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