April 2017 Volume 6 • No. 04Newsletter

We Remember . . .Message from the Executive Director

Holocaust Education Resource Council • P.O.Box16282 • Tallahassee, FL 32317 • HolocaustResources.orghttps://www.facebook.com/HERCTallahassee

Dear Friends, The last month was very busy withmany important programs andactivities. I thank all the specialguests, teachers, communitymembers, and everyone thatparticipated. The Requiem ofResistance was a sold outperformance that impactedeveryone in attendance. The manymessages expressed the emotionalfeeling of everyone there. The roomwas filled with powerful musicconducted by Darko Butorac,narration with images by LauraJohnson and Jack Romberg, voicesfrom the FAMU Choir and theCommunity Chorus that left peopleleaving emotional at the end.

Many thanks to MandyStringer, the Executive Director ofTallahassee Symphony Orchestrafor embracing this project withevery detail of planning. Theinspiration was from MarjorieTurnbull who worked so hardstarting two years ago when I talkedabout the idea to honor the music ofTerezin Concentration Camp.

That week Chiles High School

created a model program as aHolocaust Living Museum. Fromthe beginning with showing the filmSchindler’s List to hearing from aHolocaust survivor, a presentationfrom a HolocaustEthnomusicologist, and aReflection Day, the whole schoolwas impacted in so many ways.This was an amazingaccomplishment with the leadershipof Principal Joe Burgess and all theteachers with intense planning andcoordination that will continue nextyear with more schools. The videoproduced by Leon County Schoolscaptures the amazing message.

You can view it at on YouTube –https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVfehyI2xAs

In the future, more programs areplanned to reach every teacher aswe deal with the rise of intoleranceand antisemitism in the schools andcommunity. The support is neededmore now than ever, to teach thelessons of history never again. OnApril 23rd, the HolocaustRemembrance Day

Commemorationwill be held tohonor the survivorsand remember thevictims with amemorial candle lighting at Temple Israel. The wholecommunity is invited.

Please give now to increaseawareness and help educate.Today’s world is complicated andwe want to teach as Elie Wieselsaid, “The Opposite of Love, is notHate, it is Indifference”.

Thank you,Barbara

Barbara GoldsteinExecutive Director

You can make a difference today and donate to HERC at

http://holocaustresources.org/donate/

Inside this Edition . . .Message from the Exec Director . . . . . . . 1

Requiem for Defiance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

HERC Book Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

The Seventh Cross Movie . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Holocaust Education Week . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Holocaust Exhibitions: Creating Visitor Experience . . . . . . . . 6

Holocaust Educatiors Conference . . . . . 7

HERC Membership Form . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Tour to Poland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

2 HERC Newsletter

When: Sunday, April 23, 2017Time: 3:00pm Where: Temple Israel, 2215 Mahan DrGuest Speaker: Holly Mandelkern,

Author

Yom HaShoahHolocaust Remembrance Day

www.HolocaustResources.org

Presented by: Holocaust Education Resource Council, Temple Israel, Congregation Shomrei Torah, and Tallahassee Jewish Federation

Beneath White Stars: HolocaustProfiles In Poetry – featuresHolly’s narrative poetry aboutreal people from the Holocaustwhom she has known personallyor whose stories she has taught.Melding historical detail and keeninsights with the grace of poetry,she brings to life a wide variety ofindividuals struggling against thehorrors of the Holocaust.

Memorial Candle LightingFor more information contact Stefanie Posner at

educator@templeisraeltlh.org or 850-877-3517

HERC Newsletter 3

Thursday, Friday and SaturdayJune 8-10, 2017 • 9 am – 3 pm

FSU Student Life Building942 Learning Way, Tallahassee, FL 32304

Holocaust Educators ConferenceCulture, Film and Literature

“Those who teach and encourage the teaching of the Holocaustshould be honored and exalted.” – Elie Wiesel

Presented by Dr. Mary Johnson

Senior Historian at Facing History and Ourselves

For more information contact Barbara Goldstein at barbara@holocaustresources.org

www.HolocaustResources.org

DOE Commissioner's Task Force on Holocaust EducationFLHolocaustEducationTaskForce.org

Register at corderk@leonschools.net

by May 25, 2017Breakfast and Lunch provided

4 HERC Newsletter

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HERC Newsletter 5

Jan Munn has been teaching art atChaires Elementary School for 16

years. In that time, she has designedcountless lessons and projects that inspireher students to explore their creativity,express their feelings and ideas, and learnabout our cultural history. She hasrecently challenged her fourth-graderswith a new art project. This oneencourages them to exercise theircompassion and examine theconsequences of prejudice, specifically asit relates to the Holocaust.

In 1994, the state of Florida passed abill that mandated Holocaust instructionfor students from kindergarten to 12thgrade. To assist in this effort, there arenine Task Force sites across the state thatoffer intensive training programs,curricula, and resources for teachers.Tallahassee is the location for one ofthem, the Holocaust Education ResourceCouncil (HERC), and Munn has becomeone of the organization’s most ardentsupporters.

“I started going to the HERCworkshops because I was like ‘how doyou teach the Holocaust?’ It’s so difficultand it was so horrible.” After years ofinvolvement and training, Munn is notonly adept at bringing the subject into herown classroom, she’s helping others dothe same. As a member of HERC’seducation committee, she’s working todevelop teaching trunks that includebooks and other classroom resourcesincluding copies of her own lesson plansfor other educators to use if they wish.

Using age-appropriate instructionalstrategies, Munn has learned to introducethe content to her students gradually.“Kindergarten just gets a little piece of it.I’ll read them a Dr. Seuss book like“Yertle the Turtle,”” an allegoryrepresenting the rise and fall of the Naziparty. “As they get older I go more indepth. By the time the kids get to highschool, they’re digging really deep intothe survivors’ stories, but we have to govery gently for our little tykes and buildon it as we go.”

Munn’s fourth-graders have been

studying “The Butterfly,” a poem writtenby Pavel Friedmann in 1942 atTheresienstadt concentration camp. Thiscamp is often referred to as Terezín, thegarrison city where it was located.Inspired by that poem, students areundertaking a printmaking project andincorporating a butterfly motif into theirdesigns. After Munn explained theprintmaking process, showed examples,and demonstrated the techniques,students were able to translate theirsketches into actual prints. In some cases,this proved more complicated thanexpected.

Grayson Blake found it difficult toevenly distribute the ink onto hisStyrofoam printing plate. “I added toomuch or too little. It’s really hard to getthe perfect amount to get the perfectprint.” With an attitude of determination,he said, “even though I wasn’t that luckytoday, I’m going to keep trying.”

Though Grayson and his classmateshave learned about printmaking throughthis lesson, they have gained much morethan that. When reflecting on theessential message of the classworkthey’ve done, Grayson explained “kidswere taken away and some wereseparated from their families. It’simportant to remember that. Doing thishelps us remember that.”

Art students could choose from avariety of paper and

Art students could choose from avariety of paper and ink colors for theirprints. (Photo: Amanda Thompson)

Logan Riedle shared a similarsentiment about the prints she created. “Itmakes me feel better to make art about it.It makes me feel like people still care

about what happened.” After learningabout Terezín, Nicole Bean imagined thatcreating art would have also helped thoseimprisoned there. "In that camp, theywere starving and they had no happy lifeat all. The kids, they used art to calmthemselves down.”

Many artworks were created atTerezín, largely due to the forethoughtand bravery of Frederika "Friedl" Dicker-Brandeis, an Austrian artist and educator.“Everybody was told they were going toa work camp and they were allowed tobring one suitcase,” Munn explained.“Instead of bringing clothes, Friedlbrought art supplies. She knew therewould be kids there and that she wouldneed to help them. She knew that thingsyou can’t talk about, sometimes, you candraw about, you can paint about.”

In the spirit of Dicker-Brandeis,Munn is using art to help her studentschannel their imagination and emotions.She’s even taking it one step further. Asan extension of the lessons learned in theart room, Munn has championed a schoolbutterfly garden which has been built andplanted as a permanent Holocaustmemorial.

Additionally, the artwork created byChaires students will be on display in thelobby of Ruby Diamond Concert Hall onMarch 25 for the “Requiem ofResistance” concert featuring theTallahassee Symphony Orchestra and theFAMU Concert Choir. The performanceis an homage to the artistic resistance atTerezin and it will tell the story of thehistoric performances of GiuseppeVerdi’s Requiem.

“Through art, I’m teaching toleranceand acceptance. Not just tolerance, butacceptance,” emphasized Munn. “We’reteaching kids to get along, we’re teachingsharing, manners, all the things that theyneed. If we don’t study history, we willrepeat history.”

Amanda Karioth Thompson is theAssistant Director for the Council onCulture & Arts. COCA is the capital area’sumbrella agency for arts and culture(www.tallahasseearts.org).

Teacher Uses Art as Tool to Teach Tolerance

6 HERC Newsletter

In 2017, HERC begins its third movie series asking thequestion, “What did Americans know about the racism andhorrors of the NAZI threat before and during WWII?” We’llcontinue to explore what has become quite obvious to ourfilmgoers – that what Americans knew about thediscriminatory policies of the Nazis, the denial of freespeech and religion, and the existence of brutalconcentration camps inside Germany was quite extensive.

The Moon is Down, starring Sir Cedric Hardwicke and Henry Travers(aka Clarence in It’s a Wonderful Life) was released by 20th CenturyFox in 1943. Based on a John Steinbeck novel, it tells a story of Nazioccupation of a resource rich village in Norway. While the Nazisexpected capitulation, the townspeople, led by their dignified,compassionate mayor, resist and experience brutal retaliation. It is astory of people whose will and nobility cannot be broken by violence.It also depicts a conflict of ideologies.

ALL SAINTS CINEMA • 918 1/2 RAILROAD AVENUE • 850-386-4404 • WWW. TALLAHASSEEFILMS.COM

Funded in part by FDOECommissioner’s Task Force on

Holocaust Education

HERC Newsletter 7

Dr. Mordecai PaldielGerman Rescuers of Jews: Individuals Versus the System

Dorothy & Jonathan Rintels HolocaustStudies Professorship Presents

April 21, 20174:00 pm249 Fine Arts BuildingFlorida State University

Dr. Mordecai Paldiel

Dr. Mordecai Paldiel is a survivor and the former Directorof the Department of the Righteous at Yad Vashem, Israel’sHolocaust authority. Born in Belgium, Mordecai Paldielfled with his family to France where a Catholic Priestsmuggled the family into Switzerland. A leading authorityon Rescue, he is the author of a number of books includingGerman Rescuers of Jews: Individuals versus the System(2017), Saving One's Own: Jewish Rescuers during theHolocaust (2017), The Righteous Among the Nations:Rescuers of Jews During the Holocaust (2007), Churchesand The Holocaust: Unholy Teaching, Good Samaritansand Reconciliation (2006), Saving the Jews: AmazingStories of Men and Women who Defied the Final SolutionHardcover (2000), The Path of the Righteous: GentileRescuers of Jews During the Holocaust (1993).

The parking garage is at 515 W Call St. is next to the FSU Fine Arts Building, For permits seehttps://transportation.fsu.edu/ebusiness/cmn/auth.aspx

Copies of German Rescuers of Jews: Individuals versus the System will be available for sale.

8 HERC Newsletter

Dear Friends --

It would be very difficult to completely convey the depth of emotion and appreciation that Gay and I -- and every member of your packed audience last night -- is surely still being enveloped by this morning after the stunning achievement that you created in the production and performance of the "Requiem of Resistance."

To coordinate such a major cultural, spiritual and unique community event of such historical significance is unprecedented in my 27 years in Tallahassee. To do it with such a complete level of pitch-perfect excellence across the stage and within every member of the diverse performing cast is even more impressive.

From the moment the performance began, unexpected tears welled up in our eyes -- in major part because of the lasting significance of what you were presenting to our community; in equally powerful parts because of the clearly audible professionalism of every individual member of the amazing ensemble assembled for this riveting evening. The dedicated and committed TSO musicians, the brilliant conductor, the perfectly blended FAMU and community choirs, the worldly wonderful soloists, the understated but eloquent and elegant narrators....all combined for a spellbinding evening of most memorable meaning.

The emotional narration to open the evening -- and its ongoing punctuation marks at key moments throughout the performance -- provided a truly touching underscore to the fantastic musical peaks reached in every progressing phase of the production. The audience was so hard-pressed to withhold its applause at the end -- per the understandable request at the beginning of the evening -- because everyone associated with this major community triumph deserves such boundless appreciation and heart-felt celebration.

All of the months of hard work that surely were applied to this passionate purpose were well spent as evidenced by the flawless outcome that we were privileged to witness. Among the lasting takeaways in this selfless service that you rendered to our community is keeping the truth alive about the limitless hope, strength and resilience reflected in the humanity of millions who were victims of the worst atrocities against mankind in modern times.

Your grateful audience was united in appreciating and feeling every musical note, every narrative anecdote, every individual and group effort that combined to create a message to our hearts and minds that will never be forgotten. You served history so very well by bringing the haunting echoes of truth from a darkest time in history to illuminate our shared pathway to a better future.

"Thank You" hardly seems adequate when, as every member of the audience, we wish we could look into the face of every talented member of this production and performance to convey and connect a deeper level of appreciation. Please share that warm reality with your colleagues connected to this production who all helped so well to connect us all even more in the power of our history and humanity.

All my best,

Ron Sachs

Requiem ofResistance

Message from Sponsor

HERC Newsletter 9

Requiem of Resistance Sponsors

Thanks for Helping Support Community Programs to Never Forget

Sachs Media Group

St. John’s Episcopal Church

Broad and Cassel Attorneys

Jack and Audrey Romberg

Marjorie Turnbull

Daniel and Linda Fuchs

Glenn Hosken

Colin and Anne Phipps

Les and Ruth Akers

Paul and Mary Ann Deitchman

Laurie and Kelly Dozier

John Dozier and Martha Paradeis

Steve Reznik

David and Jane Watson

Steve Uhlfelder (in memory of his grandparents

who died in Terezin)

Nigel Allen and Anna Bertolucci

Donna Blanton and John Van Gieson

Jodi and Charlie Chase

Dr. and Mrs. Walter E. Colon

Stan and Carol Fiore

Jacque and Mitchell Gilberg

Jerome and Joanna Novey

Mary and Joe Pankowski

Terry and Marilyn Reisman

Nat Stern and Karen Oehme

The Gem Collection

Gary and Pat Smith

Berger Singerman LLP

Sue and Joe Boyd

Betsey and Tony Brown

Clothesline

Cathy and David Levenson

Pamela Marsh

Mary Ann and Duncan Moore

Almena and Brooks Pettit

Betty and Jorge Piekarewicz

John and Monica Rosner

Terry and Ron Saff

Susan and Steve Turner

Holocaust Education Week Sponsors

10 HERC Newsletter

This winter, VSA Florida partneredwith the Holocaust Education

Resource Council (HERC) to presenta unique artist residency for specialeducation students at Chiles HighSchool in Tallahassee.

The residency began as studentsread and studied excerpts from thebook, . . . I never saw anotherbutterfly . . . Children’s Drawings andPoems from Terezín ConcentrationCamp.

Unique skills teacher, PaigeTekel, had selected exemplary versesfrom the book—“The Butterfly” byPavel Friedman; “Fear” (anonymous);and “Homesick” by 12-year-old EvaPicková. The subject matter involvedterror, sorrow, and death, but it alsorevealed that hope and love exist evenin the grimmest circumstances.

For eight weeks, VSA Floridateaching artist, Carla Clymo, workedwith Paige and her students todevelop individual artistic statementsabout the Holocaust Learning variousart techniques and styles, theresidency culminated in a movingexhibition of renderings of butterfliesthat were drawn, collaged, painted,and sculpted.

The exhibition was part of aschool-wide “Holocaust LivingMuseum” that included music,history, and cultural programsincluding a free concert of theRequiem of Resistance by theTallahassee Symphony Orchestra.

“The student exhibition movedme to tears when I first saw it. Irealized that some of these studentshave difficulty writing their names,yet they were able to make these fine,expressive works of art,” explainedBarbara Goldstein, Executive Directorof HERC.

VSA Florida Regional ProgramCoordinator, Susan Baldino, is

excited about continuing the “Art andthe Holocaust” program. “I amthrilled to announce that we havesecured funding from a private donorand will introduce another school tothis participatory workshop. By

initiatives like this, VSA FL fulfillsstate-mandated Holocaust educationin a humanistic and memorable waythat promotes inclusion and humanrights for people of all walks of life,abilities, and backgrounds.“

VSA Florida’s “Art and the Holocaust:” The Power of Hands-on Learning

The Butterfly Poem“Penned up inside this ghetto”

The artwork is of a butterfly penned in, by a woodfence that blocks it from the outside. The butterflyitself, represents all of the jews who were locked

unto ghettos during the Holocaust.

Tears“Tears, without them there is no life”

I used wire to create my butterfly then I wrappedit in pipe cleaners. Then I added tissue paper todisplay the happy and sad tears that were shed.

I Never Saw Another Butterfly PaigeTekel, Unique Skills Teacher

HERC Newsletter 11

Students Learn History Through Art

12 HERC Newsletter