Melbourne Holocaust Museum Excursion

Fifty-one Year 10 and 11 History/Legal Studies students and staff got a taste of Jewish life when they took part in Zionism Victoria’s Connecting Cultures program.

The group visited the Melbourne Holocaust Museum, where they heard from a Holocaust survivor, Paul, and learned more about this horrific moment in history, and the importance of respect, love and understanding of all people.

Following their time at the museum, the group had a delicious traditional Israeli falafel lunch and a walk around a Jewish library at Beth Weizmann Community Centre.

To finish the day, the group went to the St Kilda Shule Hebrew Congregation and chatted with Rabbi Yaakov Glasman, about Judaism and faith.

‘Jewish culture is truly one of much depth. Our experiences today have deepened and diversified our understanding of Jewish culture, religion, and cuisine. The Holocaust was a time of dehumanisation, oppression and hatred against the Jewish culture. Our discussions with Paul, a Holocaust survivor, have made this time in history all the more real, knowing that these individuals, though children at the time, have watched others like them perish at the hands of an incredible evil. Our experience at the Holocaust Centre was made all the deeper as we analysed the artefacts belonging to those child survivors of the Holocaust. We feel incredibly appreciative that we have had this opportunity to broaden our knowledge, an opportunity we will never forget.’ – Sarah M & Jasnoorpreet K