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Holocaust and Genocide Educator Workshop
鈥淲hy Study the Holocaust Now鈥�

Resources and Links from our Educators

December 6 at Ramapo College, 8:30 AM 鈥� 3:00 PM

Why Study the Holocaust Now? This is an inquiry becoming more pressing by the day. From the pervasiveness of book bans to the polarization of ideologies, from the current surge in antisemitic rhetoric to the propagation of misinformation and disinformation, it is clear that the present is a palimpsest of the past, one still susceptible to the dangers of discrimination, prejudice, and genocide. Our workshop guided teachers through some of these profound issues, offering context, resources, lessons, and time for reflection with the aim not only to familiarize ourselves with one or more of these topics but also to converse about them in a collegial, collaborative setting.

The day featured discussions with 聽(Yale) and Dr. Jacob Labendz (Ramapo), and a pedagogy workshop with our partner educators, Colleen Tambuscio and Heather Lutz.

Dr. Walsh emphasized the need to study the Holocaust as a historical event. Too often we encounter students who view the Holocaust as a unique or sui generis聽phenomenon driven by Hitler and the Nazis鈥� unique evil. That framework, which has been repeated聽ad nauseum聽in our popular culture, is ultimately counterproductive. If the Holocaust were聽sui generis, it would imply there was nothing of value to be gained by studying it in detail.

Instead, Dr. Walsh argued that we need to embed the Holocaust in the global history of the twentieth century, and how various forces鈥攁mong others, antisemitism, biological racism, imperialism, industrialization and technology, fascism, and mass violence鈥攃ulminated in the genocide. Taking such a material view of the Holocaust鈥攖he largest, but by no means the only鈥攇enocide of the twentieth century helped us recognize how these processes still impact our present-day world. Furthermore, such an approach opens up space to talk about resistance and the ways which people in the past have fought racism, antisemitism, and fascism, from picking up a rifle to organizing a shop floor.

The Center鈥檚 Holocaust and Genocide Educator Workshop is supported by a generous grant from he Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey.