Day 7: Fighting for Life after Death

History books often characterize marginalized people by the tragedy they endured. When Native Americans, African Americans, Asians, and Latinos are mentioned in textbooks, it’s often about the oppression and struggles they experienced. While that is necessary to teach, WHO the people were before and after is equally important. It’s essential to teach about the culture of a people so students can see the humanity in them. If taught correctly, it develops empathy, understanding, and compassion.

That’s why this morning it was important to me to attend Shabbat services at the Nozyk Synagogue. It was beautiful to hear scripture from the Torah sung and witness the holiness of the people in the temple. I learned about the beautiful intricacies of the Orthodox faith and how it differed from Conservative and Reformed Judaism. This gave me a greater appreciation of the Jewish culture.

Later we visited the Polin Museum of the History of Polish Jews. Professor Kassow guided us on a 5-½ hour tour of the entire Museum. It was an incredible multimedia narrative exhibition of 8 galleries. An explanation of it would never do it justice.

The Polin stands on the ruins of the Warsaw Ghetto and a prewar Jewish neighborhood. The word Polin is Hebrew for “rest here.” I consider where it’s located holy ground.

The Polin Museum is about life not death. The Holocaust does not define the Jews and Jewish life did not end with the Holocaust. Jews were not outsiders of Poland, but of it. They were integral to its history. You can not understand the history of Poland without understanding the culture and history of the Jews. Poland is a place of 8 centuries of Jewish life.

We ended the evening walking through Warsaw’s Old Town sharing our culture, deepening our understanding of each other, and breaking bread at Honoratka Restauracja.

So, open your worldview to experience another person’s culture and history. Or start with your own! You’ll be a richer person for it.

What a fabulous way to end my first week in Eastern Europe!

The Monument to the Ghetto Heroes where they honor those who perished by 

remembering how they died.

The Polin Museum where they honor Polish Jews who perished by how they lived.

Professor Kassow spent 6 months traveling back and forth to Warsaw to assist with the creation of Gallery 6: On the Jewish Street. I feel so honored to learn from him.

A gorgeous replica of the original temple. Watch “Raise the Roof” to learn about how this amazing team did this. It’s absolutely stunning.

Gorgeous!!!

Photo of Jewish youth made me think of all the students I’ve been blessed to teach in my career.

Walking in Old Town, Warsaw with my Holocaust Educator Fellow Amigas!

o think this was once ALL rubble. Warsaw was completely destroyed after WWII. Look up the pictures to see the aftermath. Unbelievable that it looks like this now. 

The Presidential Palace

Eating Dinner at Honoratka Restauracja.