European society is polyethnic and multicultural. This means that the history of Jewish towns and communities, as well as that of the Holocaust, is not only relevant to Jewish history, but an integral part of the history of Europe as a whole, particularly in ESJF’s project countries. We believe that understanding the impact of Jewish communities on the life of towns and regions will help young people form nuanced attitudes to cultural heritage, which, in the long run, will help promote intercultural and interfaith dialogue in a multicultural, diverse Europe.
Through ESJF’s educational outreach programmes, secondary school students are encouraged to preserve and maintain the historical memory of local Jewish communities, including cemetery sites. Focusing on local spaces emphasises not only the close connection between Jewish life and the communities in which students live today, but also serves to de-mystify cemetery sites.
This is of particular importance in the areas in which, in the wake of the Holocaust, Jewish communities no longer exist, as these cemeteries may be represent the last physical testament to Jewish presence. It is therefore vital that young people learn about this material heritage and how to place it in its larger historical and socio-cultural context.
ESJF works with local stakeholders and educators to reach young people. It is our aim to reach out to the organisations already active in these regions of Europe, both Jewish and non-Jewish, in order to build on existing networks and expertise, thereby sharing and optimising pedagogical approaches. By working with national and regional Jewish communities at every opportunity, we aim to educate and inspire the next generation to protect and preserve local Jewish heritage.
Working closely with our consortium partner, Centropa, ESJF are currently carrying out educational projects in: Croatia, Georgia, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Ukraine.
ESJF, Centropa, and the Foundation for Jewish Heritage are pleased to announce we are seeking lesson plans on Jewish cemeteries.
The consortium invites teachers from Croatia, Georgia, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Ukraine to submit lesson plans on the subject of “Using (local) Jewish Cemeteries in the Classroom”. These lesson plans can be written in English, Croatian, Georgian, Hungarian, Lithuanian, Polish, Slovakian, or Ukrainian.
The first 20 entries from each country will receive an honorarium of 100€.
The deadline for entries is April 12th, 2021.
Read the submission guidelines in your own language below:
ESJF and Centropa are thrilled to announce that entries are now open for our International Youth Competition on “Local Jewish cemeteries”, co-funded by the European Commission.
We hereby invite students from across our project countries (Croatia, Georgia, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Ukraine), to send us creative projects telling the story of their local Jewish cemeteries, in one of three categories:
Enter now for a chance to win up to 300€ in electronic equipment for your school!
For more information on prizes and how to enter, check out the full call for entries below!
As part of our new EU-funded Pilot Project: “Rescue by Recognition: Mapping Jewish Cemeteries in Europe”, ESJF is working with our partners at Centropa to carry out educational programmes across Croatia, Georgia, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Ukraine.
The first events of the programme will consist of two-day teacher training seminars in each of the countries, in which veteran educators from Centropa and ESJF will lead workshops providing participants with all the tools necessary to bring Jewish heritage to their classrooms in a meaningful, engaging way.
Participants will have the opportunity to attend talks from experts on Jewish heritage, workshops on developing lesson plans and making educational films, screenings of short documentaries by Centropa and ESJF, and guided tours of local Jewish cemeteries and synagogues.
This is a fantastic opportunity for educators with an interest in teaching Jewish heritage.
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