Introduction
During the Holocaust the Nazis and their collaborators destroyed Jewish life and communities which had been present in Europe for over 2,000 years. In order to fully grasp the significance of the Holocaust students need to develop an understanding of ‘what was lost’. Exploring the long history of Jewish life across Europe and the many forms that this took will ensure that students recognise Jewish people as more than just victims of Nazi persecution and genocide. It will enable them to understand the enormous loss to contemporary world culture which resulted from the destruction of these communities. These lessons are intended for Key Stage 3 students. They are devised for History classes but could easily be adapted for RE and other subject disciplines.
Throughout these materials we are moving between micro histories, case studies of individuals, families and communities to the macro histories of Jewish communities across continental Europe. Through exploring case studies of individuals, families, and communities, placing them within the context of the long history of Jewish communities across continental Europe, students will be able to develop an evidential response to the key question ‘Who were the Jewish people of Europe before the Holocaust?’
In 1933, 9.5 million Jewish people lived in Europe. Jewish people had lived in Europe for over 2,000 years and there were Jewish communities in every European country. Using this map, you will discover where Jewish people lived and how they lived. You will hear from individuals about their family life and their communities as they were before the Holocaust.