Teacher Garry Barnette and OPENING THE ARCHIVE students explore the Shoah Foundation's CD-ROM Tapper Research and Testing Center Opens the Door to the Archive “The importance of video testimonies…is the Foundation archive. Mr. Tapper was present for the The first session included researchers from Clark emotional aspect of it; it’s one thing to read powerful dedication, along with Debórah Dwork, Rose Professor of University’s Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, words, but it’s not anything near seeing the reaction in the Holocaust History and Director of the Strassler Family Center such as Stefanie Fischer, a Fulbright Scholar from Berlin, person’s face…” This was how Simon Payaslian, Professor for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Clark University. who is studying the SS St. Louis: “I have been dealing with of Armenian History and Genocide Studies at Clark Housing six computer workstations, the Tapper Center this subject for a year and this is the first time that I heard University, described his reaction to viewing visual history is home to the Foundation’s digital Visual History Archive. [from] the people. There’s really a treasure here…[It is] the testimonies at the Shoah Foundation’s Tapper Research The Archive is a cutting-edge software application only archive where you can come to the people.” and Testing Center. Payaslian is one of the first scholars to developed by the Foundation which will eventually allow Filmmaker Gail Prensky, who also attended the June have direct access to the Foundation’s archive – in this visiting scholars and educators to search through nearly workshop, is producing a documentary about the Jüdische "...it’s one thing case, to research a comparative study of armed resistance 52,000 testimonies and to identify and view the interviews Kulturbund, a cultural association of German Jews in the during the Armenian genocide and the Holocaust. that are most pertinent to their work. In addition to being 1930s and 1940s. Through her research at the Center, she Garry Barnette Brings Lessons from the to read After months of work, the staff and volunteers of the a research facility, the Center will also serve as an on-site discovered former Kulturbund members as far afield as powerful words, Shoah Foundation celebrated the dedication of the Tapper classroom open to teachers and students. Australia and South Africa, some of whom Prensky will Research Center into His Classroom Research and Testing Center on October 25. The Center, re-interview for her film, which will air on PBS. but it’s not Garry Barnette spent a week last August at a fantastic job picking survivors to give a named for benefactor Albert M. Tapper, links the needs of The August workshop hosted participants from anything near the Tapper Research and Testing Center, but good representation of what you’d like to students and educators with the rich resources in the Shoah emerging fields related to Holocaust and genocide studies seeing the now he’s back at school, teaching Intolerance cover in a class. (including teacher Garry Barnette, see right). They were and the Holocaust at Fort Dorchester High reaction in the observed and interviewed by visiting technical School in Charleston, South Carolina – the Q: How do your students respond to watching eyewitness testimony? person’s face...." researchers from institutions affiliated with the NSF grant first class of its kind in that state. Albert M. Tapper Underwrites Center A: When students see a testimony, they almost who are researching usage of large visual archives in Garry started the class six years ago when -Simon Payaslian the Dorchester II school district began funding always say "that person reminds me of my A longtime supporter of Holocaust education, hopes of automating access to such archives. Albert M. Tapper thought that funding the Shoah new elective courses. Since then he’s taught uncle, or my grandmother…." It really helps Next year, the Foundation will continue hosting Foundation’s Research and Testing Center was hundreds of teenagers (grades 10-12) about them personalize their perception of the "a wonderful opportunity.... I think the Shoah workshops that will bring a range of people, including the events and significance of the Holocaust. Holocaust. Also, testimonies speak to the Foundation’s testimonies are remarkable and it’s teachers, scholars, filmmakers, and authors to the Center. Recently Garry spoke with Past Forward. strength of the human spirit [demonstrating] critical to disseminate this information around the These workshops will allow the Foundation to refine its that people are resilient and able to forgive. world. We don’t seem to learn from the past, so Q: What did you take away from your They present a challenge to the rest of us: (L to R): Daisy Miller, Associate Director for Annual Development, Al software and learn how best to help people find the this Center might help scholars pass on some Tapper, Debórah Dwork, Director of the Strassler Family Center for experience at the Tapper Center? tragedies are part of life and we must find the crucial information." Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Clark University, Douglas information they need in the archive. As a result, access to A: One of the things I stumbled on in my strength and resolve to get on with life. And kids Greenberg, Shoah Foundation President and CEO, at the Tapper Tapper also funds a fellowship at Clark University’s the Tapper Center is currently by appointment only. research that was moving for me was the get that. One of my students said “If the people Center Dedication October 25 Center for Holocaust Studies. The first Tapper In time, it is hoped that the Tapper Research and effect that a teacher had on these [survivors as] hadn’t recovered after the Holocaust then Hitler Fellow, Beth Lilach, participated in the Shoah The Center has already hosted two workshops for Testing Center will become a model that can be replicated young people when they came to school. and the Nazis would have won completely.” Foundation’s June workshop, where she researched Simon Payaslian, researchers, both funded by a grant from the National in universities and research institutions around the world – Suddenly their teacher, who was someone the Kaloosdian/Mugar Displaced Persons camps. they respected, started teaching Nazi ideology Q: What made you interested in starting a Professor of Armenian History Science Foundation (NSF). Staff from the Education and allowing students and researchers to see and hear the Chairman of ACT II Companies Inc. investment firm, or even harassing the Jewish students. As class on Intolerance and the Holocaust? and Genocide Studies Cataloguing Departments helped the researchers navigate testimonies in the Shoah Foundation’s archive. at Clark University Tapper has invested in a range of businesses from a teacher, it helped me come back into A: When I went to high school there was no financial institutions to the music industry. He is also the archive. Lisa Goodgame, Coordinator of On-Site and the classroom with a newfound sense of Holocaust education – it wasn’t even a successful writer, composer, and lyricist. He has Scholarly Access, organized the workshops: “The responsibility to my students. mentioned in history books. Through teaching written and produced albums of his own songs and workshops were a great success because we were able to about the Holocaust, I’ve undergone an written two books on humor. He recently Q: How do you use eyewitness testimony amazing personal transformation, and if I had provide access to the testimonies to researchers working completed a new play, Conversations with Max, and in your classroom? gone through that sooner it would have made a on widely varied topics. At the same time, they gave us a satirical musical, Newsical Review. He is the son of A: One of the ways I use testimony is to big difference in my life. a Polish father and Lithuanian mother, both of feedback about this new resource that will help us provide different perspectives on the same Being raised in the South, differences whom emigrated before World War II. improve the way we offer access to the testimonies.” topic. For instance, if we are reading about [prejudices] were accepted; you turned a blind Auschwitz in Elie Wiesel’s Night, we also eye to it because that was the way it was. watch part of [the Shoah Foundation Learning about the Holocaust makes you realize documentary] The Last Days, to see how that we are all capable of hating and acting on another survivor describes her arrival at the it: and if we don’t acknowledge that then we same camp. The Last Days is a must – they did lose the battle. 2 3 PastForward TESTIMONIES IN THE CLASSROOM The Newsletter of the Shoah Foundation¨ FOUNDING CHAIRMAN MANAGING EDITOR Steven Spielberg “The memory of the past Broken Silence Rosemary Newnham HONORARY CHAIRS belongs in the schools DESIGNER Edgar M. Bronfman Speaks to Students around the Globe Kay Kreidel Renee Crown as it is here that the Lew Wasserman future is created.” COPY EDITOR in memoriam Teachers around the world are engaging students in Similarly, the Polish, Russian, and Argentine Broken Sue Henger -Monika Hohlmeier, Bavarian Minister FOUNDING EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS for Culture and Education the study of history and discussions of tolerance through Silence documentaries will be available to schools CONTRIBUTING WRITERS June Beallor the Shoah Foundation’s international documentary throughout Italy, through a distribution program with Lisa Goodgame James Moll Eliott Goretsky series, Broken Silence. The five-film series includes the Centro Espressioni Cinematografiche (CEC) for the Micaela Procaccia Local students who participated in the CD-ROM event BOARD OF DIRECTORS at the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site documentaries based on Shoah Foundation testimonies in 2002-2003 school year.