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If I am not for myself, who will be for me? –Rabbi

Hillel

COURSE OVERVIEW
As students examine the connections between human behavior and identity
through text, experiential learning, multi-media and discussion, they explore
their own Jewish identities and place in today’s world.  Within the context of the
Holocaust (recognized as perhaps the singular, most transformative event of the
1900’s for Jewish and world history), students investigate the roots of prejudice
and bigotry, cultural values and mores, politics and socio-economics, the power
of propaganda, hatred and fear, courage and faith, heritage and survival.
30 weeks of instruction. 

 COURSE OBJECTIVES
 To create an environment that fosters curiosity and encourages critical
thinking.
 To emphasize depth of understanding, rather than extensive coverage of a
multitude of topics.   
 To inspire pride and promote connectedness to the Jewish people – past,
present, and future.
 To nurture an atmosphere of acceptance and respect for each other and
for those who came before us.
 To provide an opportunity to explore common Jewish questions and
formulate personal responses.

Bernard & Alice Selevan Religious School

Jacksonville Jewish Center
core course for grade 8
developed by Deborah Kuhr
dates lesson core concepts questions of meaning or understanding
#
  1 There are many facets  
  to our identities: Who am I?
physical, emotional, …as a person, as a Jew
spiritual
Identity is both how
we view ourselves and
how others perceive us
  2 The roots of anti- What defined the Jews of Europe before the
Semitism can be found Shoah?
in the 2,000+ years Were we then, and are we today, identified by
history of European our traditions?
Jews
Before the Shoah,
Jews lived religious,
culturally rich lives
Jews of Western
Europe were more
assimilated
  3 The German defeat in Can Nazism take root in any society?
WWI and the Can any people become the victim of
economic/political genocide?
problems of the Weimer Can the media be a tool for murder?
Republic set the stage What are the effects of bullying?
for the rise of Hitler
The Nazis blamed the
Jews for Germany’s
problems and instilled
their youth with their
ideology
Joseph Goebbels
becomes Hitler’s
Minister of Propaganda
Bullying was the
specialty of the Hitler
Youth
  4 The Nazis conquered Do the laws of a nation indicate its direction?
most of Europe between Why does the need for a perfect race exist?
1939-1942; restrictions, How does demoralization and discrimination
ghettoization, and change one’s identity?
murder followed each  
conquest
the Destruction of the
 Jews began with the
process of
dehumanization
Other countries 
(including the U.S.) use
or have used the
process of
dehumanization
 dates lesson core concepts questions of meaning or understanding
#
  5 The Nazis persecuted Why didn’t the Jews resist?
  and murdered members How did we see ourselves?
of many different How did others see us, in retrospect?
groups during the
Where was G-d?
Shoah
Many Jews were faced How does a moral person live in an immoral
with “choiceless choices” world?
Resistance took one of
3 forms: spiritual,
armed, or unarmed
to maintain one’s
dignity was a form of
resistance to
dehumanization
  6 Most non-Jewish How could so many people be bystanders to
Germans did not protest terror?
the Nazi persecution Why weren’t there any efforts to bomb the
and annihilation of its death camps?
Jews How could countries close their doors to
Righteous Gentiles immigration?
risked their lives and
their families’ lives to
save others
The U.S. is one of
several allied countries
that turned their backs
to the horror of the
Shoah
  7 The Shoah was What lessons have we learned from the
responsible for major Shoah?
changes in the world’s Could the Holocaust have been avoided?
perspective of its own What is our responsibility regarding crimes
humanity against humanity?
Those who lived Are Americans apathetic?
through it and those
who witnessed it were
 transformed
Social action and social
justice became buzz
words
The Civil Rights
Movement in the U.S.
mirrored the eventual
worldwide cry of “Never
Again”
  8 The Nuremberg Trials Can we identify murderers?
brought crimes to the Should Nazis be forgiven?
world’s attention How does the Shoah define me?
For many, there was  
no justice