Holocaust Education Committee of the Quad Cities

You are invited to a free Zoom discussion of the new book, The Last Million: Europe’s Displaced Persons from World War to Cold War, by David Nasaw, on Thursday, May 13, 2021 from 10:45 AM to 12 Noon, CT. See sponsors below and register at: https://bit.ly/2Pxh9Fb

Summary: A masterwork from acclaimed historian David Nasaw, The Last Million tells the gripping yet until now largely hidden story of postwar displacement and statelessness. By 1952, the Last Million were scattered around the world. As they crossed from their broken past into an unknowable future, they carried with them their wounds, their fears, their hope, and their secrets. Here for the first time, Nasaw illuminates their incredible history and, with profound contemporary resonance, shows us that it is our history as well.

There are still a few complementary copies of this book available if you plan to watch the discussion on May 13^th. First come, first served.
Contact: aross@jfqc.org

Sponsors: Jewish Federations of Champaign-Urbana, Peoria, Quad Cities, Greater Rockford, Dutchess Co, Lee & Charlotte Co, Fort Wayne; Jewish Community Alliance of Northeastern Pennsylvania; American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists; Union League Club of Chicago; The Standard Club of Chicago; Tifereth Israel Synagogue of Des Moines; Iowa Jewish Historical Society.

Ida Kramer “Children and the Holocaust” Essay Contest:

1^st Place: Lila Teitle, 11^th grade, Pleasant Valley High School
“Never Forget: A Story of Hope and Forgiveness”

2^nd Place: Mary Roldstad, 10^th grade, Assumption High School
“Mengele’s Twins”

3^rd Place: Anna Prosise, 7^th grade, Central DeWitt Middle School
“The Undercover German Beauty”

Honorable Mentions:
Christina Reyna, 8^th grade, St. Joseph’s Catholic School
“A Time in History Never to Forget”

Ryan McGarry, 8^th grade, St. Joseph’s Catholic School
“Survivors: The Children of the Holocaust Story”

Meyer and Frances Shnurman Holocaust Visual Arts Contest:

1^st Place: Grace Peterson, 7^th grade, Creative Arts Academy of the Quad Cities
“Peggy Taylor’s Assassination”

2^nd Place: Ella Strader, 8^th grade, Creative Arts Academy of the Quad Cities
“Maty Anitek (Little Angel)”

3^rd Place: Aviel Ramsey, 12^th grade, Rockridge High School
“The Blood on his Hands”

Honorable Mentions:
Gael Chenus, 8^th grade, Creative Arts Academy of the Quad Cities
“It Only Takes One”

Johnise Thorson, 7^th grade, Creative Arts Academy of the Quad Cities
“Despair”

The Quad Cities Yom HaShoah Committee sponsors the annual The Ida S. Kramer “Children and the Holocaust” Essay Contest for Quad City area (Illinois and Iowa) for students in grades 7-12. The Essay Contest, in honor and loving memory of Ida S. Kramer (1926-2015), bears her name. Ida has been the voice of Holocaust education for Quad City schools, civic groups, and the community at large for over 30 years.
2021 Yom Hashoah Essay Contest entry form  

The annual Meyer and Frances Shnurman Visual Arts Contest theme is “Imagery and Expression: A Visual Response to the Holocaust.” The contest is open to students in grades 7-12 in the Greater Quad City area. The Visual Arts Contest bears the name of Meyer and Frances Shnurman who were both survivors of Nazi extermination camps.
2021 Holocaust Art Contest rules

Deadline for submission was March 1, 2021.

Flyer: Essay and Art Flyer 2021

April 21st is Holocaust Remembrance Day. For parents and educators who are home-schooling students in grades 7-12, here is a one class period lesson (with extended activities) from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum entitled: “History of Antisemitism and the Holocaust.”

R.O.I., produced by KALA and an affiliate of Public Radio International, has interviewed several local scholars on topics relating to the Holocaust. The show examines important events in history as well as current events through books, journal article, papers, and presentations. The guest and show co-hosts then discuss the topic with experts and history buffs who ask the question “How is it relevant or irrelevant in today’s world?”

Dr. Art Pitz was interviewed on the radio show R.O.I. in 2019, on the topic “History of Antisemitism and American Eugenics Movement.” His interview can be found at this link or click on the “play arrow” below.

KALA is operated by St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa. Shows air locally on Friday night on KALA 88.5 FM and 106.1 FM at 9:30 PM. After airing, the full program and web segment will be available as a podcast at: https://soundcloud.com/kalaradio

Other Holocaust-related shows on R.O.I.:

Mark Finkelstein – Holocaust Memorial in Des Moines

Rabbi Henry J Karp – One Human Family Program   

Dr. Stephen Gaies – Pre-WWII German Youth Diaries and Memoirs Exhibit

Author Noah Lederman – A World Erased

The community is invited to join the Israel Book Discussion Group hosted by Temple Emanuel, held on alternating Thursdays from noon-1:30 PM through Zoom.  Previous books discussed were Shavit’s My Promised Land; Glick’s The Israeli Solution; Ahmad’s Shatila Stories; LeVine & Mossberg’s One Land, Two States: Israel and Palestine as Parallel States.

To participate, contact Rabbi Linda at rabbilinda@qctemple.org

Curriculum cases for teaching about the Holocaust in grades 6-8 are available for free checkout by Quad City area teachers.  These cases were developed by the Curriculum Committee for the Jeff Leibovitz Special Collection of Holocaust Education Materials.
Flyer Curriculum Cases

Three curriculum case topics:
Case 1: “You Can Make A Difference: Teaching About the Holocaust”
Case 2: “They Made a Difference: Rescuers and Resisters”
Case 3: “Voices from the Holocaust: Diaries & Memoirs”

Cases 1, 2, and 3 are located at WIU-Quad Cities Library (3300 River Drive, Moline, IL). Call to schedule curriculum case checkout at 309/762-1598. No delivery service. Self pickup required. Website   Case 1 is also available at Mississippi Bend AEA9 (729-21^st St., Bettendorf, IA). Call to schedule curriculum case checkout  at 563/359-1371. Iowa schools within the AEA9 district can request AEA9 van delivery to school building.

Date: April 1 & Oct. 1 (bi-annual deadline)
Event: Rauch Foundation Teacher Scholarship for Professional Development in Holocaust Education
Application: RAUCH SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION