As the generation of Holocaust survivors grows smaller each year, it has fallen to their children to carry their families’ stories forward. Temple Beth Shalom’s Holocaust Education Program brings these stories directly to students, offered free of charge to schools throughout the area.
About the Program: Rabbi Jessica Lowenthal, along with other children of Holocaust survivors, shares her family’s story alongside those of fellow speakers. Some of these families were able to escape before ghettoization began; others survived the camps. All lost family members. Our speakers’ families came from Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Poland, and each brings a distinct piece of this history to the presentation.
Rabbi Jessica weaves historical context throughout the presentation, beginning at the end of World War I, so that students understand not just individual stories, but the larger arc of events that led to the Holocaust. Some speakers bring original family documents to share — visas, passports, paperwork from their countries of origin, school records, and more — which can be displayed and discussed informally after the formal presentation concludes.
Program Details
- Grade Level: 7th–12th grade
- Cost: Free
- Length: Approximately 90 minutes, though the program can be tailored to fit your school’s schedule
- Format: Can be presented to a large group in an auditorium, or in an individual classroom setting
- Curriculum Fit: Ideally scheduled alongside a school’s existing Holocaust or World War II curriculum, though the program provides enough context to stand on its own for any audience
What we need from you
To help the presentation run smoothly, we ask that:
- Staff be available to our presenters 30 minutes before the program begins and throughout its duration
- 3 microphones be available for speakers
- A screen or projection setup be available for a PowerPoint presentation (no audio required)
Request the program
We welcome the opportunity to bring this program to your school. For more information or to schedule a presentation, please contact our office at (781) 665-4520 or visit us at www.tbsma.org.