daughter of Irene Gut Opdyke, Holocaust Rescuer and author of In My Hands:Memories of a Holocaust Rescuer

Jeannie Smith will be speaking at both:

• Congregation Kol Shalom, 9810 Miller Road NE, Bainbridge Island (April 4, 7:30pm) and
• Congregation Kol Ami, 16530 Avondale Rd Ne, Woodinville (April 5, 7:30pm)

Co-sponsored by the Holocaust Center.  Jeannie Smith is the daughter of Irene Gut Opdyke, Holocaust rescuer and author of In My Hands: Memories of a Holocaust Rescuer.  During World War II, Ms. Opdyke rescued Jewish families in Holland, risking the lives of herself and her family in the process.  Later recognized by the State of Israel, the US Holocaust Commission, and others, Ms. Opdyke died in 2003.  During her sessions at Congregation Kol Ami (Woodinville) and Congregation Kol Shalom (Bainbridge Island), Ms. Smtih will share the story of her mother's remarkable life.  For more information, contact Janice Hill (Kol Shalom): (206) 842-9010 or Sherri Feldman (Kol Ami): (425) 844-1604.

Kol HaNeshamah, Seattle
April 6, 9:30am
The KHN community will come together for a special educational program, created by member Rachel Smith-Mosel.  Pre-K to 2nd graders will experience Tot Shabbat followed by hands-on activities focusing on mitzvot and kindness.  3rd-7th graders and adults will study together, beginning with a video and discussion entitled, "What Would You Do?," and continuing with hands-on activities.  We will conclude the day with an abbreviated Shabbat morning service, followed by Kiddush and Motzi.

Temple Beth Or, Everett
April 7, 7:30pm
"Yom HaShoah Reader's Theater Commemoration." Join us for a special Reader's Theater as we share the stories of Jewish Partisans and the armed Jewish resistance.  A discussion will follow as well as prayers and poetry as we remember all those who lost their lives in the Holocaust. Led by Rabbi Jessica Marshall.  For more information, contact Rabbi Jessica Marshall: rabbimarshall@gmail.com

Eagle Harbor Congregational Church, Bainbridge Island
April 8, 3-5pm 
"Holocaust Remembrance Day."  Our reflections will include song and sharing of stories. Address: 105 Winslow Way (in the parking lot). For more information, contact Lorna Jean Giger: ljgiger@mindspring.com

Olympic College, Bremerton, BSC Building
April 8, 11:30am - 1pm
Screening of "With My Own Eyes: Holocaust. Genocide. Today." Produced by the Washington State Holocaust Education Resource Center, followed by a presentation from a Holocaust Surivor.  For more information, please email Charlyn Garcia: cgarcia@olympic.edu

Seattle University
April 9, 7:00pm.
Chapel of St. Ignatius, Seattle University campus.  For more information, contact Jan Cherry: (206) 296-2383

Bet Chaverim and Saltwater Unitarian Universalist congregations, Des Moines
April 21, 10:30 am
The program will be led by Rabbi Rick Harkavy, and Rev. Dr. James Kubal-Komoto. Address: 24701 14th Pl S, Des Moines. For more information, contact Nancy Blase: nblase@comcast.net or (206) 577-0403

South Seattle Community College, OLYMPIC Building Theater, Room 120
April 24, 11:00-1:00 pm
Co-sponsored by the Holocaust Center. Screening of "The Last Survivor" followed by a Q&A.
For more information, contact the Cultural Center: (206) 934-7950 or Office of Diversity and Retention: (206) 924-6455

PARIS: France to return 7 paintings looted during WWII

PARIS: France to return 7 paintings looted during WWII - People Wires - MiamiHerald.com

Many of the 100,000 possessions looted, stolen or appropriated between 1940-44 in France have been returned to Jewish families, but Saunier said the country has increased its efforts in the past five years to locate the rightful owners of what the French government says are some 2,000 artworks still in state institutions.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/02/14/3234228/france-to-return-7-looted-holocaust.html#storylink=cpy

Thank you Ben Bridge!

Thank you to our 2013 partner Ben Bridge for supporting Holocaust education!

The Bombing of Auschwitz: Teacher Responses

After the lecture last Thursday on "The Bombing of Auschwitz," we asked to teachers to tell us what stood out to them most and they gained from the lecture.  Below are a few excerpts from their responses:

"The great numbers of Jewish people put to death so needlessly and callously was impacting.  The presentation helped in seeing them as individuals rather than a mass number... The comments were impacting, such as one man’s mother who was a prisoner at Auschwitz wanting the bombing, even at the cost of her life, so that the Nazi idea that they were untouchable could be destroyed.  The personal comments struck home.

My father was shot down while on a bombing mission, and served in a German POW camp.  The specifics of what he saw and faced, both in his bombing missions and in the camps as they tried to get information from him as the navigator; the 2 escapes he made and the miracle of his survival upon recapture when others were immediately executed; the liberation of the prisoners at the end of the war, which affected both his POW camp and the concentration camp across the city – these and so many more specifics brought home how these events, their significance, the PTSD so many faced, and how their lives from that time forward were impacted..  I can better understand why some choose not to talk about the details, as the reality is in front of them again."

- Sharon Cordova, Puyallup

"I appreciated the breadth, depth, and detailed content of the lecture. Although I teach what I consider to be a lengthy and hopefully thorough unit on the Holocaust, I generally brush over this topic and cover it superficially.   Many of the facts jumped out at me. The broken down statistics on Auschwitz where 12,000 victims were put to death a day and that 2,000 were killed every 30 minutes. While I knew about Jan Karski and a few others who revealed what was happening in the death camps of Poland, I appreciated the expanded list of not only people, but organizations such as the BBC and the N.Y. Times who both revealed their awareness in 1944. I was reminded of the impact of the World War I anti-German propaganda and the detrimental effect on the believability factor when people were told of what was occurring in Poland during WWII. One point that really struck me was the comment made by a leading Jewish organization that the Allies should not be allowed to bomb where there were Jews because the argument was put forth that the Germans would use this as a pretext to assert that the Jewish victims were indeed killed by the Allies. I really appreciated the references to primary sources such as the Executive Order 100 signed by Abraham Lincoln which stated something to the effect that “Once a war begins, the best and most humane thing is to carry it out as intensely as possible so as to be through with it as soon as possible.” Although I was aware that Buna had been bombed once I did not know that it had been bombed four times. My other revelatory moment was when Mr. Herschkowitz began talking about the different bombing strategies and I began to relate technology, strategy, and opportunity all into the equation. There’s a whole new perspective given when you consider that during the time frame of WWII only 20% of bombs aimed at a precise target fell within the target range. During the hours I spent at the presentation I gained a lot of new information, was challenged to add to my existing knowledge, and began to look at the issue of whether to bomb Auschwitz or not with new eyes.

I loved the way his lecture started with a couple of guided questions and then systematically looked at the issues of awareness of what was happening, who was aware and at what point in time, technology issues, emotional responses from both sides, etc.  It’s an excellent issue for getting students to research, present, and debate and provides ample opportunity to bring in some primary documents, historical maps, and primary photos. I feel a lot more comfortable now leading or prompting a discussion about whether or not  Auschwitz should have been bombed. Teachers teach what they know, are comfortable with, and what they feel will be of importance to their students.   My entire way of addressing this issue will be revamped into a more interactive classroom experience and I am grateful for the opportunity to learn more."

- Rosemary Conroy, Shoreline

"I think that it is hard for us to truly evaluate this question ["Should the Allies have bombed Auschwitz?"] as it so hard for us to separate what we know now about bombing in the 20^th and 21^st Centuries, compared with the reality of how unreliable a method this was during the war. When we discovered that less than 7% of bombs during the war actually hit the intended target, it is hard to imagine the unintended potential for more loss of life.

One of the most powerful lessons for me from the Holocaust is the resiliency of the human spirit. I cannot imagine the suffering, pain, and loss, these people endured. But I can stand as a witness to the resiliency of their spirit as I see survivors at events like tonight’s. When I hear children speak of what their parents endured; and yet these people did not give up on life. They had families, they moved forward as best they could. They celebrated the fact that they were alive, blessed by God, holy. Should we have bombed? What if these survivor’s would have been killed? I can’t even pretend to know the answer to that question. It was a very though provoking lecture.

I teach Literature and Religion and my partner teacher Rosemary Conroy teaches Social studies. We work hard to integrate this subject through all we teach. Any chance I get to become more informed helps me to be better at my job. Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to hear such a great speaker."

- Tracey Rathke, Shoreline 

Lecture and Teacher Seminar at the Museum of Flight

Last week, the Museum of Flight hosted a public lecture and a teacher seminar on teaching about the Holocaust.  Thank you to everyone who was able to attend!

The lecture, by Bob Herschkowitz, discussed the question of why the Allies didn't bomb Auschwitz.  The lecture was given as an International Holocaust Remembrance Day Program.  This day, January 27th, was designated by the United Nations and marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz in 1945.

The teacher seminar included topics such as: "Rise of the Nazi Party and the National Socialist Government," "Photo Analysis: Looking at Victims, Perpetrators, Bystanders, and Collaborators," "Rescue and Resistance," and "An Introduction to Genocide."  These discussions were led by Stephen Pagaard, Branda Anderson, Josephine Cripps, and Nick Coddington.

For more pictures, check out our facebook page!

Thank you for sponsoring Thursday night's program!

The Bombing of Auschwitz
with Robert Herschkowitz

January 17, 2013

At the Museum of Flight
6:30pm - 8:30pm

Thank you to our generous sponsors!

Shemanski Foundations