Preparing for a Holocaust Survivor

To understand what the Holocaust wasTo examine an untold story from the HolocaustTo explore why survivor testimony is important.

Friday 8th January 2016

KeywordsHolocaustSurvivor Testimony

Why is it important to learn about the past?

Today we are going to learn about an important event in history – the Holocaust.

We are going to hear an untold story of the Holocaust and prepare for a visit by a Holocaust survivor who will share their ‘testimony’ (story) with us

In what ways can we find out about the past?Brainstorm some ideas

What images or ideas come to mind when you hear the word Holocaust?

Brainstorm some ideas

In 1930’s Germany, a new party took control. The Nazi Party, led by Adolf Hitler, took control of all areas of

daily life and soon began to single out any people they saw as a threat.

Some of these groups included political opponents,homosexuals, gypsies, the disabled and perhaps most

well known- Jews. Jewish people soon found themselves banned fromdoing certain jobs and going to places like public baths,

parks and even schools as German people. They were forced to register and carry ID papers and even wear a yellow star on their clothes so that everyone could identify them as Jews.

Things went from bad to worse as the Nazi Party started to round people up and transport them to camps where they would face harsh work and for many people- death.

The conditions and treatment faced by the Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals and many other groups at the hands of the Nazis was horrific.

However, even in these dark times there were some amazing stories of heroism, courage, love and luck.

Introduction to Lily’s story – ‘The Golden Pendant’ Here is a happy picture

of Lily. Can you see what Lily is wearing on the chain around her neck?

It’s a tiny pendant, made of gold. It looks quite ordinary, similar to any locket, charm or keepsake anyone might wear but it has its own remarkable Untold Story

What expectations do you have before hearing Lily’s

story?What type of things might it

include?How do you think you will

feel after hearing it?

Was Lily’s story like you expected it to be?

How would you feel if she was here to tell you the story in person?

What type of person would you expect her to be?

Reviewing Lily’s story – ‘The Golden Pendant’

Is this what you expected? Some of the survivors who speak for the Trust

Lilly tells her story her ‘testimony’ in the hope that we can prevent events like the holocaust happening again.

The Holocaust Educational Trust works to raise awareness and understanding of the Holocaust. One way they do this is by asking Holocaust survivors to speak about their experiences – their testimony.

John Dobai is another example of someone who survived the Holocaust and he will share his testimony at The De La Salle Academy on 15th January.

About John… John was born in 1934 in Budapest, Hungary. His parents, who were Jewish, were concerned

about what they had heard about the Nazis in Germany and so decided to convert to Roman Catholicism, and raise John in that faith.

John grew up experiencing the Nazi's persecution of the Jews all around him.

He will tell us of his experiences of this and how the Holocaust affected him and his family.

Can you think of question to ask John?

Why is it important for survivors such as Lily and John to tell their stories?

If you could give survivors like Lily and John a message, what would it be?

Review the gold pendant was given to a little girl in the 1930s the little girl grew up in Hungary the pendant was hidden in a shoe for a long time the pendant was never found by people who were looking for it