How Will We Continue to Commemorate the Holocaust?
The Holocaust is in danger of being remembered as just another historical atrocity inflicted on the Jewish people. With fewer living witnesses able to tell their stories, we need a new way to fulfill the responsibility that Holocaust survivors have entrusted to us - to remember, to tell the story, and to act.
Light from the Darkness: A Ritual for Holocaust Remembrance is a powerful new approach. It's a 45-minute, seder-like experience appropriate for a variety of groups, such as synagogue and school programs (ages 11 up), as well as teen, young adult, and intergenerational events.
Its structured, highly interactive format can be used as a stand-alone event or scheduled as part of a series of community or school activities for Holocaust commemoration. Its language is appropriate for both Jewish and interfaith groups.
"As this fragile window of witness closes, we need a new way to relate to the Holocaust. If we want to ensure that this story does not fade into history as the survivors fade into memory, then we need a commemoration that does not require survivors," says Deborah Fripp, a Holocaust educator who created the beautifully designed Light from the Darkness with fellow educator Violet Neff-Helms.
What's included:
• Original artwork by Holocaust victims and survivors
• Questions designed for personal reflection or group discussion
• Stories of the lost Jewish communities of Europe
• Blessings and rituals
• First-person accounts of daily life before, during, and after the Holocaust
• Guidance for educators on how to use in school settings
• Leader’s guide and full list of materials to aid planning
“Light from the Darkness offers a powerful tool to help future generations bear witness, to understand the history of the Shoah, and to apply its universal themes to modern times.”
-Abraham H. Foxman, National Director Emeritus of the Anti-Defamation League
“A poignant and ultimately hopeful ritual. Using the words and visual artwork of the victims and survivors creates a deep and humanizing connection, reminding us to preserve and share the echoes of this tragedy to inspire future generations to ensure this history never repeats."
- Lindsay Friedman, director of Echoes & Reflections, a Holocaust education program of ADL, USC Shoah Foundation, and Yad Vashem
When to Use Light from the Darkness:
• Yom Hashoah
• Kristallnach
• International Holocaust Remembrance Day
• At the culmination of a Holocaust history course
Quantity discounts available so you can use with groups. Call 800-221-2755 with questions or for more information.
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