Jewish Museum - London

Faith and The Holocaust

Students will look at the effect of faith during and after the Holocaust. They will review the opinions of those who gained, kept, questioned or lost their faith.

Students will investigate evidence in the galleries as well as written testimonies and art works. This interactive session will include opportunities for questions and discussion.

Please indicate your preferred option on your booking form:

Option 1: Object Based

This session is recommended, usually, for KS3 students. Using objects the students explore both the stories of Leon Greenman, a Camp Survivor, and artefacts which explore the narrative of the Kindertransport rescue. The artefacts enable the students to explore the complexity of faith, and continuing faith in light of the Holocaust and the possible differing outcomes for the individual. They will, during this workshop have to think about what Faith means and, when facing challenges what this does to ones' personal interpretation of faith and what it means to be Jewish. This session also, due to the nature of the artefacts broadens their understanding of Judaism, particularly Shabbat and the varying ways that one may choose to practice Judaism.

Option 2: Chevruta style learning

This session is recommended for high level KS3, 4 and 5. Using the Jewish text based rabbinical approach (Chevruta style learning) the students explore extracts from the book of Job to understand the question 'why do bad things happen?' They will need to be able to interpret text and to have a basic grasp of simple theological questions. The students will follow up their interpretation of the text with a close analysis of the story of Leon Greenman and how, in some ways, he is a modern day Job and how he confronted his belief in trying times. The students will finish the session drawing their own conclusions on this difficult subject, hopefully enlightened by a Jewish interpretation and set of responses. The beauty of this session is that it not only deals directly with the essential question of Faith but also introduces the students to a Jewish way of reflection which is so essential to all aspects of the religion.

History KS3 Nature and impact of the Holocaust

Religious Education KS4 Analysing impact of religions and beliefs according to context: evaluating beliefs commitments and the influence of religion.