The 2017-2018 academic year has only just begun and students in TABC’s Holocaust studies class are already beginning to understand the historical roots of antisemitism in Europe and the dangers of stereotyping and prejudice. As a major part of their course of study, Cary Reichardt, chairperson of the history department at TABC and their instructor, arranged several yom iyun programs at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City and the Holocaust Museum and Center for Tolerance and Education at Rockland Community College.

On Wednesday, September 13, the class participated in the first of their special programs with a workshop led by Abigail Miller, director of education at the museum. Miller delivered a presentation on “The Rise of Nazism,” and she was very impressed by the amount of information the students shared with her. After a question/answer session, the students participated in an exercise analyzing primary sources of the Jewish community’s response to the Nuremberg Laws.

The highlight of the day’s program featured a talk by survivor, Trudy Album. The students were mesmerized by her story of determination, survival and unwavering faith.

The class will be returning to the center in February to view the museum’s exhibits and display of artifacts, which is still under construction. It is through interactive, hands-on experiences, like these, incorporated with class instruction, related literature, film and survivor testimonials, that the school hopes to personalize the Holocaust for every student so that they will bear witness for the future.