Vol. 33-No.4 ISSN 0892-1571 March/April 2007-Adar/Nisan 5767 TEACHING TOLERANCE, UNDERSTANDING, AND UNITY n March 11, 2007 over one hun- resource developed by Yad Vashem, Vashem Jerusalem. They led the follow- “When the Nazis came for the communists, Odred educators gathered at the The Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ ing workshops: 1) The Final Solution I remained silent; Pratt Mansions in NYC for the American Remembrance Authority, the Anti- 2) Jewish Resistance 3) Survivors and I was not a communist. Society for Yad Vashem’s Ninth Annual Defamation League, and the USC Shoah Liberators 4) Perpetrators, Collaborators, Professional Development Conference. Foundation Institute for Visual History and Bystanders and 5) The Ghettos. When they locked up the social democrats, Once again, this program was co-spon- and Education. We were pleased to wel- he Echoes and Reflections curricu- I did not speak out; sored by the Association of Teachers of come representatives from all three insti- Tlum is a comprehensive ten-lesson I was not a social democrat. Social Studies of the United Federation tutions. We were also very excited about program that focuses on the history of of Teachers. Remarks on behalf of the having teachers from eight different the Holocaust within the context of con- When they came for the trade unionists, temporary issues. For example, it deals I did not speak out; with cultural diversity, genocide, and I was not a trade unionist. intolerance. This year’s conference tried to show educators how to utilize this When they came for me, innovative curriculum in their class- there was no one left to speak out.” rooms. The aim of the American Society for Yad Vashem hosting these education he educators who attended this conferences is to transmit the lessons of Tconference will be able to show this historical event to present and future their students the importance of social generations. Teaching about the awareness, so that the words “Never Holocaust in an age-appropriate and his- Again” will ring true. As one participant torically accurate manner will promote greater sensitiv- ity and understanding to reduce the hatred, intoler- ance and prejudice preva- lent in today’s society. What also sets this particular cur- riculum apart from others is its use of testimonies. This is one of the first multi-media From left to right: Shulamit Imber, Director of Pedagogy of the International School for Holocaust curricula to be used in class- Studies of Yad Vashem Jerusalem; Eli Zborowski, Chairman, American Society for Yad Vashem; rooms. Educators can have Carolyn Herbst, past president of ATSS/UFT; Elizabeth Zborowski, Cultural Director of the the voice of those people American Society for Yad Vashem; Caroline Massel, co-chair of the Young Leadership Associates who lived through the atroci- of the American Society for Yad Vashem at the 9th Annual Professional Development Conference. ties right in their classrooms Conference participants looking over the curriculum at the 9th president, Levi Anthony, were delivered states represented at this year’s confer- by using the DVD or VHS Annual Professional Development Conference. by Ms. Carolyn Herbst, past president of ence. provided with the curriculum. ATSS/UFT. Remarks were also given by The educational conference started As Shulamit Imber stated, it is so much noted, “Emphasizing the human element Caroline Massel, co-chair of the Young with remarks from Shulamit Imber, more than just the words that these sur- of the Holocaust allows for more thought- Leadership Associates of the American Director of Pedagogy of the International vivors use, it is the way their voices ful learning.” Society for Yad Vashem; as well as Mr. School for Holocaust Studies of Yad sound, they look in their eyes, and the Many people can remember their Eli Zborowski, Chairman of The Vashem Jerusalem. Her remarks, regard- posture of their bodies. teachers, they can remember the lesson American Society for Yad Vashem. Mr. ing the education philosophy of Yad Studying the Holocaust is important to they were taught. It is our hope that the Zborowski remarked that the American Vashem, were found “insightful, com- students today in a world of growing teachers who attend the American Society for Yad Vashem’s Educational pelling and passionate” by some confer- Holocaust denial and anti-Semitism. A Society for Yad Vashem’s Educational Department “works to put a face on indi- ence participants. Other workshops dur- curriculum like Echoes and Reflections Conferences will be remembered for the vidual Holocaust victims in order to intro- ing the day were also led by Dan Tarplin, will enable students to think about the lessons that they are transmitting. It is duce a human element to the story. Project Director of the A WORLD OF responsibilities they have as individuals, our hope that they will go on and inspire Transmitting these messages is our DIFFERENCE® Institute, Deborah when confronted with prejudice and intol- their students, teaching them tolerance, hope for the future.” Batiste, Project Director for Echoes and erance. The holocaust provides a con- understanding, and unity. This year, we were once again high- Reflections, and Stephanie McMahon- text for looking at the dangers of remain- For more information regarding lighting the Echoes and Reflections cur- Kaye, Coordinator of the Desk for ing silent in the face of the oppression of upcoming educational activities, please riculum. This is a valuable education International Seminars in English at Yad others. As Pastor Martin Neimoller said: contact our office at 212-220-4304. IN THIS ISSUE I was a child of Holocaust survivors............................................................................4 Holocaust heroine’s survival tale..................................................................................5 French railroad sued over Holocaust...........................................................................6 How Belgium sacrificed its Jews to the Nazis............................................................7 The American Society for Yad Vashem Annual Spring Luncheon............................8 A tale of three women – and a lost family.................................................................8-9 Report from Yad Vashem.............................................................................................10 Was Churchill anti-Semitic?........................................................................................12 Allies may have known of Holocaust plans...............................................................14 Jewish artist creates memorial for Kielce pogrom...................................................15 Hilel hosts Yad Vashem’s “No Child’s Play” exhibit in Florida................................16 Page 2 MARTYRDOM & RESISTANCE March/April 2007- Adar/Nisan 5767 CLAIMS CONFERENCE HONORED GERMAN CLERICS ENRAGE YAD VASHEM FOR PARTNERSHIP AND SUPPORT tions to deeply entrenched and thorny n a tribute ceremony on November 29, projects. “As the importance of passing on ETGAR LEFKOVITS, THE JERUSALEM POST problems. Yad Vashem honored its longstanding the legacy of the Holocaust grows over “These unwarranted and offensive com- I ad Vashem lambasted a group of friends and partners at the Conference on time, and with a view to the coming years, parisons serve to diminish the memory of visiting German Catholic bishops for Jewish Material Claims Against Germany when the eyewitnesses will no longer be Y victims of the Holocaust and mollify the comparing the situation in the Palestinian (Claims Conference) for their steadfast among us, we must look towards securing consciences of those who seek to lessen territories with the Holocaust, calling the support of Yad Vashem’s activities for Holocaust remembrance for future gener- European responsibility for Nazi crimes,” contentious remarks “political exploitation more than 50 years. ations,” said Avner Shalev. “By supporting he wrote. and demagoguery” and a gross distortion Yad Vashem and the Claims Holocaust education, research and docu- of history. The German bishops’ bitterly con- Conference are now intending to enter mentation, the Claims Conference is ful- The sharp condemnation by Israel’s tentious comparisons stunned Yad into a new strategic partnership that will filling the last wishes of the Holocaust vic- Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Vashem officials, who had hosted the sen- allow Yad Vashem to embark upon large- tims, expressed in the many letters and Remembrance Authority followed reports ior Christian leaders just hours earlier. scale commemorative and educational messages they left behind.” in the German press of “In the morning, we saw comparisons made by the pictures at Yad GERMANY TO COMPENSATE HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS senior German bishops Vashem of the inhumane Warsaw Ghetto, while in he German government plans to German parliament passed a law to grant between conditions in the Warsaw Ghetto dur- the evening we were in Tpay compensation to Holocaust sur- these survivors a small pension, but the the Ramallah Ghetto,” vivors who worked in Jewish ghettos set drive proved unsuccessful, due to bureau- ing World War II and Bishop Gregor Maria up by the Nazis. Weekly magazine Der cratic complications in processing the current conditions in Franz Hanke reportedly Spiegel said the government was making claims. In view of this, German Chancellor Ramallah, resulting said. a second attempt to pay damages to sur- Angela Merkel has now instructed the from Israeli military