The International School for Holocaust Studies
e-Newsletter for Holocaust Educators
Shalom and welcome to the 30th issue of Teaching the Legacy. This e-newsletter focuses on defiance and rebellion during the Holocaust.
When researching the ghettos and camps during the Holocaust, we begin to understand that there was always some form of Jewish protest or resistance to the German oppression. From escape to hiding, from mutual help efforts to educational and creative activities, from spiritual to armed resistance – all these acts embodied the relentless struggle of Jewish individuals and communities to counteract the restrictions and dangers raining down upon them. Resistance of various kinds also took place at forced labor camps, concentration camps, and extermination camps. Read more...
Main Article – “The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising”
Article – “Armed Resistance in Krakow and Bialystok”
Article – “Armed Resistance. The Dilemma of Revolt”
What’s New at Yad Vashem
- Opening of New Permanent Exhibition "SHOAH" in Block 27 at Auschwitz-Birkenau: On Thursday, June 13, 2013 the new Permanent Exhibition "SHOAH" at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, Block 27 was opened in the presence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, other Israeli government ministers, Polish Minister of Culture and National Heritage Bogdan Zdrojewski, Director of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Piotr Cywinski, Chairman of the Yad Vashem Directorate and exhibition curator Avner Shalev, Chairman of the Yad Vashem Council Rabbi Israel Meir Lau and Holocaust survivors.
- New Exhibition: “I Am My Brother's Keeper,” Marking 50 Years of Honoring Righteous Among the Nations:
The new exhibition "I Am My Brother's Keeper" opened in Yad Vashem’s Exhibitions Pavilion in the presence of members of the Diplomatic Corps and Holocaust survivors. Chairman of the Yad Vashem Council Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, Chairman of the Yad Vashem Directorate Avner Shalev, Holocaust survivor Prof. Shlomo Breznitz, and Chairman of the Commission for the Designation of the Righteous, Justice Jacob Turkel spoke at the opening.
The new exhibition depicts through films the efforts taken by non-Jewish rescuers who came to the aid of persecuted Jews during the Holocaust. The exhibition is divided into five rescue themes, each highlighting the complex human situations involved in the rescue.
- Croatian Righteous Among the Nations Posthumously Honored at Yad Vashem: On Wednesday, May 29, 2013 Yad Vashem held an event posthumously honoring Zlatan & Milica Uglješić as Righteous Among the Nations from Croatia. The memorial ceremony took place in the Hall of Remembrance, followed by the unveiling of the name of the Righteous in the Garden of the Righteous Among the Nations, in the presence of His Excellency Croatian Ambassador to Israel Pjer Simunovic, Dubrauvka and Milan Uglješić, the children of the late Righteous Zlatan & Milica Uglješić received the medal and certificate of honor on their behalf, and Holocaust survivor Vera Uglješić. Members of the Commission for the Designation of the Righteous Among the Nations, family members and friends also attended the event.
- Polish Righteous Among the Nations Honored at Yad Vashem: On Monday, May 13, 2013 Yad Vashem held an event posthumously honoring Ludwika & Zygmunt Szostak as Righteous Among the Nations from Poland. The memorial ceremony took place in the Hall of Remembrance, followed by the unveiling of the name of the Righteous in the Garden of the Righteous Among the Nations, in the presence of His Excellency Polish Ambassador to Israel Jacek Hodorowicz, Elzbieta Stradowska, great-niece of the late Righteous Ludwika & Zygmunt Szostak received the medal and certificate of honor on their behalf, Holocaust survivor Karolina Eisen, Members of the Commission for the Designation of the Righteous Among the Nations, Holocaust survivors, family members and friends.
- Event Marking the Allied Victory over Nazi Germany Thursday at Yad Vashem: On Thursday May 9, 2013, Yad Vashem held the official ceremony marking the 68th anniversary of the Allied victory over Nazi Germany. The ceremony took place with the participation of Minister of Immigrant Absorption Sofa Landver. Hundreds of Jewish World War II veterans of the Allied armies, the majority from the Former Soviet Union, attended the ceremony, along with Jewish partisans, wounded soldiers from the war against the Nazis, underground fighters, volunteers from the Yishuv who fought in the British forces and veterans of the Jewish Brigade, as well as diplomatic representatives from the Allied countries. The event took place at the Memorial to the Jewish Soldiers and Partisans at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem.
- President Obama at Yad Vashem, Friday, March 22, 2013: US President Barack Obama visited Yad Vashem on Friday, March 22, 2013. He was accompanied by President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Chairman of the Yad Vashem Directorate Avner Shalev and Chairman of the Yad Vashem Council Rabbi Israel Meir Lau. He visited the Hall of Names, the Museum of Holocaust Art, participated in a memorial ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance, and visited the Children’s Memorial. Upon completion of his visit, President Obama signed the Visitors' Book and spoke. A Token of Remembrance was presented to President Obama by Mr. Avner Shalev, Chairman of the Yad Vashem Directorate.
- Ceremony honoring Righteous Among the Nations Jeanne Albouy held at Yad Vashem: Yad Vashem held a ceremony posthumously honoring Jeanne Albouy as Righteous Among the Nations from France. Mr. Serge Marignan, grandson of Jeanne, accepted the medal and certificate of honor on her behalf. The event took place in the presence of Ambassador of France to Israel H.E. Mr. Christoph Bigot, survivor Claire Kohlman and Serge Marignan grandson of the Righteous, family and friends.
- Defiance and Rebellion during the Holocaust. 70 Years Since the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Day 2013
Article – “Jewish Resistance and Uprisings – Teaching through Films”
This article will present two films that revolve around the topic of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, which have left their mark on the way we remember and understand the Holocaust and Jewish resistance. These films can be used in classrooms as a means of teaching about Jewish uprisings and different forms of Jewish resistance.
Article – “Two Poets and a Dividing Wall: The Poets Wladislaw Szlengel and Czeslaw Milosz on the Jews of the Warsaw Ghetto”
Article – Rapoport's Memorial to the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising – a Personal Interpretation
An Interview with Shulamit Imber
An Interview with Simha Rotem ("Kazik")
Artifacts from the Holocaust
Righteous Among the Nations
This segment spotlights unique individuals who risked their lives in order to save Jews during the Holocaust.
What’s New on the International School for Holocaust Studies Website?
- A brand new online course is available, for you to join at any time! It is a course in Holocaust pedagogy called "Holocaust Education for Elementary and Middle School". For more information and to register, click here.
- A brand new online course recognized for Gmul credit for Israeli teachers will begin in the fall. The course will be: At the Edge of the Abyss: “Germany: 1918-1943”. Registration will begin sometime in September. For more information and to register, click here.
What’s New at the International School for Holocaust Studies
- European Department: Reaching Across Europe
- Jewish World Department's International Seminars for Educators: Please read about the news in the Jewish World Department.
- International Seminars in the English Department: For more information about upcoming seminars, you can visit the English Department website.
View Yad Vashem’s newest publications.
In this section, we feature some Holocaust-related literature that may be of interest to educators and the general public.
In this newsletter we feature Justyna's Narrative by Gusta Davidson Draenger.
Editorial Board: Shulamit Imber, Eyal Kaminka, Dana Porath, Naama Shik
Editor: Sheryl Ochayon, Franziska Reiniger
Writing Staff: Kathryn Berman, Liz Elsby, Jackie Metzger, Sheryl Ochayon, Franziska Reiniger
Design and Production: Stephanie Amara, Liz Elsby, Rachel Karlinsky
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