BEST WISHES FOR A MEANINGFUL AND HAPPY PASSOVER - A KOSHERN UN A FREILECHN PEISAH - April 2019 | Nissan 5779 JEWISH SURVIVORS OF LATVIA, INC. Volume 33, No.1 HOLOCAUST EDUCATION IN LATVIA TODAY (PREILI AS AN EXAMPLE) Previously, on several occasions, the Courier published information about Latvian teachers’ participation in courses at the Yad Vashem International School of Holocaust Studies in Jerusalem. In these courses, teachers learned about techniques for teaching the Holocaust and strategies for further disseminating this knowledge among other teachers and their students—as well as educating the general population. The Holocaust was one of the most significant and crucial events of the 20th century. When first beginning to teach the Holocaust to students and others, it can be their initial introduction to what is perhaps the ultimate manifestation of human cruelty and violence; it also involves helping people to understand the nature of such organized and sustained actions and to find ways to prevent such human and societal disasters. As part of preparation, regular trips were organized Tekla Bekesha speaks at the memorial to the victims to Yad Vashem for a group of Latvian teachers. of the Holocaust in Preili on August 6, 2017 So, what were used as examples and what was the nce” at the 10th International Conference on Holocaust outcome? The city of Preili, like many other cities and towns Education in Jerusalem in 2018. A subject matter expert in in Latvia, has made teaching about the Holocaust mandatory. teaching about the Holocaust, Ms. Shnepste is passing on her When the German army came to Preili on June 28, 1941, local knowledge to other teachers around Latvia, as well as to Preili’s nationalists under the command of the Germans started the students. Her teaching methodology includes Holocaust persecution of the Jewish population. By October 1941, more witnesses’ memories, survivors’ diaries, materials published by than 900 Jews from Preili and its vicinity had been killed. Amsterdam’s Anne Frank House and by the History Teachers One of the most recognized initiators and leaders in Association of Latvia, various museums’ educational programs, Holocaust education in Latvian schools (particularly in Preili) is and training tours to Holocaust event locations. She is currently Nora Shnepste, principal of School No. 1, where she teaches working on textbooks and developing methodologies and history and social studies. Ms. Shnepste completed a course in course materials for other teachers. Holocaust studies for educators at The International School for One of the strongest tools she uses: the special sessions at Holocaust Studies in Yad school and at the local museum to study Sheina Gram’s diary. Vashem, Israel, in 2006. Tragically, Gram’s She has made a number family remained in of presentations, among Preili when the them: “Jews in Baltic Germans invaded Region: Perspectives Latvia. Sheina, only of Remembrance and 15, started her diary Strategies” at Latvia on the very first day University Judaic Center of invasion: June 22, in 2014; “Tolerance 1941. She wrote of and Diversity. Teaching her thoughts and About Sensitive Hist- emotions as she orical Questions and witnessed the horror Raising Tolerance Throu- of the extermination gh Historical Education” of Preili’s Jewish co- at Riga Jewish Comm- munity. One of her Preili guests N. Shnepste and T. Bekesha together with JSL president D. Silberman Nora Shnepste speaks at the unity Center in 2018; depressing entries: in the Brooklyn Holocaust Memorial Park presentation of the honorary “Holocaust Education: “There are many at the stone dedicated to the memory of award on January 31, 2019 Time, Place and Releva- roads in life, all are the Jews killed in the Holocaust in Latvia The Latvian Jewish Courier 1 The Latvian Jewish Courier Vol. 33, Issue 1 HOLOCAUST EDUCATION IN LATVIA TODAY (continued) I. Lensky, director of the Jews in Latvia Museum, presents an award to E. Rebainis, a student from a school in Preili Conference “Jews in a Changing World: History and Culture Preili youth with German volunteers from the LOT camp on the of Jews in Latvia and Baltic Region” dedicated to Jewish remembrance day for Holocaust victims, August 9, 2013 cultural heritage. This conference was organized by the Jews good, take which you want, anyway at the end—grave.” Her in Latvia Museum and the Latvian University Center for Judaic last entry in the diary is dated August 8: “No one knows when Studies with the support of the Ministry of Culture and other our struggle will end, I have a feeling that the worst is coming.” organizations. All of these organizations sponsored an essay The next day her family was killed. A copy of the diary is on competition; at the conference, Egons Rebainis, a student of a display at the Preili History Museum. The significance of this Ms. Shnepste, received the award for his essay: “Versatile Latvia: tragic document can be compared with the internationally History and Present Day of Latvian Jewish Community.” Egons known diary of Anne Frank. By familiarizing themselves with Rebainis was also awarded a diploma for his essay “Samuel the contents of Sheina’s diary, students can begin to give Latvinsky—a Man Without Whom the Pages of Precious their thoughts on topics like “What can we learn about Sheina History of Preili Would be Incomplete.” Gram’s life from her diary?” and “If there is similarity between Sheina’s reflections and reasoning with that of my generation?” and “Was the diary writing an act of spiritual resistance?” Students have the opportunity to read the memories of Morduch Hagi (Kagan), a Holocaust survivor from Preili; learn about Vladislav Vushkan, a Preili resident who, during four years of Nazi occupation, hid eight Jews in his country house on the outskirts of Preili. After his death in 2004, Mr. Vushkan was recognized as BOARD “righteous among nat- The path to the memorial for Holocaust victims Also noteworthy is Ms. Shnepste’s and her students’ JEWISH SURVIVORS OF LATVIA, INC. ions” at Yad Vashem. The memorial to support of the restoration of Jewish cemeteries by the President David Silberman Vice Presidents Prof. George Schwab the victims of the International LOT organization, led by Pastor Klaus-Peter Rex Joseph Faerber, Esq. Holocaust in Preili (see March 2018 issue of Courier). In August 2014, 25 young Secretary, Editor of Courier Dr. Ivar Brod was designed and LOT volunteers from Germany, Austria, and Italy finished the BOARD OF TRUSTEES installed next to restoration and cleaning of the Preili Jewish cemetery. Dr. Michael Dumesh the city’s Jewish A significant contribution to Holocaust education in Preili Gerta Feigin cemetery in 2004. is made by the local History and Applied Art Museum. It has Semyon Gizunterman Mitchell Lieber The impressive monu- a permanent exposition dedicated to the history and vital Lev Posvolsky ment is in the form activity of the Jewish community in Preili. Exhibits include Yefim Shteynfeld of a white arch, historical and “our days” pictures that show visitors the history Please send your letters, photos, resembling the prayer of settlement and everyday life of Jews in Preili, about their and other materials to: shawl tallit; the metal social and religious leaders, local synagogues and education, JSL c/o David Silberman gates are in the form and involvement in Preili’s social and economic development. 64-14 137th Street of menorah. Also on display are some recent gruesome discoveries in Preili: Flushing, NY 11367 As we previously a burning pit with the remains of Jews killed during the German Tel: (718) 886-3840 Fax:(718) 865-4279 reported, in the April occupation as well as some of their belongings. These material E-mail: [email protected] 2017 the Latvian evidences were donated to the museum. The museum is in the process of obtaining additional facilities where Jewish heritage WWW.JEWISHSURVIVORSOFLATVIA-USA.COM capital hosted the 10th International items would be exhibited. 2 The Latvian Jewish Courier The Latvian Jewish Courier Vol. 33, Issue 1 HOLOCAUST EDUCATION IN LATVIA TODAY (continued) Ms. Shnepste and the director of the Preili History and Applied Art Museum, Tekla Bekesha, were invited to the 12th Annual Student Literary Award Ceremony: “Truth about Holocaust and Stalinist Repression” (January 31, 2019, Bergen Community College, Paramus, NJ) to receive awards for their tireless work in Holocaust education. While accepting the award, Ms. Shnepste said: “History and social studies have Honorary diplomas given to N. Shnepste and T. Bekesh. always been in the scope of my interest. Working at school, Museum director Ms. Bekesha made a fascinating being a teacher of history, attending different courses, seminars presentation about expositions related to the historical and conferences, studying independently, I got more and more heritage of Jews in Preili prior and during WWII. interested in the theme of the Holocaust. I personally also An important conclusion can be drawn from Preili would like to find the answer to the question ‘How could it be residents’ educational and history-saving activity: Holocaust possible?’ not only in the aspect of historic events, but also to history and education are not only a learning process, but also find out the causes of these events and the motivation of people a solid guarantee that humanity will prevail over attempts at organizing them. It is of vital importance so that such events genocide in the future. would never happen again. History sometimes is called the By Semyon Gizunterman teacher of life, but people do not always understand its lessons.” Translated by Eric Kruglyak ZHANIS LIPKE MEMORIAL The general view and entrance to the museum General front view and façade of the museum On December 2, 2018, during our annual Yizkor, we had a be a shelter.