Holocaust Education Program
Lessons of the Past Teach Tolerance in the Present
The Holocaust Education Program (HEP) draws upon lessons of the past to implement methods of understanding diversity. While the Holocaust was an event that victimized Jews, its theme of evil is universal and identified with all humanity. Continued innovative programming is needed to build community tolerance, create cultural dialogues, and promote greater appreciation of diversity.
The Astor Judaica Library and Community Holocaust Memorial & Garden (shown right) provide the perfect settings for this program.
To date, the Holocaust Education Program has accomplished:
- Development of a comprehensive HEP curriculum for elementary to high school students
- Creation of binders to assist educators in teaching the material (over 50 placed in San Diego schools and libraries)
- HEP training for teachers to create lessons with multimedia resources
- AJE partnership for specialized training of college-bound students
- Various literary and cultural outreach activities for all age groups
HEP Binders were created by Holocaust educator, Annette Segal, and are made available to San Diego schools through the generous gift of Jean Mayer in memory of her husband, Boris Bukharsky.
DAVKA, The Survival of A People
DAVKA, The Survival of a People™ is a multimedia exhibit of photographs, video, and audio tapes that illuminates the path from the Shoah (Holocaust) to Survival. This is accomplished by oral histories of descendents of survivors along with photographs of them and their loved ones who perished in the Shoah. Images of each participating is displayed as a diptych, with the Shoah victim’s photograph juxtaposed with those of the descendants.
The exhibit shows that, although the Nazi’s tried to annihilate the Jewish people, like a destroyed tree whose roots are saved, the Jewish people not only survived, but have thrived throughout the Diaspora and in Israel, despite all odds.
Through DAVKA, The Survival of a People, we wish to explore the toll that has been taken on surviving generations, and what has grown out of their unique experience.
People viewing Davka™, The Survival of a People exhibit, should gain a feeling of hope and inspiration, and leave with an understanding of the impact that the Shoah has had on families of Nazi victims and survivors—both good and bad. For some, coming from such a family has left indelible scars. For others, coming from such a family has spurred them to be more creative, to be more giving, and to have more impact on the lives of others than they might otherwise have: a second chance for life; a lesson to cherish every moment and make every moment count.
