March 25, 2011

First in class, SSL seniors presented their service projects for us. One senior worked with the Children's Inn at NIH while the other one collaborated with the Second Chance Wildlife Center. Next, we listened to a speech by Eli Weisel. He spoke about the Final Solution of the Holocaust and how he tries to make sense of all the destruction and indifference. After listening to the speech, the class discussed it. Some of the points we brought up were Weisel's reverence and respect when writing about the victims and that although he was in the White House, he still criticized some of the US's earlier methods. Next we read Viktor Frankl's account of Auchwitz, "man's Search for Meaning."

March 21, 2011

After prayer today, the class took notes on the Holocaust. The word "Holocaust" means "burn offering." Mrs. Egan showed us a picture of a pile of dead bodies. This could have meanings such as the dehumanization or disregard and disrespect for life evident throughout the genocide. The class also discussed Holocaust deniers. Some statistics about the Holocaust are that before, there were just over 9,00,000 Jews, and afterward there were only 4,000,000 survivors. This shows that however horrific his methods were, Hitler WAS successful. The progression of discrimination started when the Jews were alienated from society, blamed for economic problems, and were described as "killers of Jesus." In 1933 Hitler seized power, Nazis boycotted Jewish business, an issue decreed that defined non-Aryans, the Gestapo was created, and the first concentration camps were built. These were all small steps which would later lead to the Holocaust.
The class then read the article "Nazi Ideology" and completed an Article Analysis about it. These are our answers:
1) Main purpose: to show how Nazis were able to gradually influence Germany to support the Nazis (Antisemitism)
2) Key question: How did the Nazis carry out the execution of Jews?
3)Important information: articulated his ideas (extinguish Jews/ "survival of Aryan race")
4) Main conclusions: His beliefs lead to mass murder of the "inferior"
5) Ideas that need to be understood: Hitler's journey tot total control and killing of Jews was gradual, so that it did not abruptly appear
6) Assumptions: All who follow Hitler and his ideals decided that the Holocaust was essential
7) Consequences of following the reasoning of this author: people will be more aware of the past, so that they can be more conscience of the future
8) Consequences of failing to follow the reasoning of the author: people may not care for or respect all people
9) Main points: Hitler persecuted the Jews because he believed them to be an inferior race which could act as a scapegoat for German grievances. His propaganda was effective and he quickly rose to power.

March 9, 2011

Mrs. Egan wasn't here today so we had Mrs. McGovern as a substitute. We took a quiz on Judaism and then went to the Media Center to write up 20 questions for our site visits and complete the bibliography for that. Both were due at the end of class.

February 23, 2010

Today we began class with an opening prayer. We then began a worksheet on Jewish Rituals and Holidays. We had to fill out the translation of the holiday, the time: in life and during the year, the rituals they perform, and a symbol related to the holiday. This activity lasted the whole class.

February 25, 2011

We began class with opening prayer, and spent the rest of the calss watching Fiddler on the Roof. This movies focuses on Orthodox Jews and their struggle to remain deeply rooted in their traditions as the world around them becomes more and more secular. The movie shows Tevye and his family practicing Jewish customs such as keeping the Sabbath and arranging marriages. The opening song in the musical, "Tradition", describes the roles of each member of the family. The Mama keeps the home, takes care of the children, and teaches the daughter to do the same for her future husband, who will be chosen by The Poppa. He has the final word in all decisions, and works to provide for the family. Meanwhile, the sons study Hebrew and learn a trade, with which to provide for their future family and continue the Tradition of family life.