As I said in another post, I felt inspired to expand on the study of history w/Holocaust/Jewish study choices that I’ve come across. I think with Holocaust denyers running countrys and teaching in universities, with that generation dying off, and anti-semitism and revisionist history on the rise, our children need to know the truth lest we all forget; they need to also say “NEVER AGAIN”. I want our children to be among the blessed and not suffer the consequences that others may suffer, nationally and individually (Genesis 12:3).
In addition, history has other tragedy’s and instrumental characters that maybe could be delved in deeper w/in context, as well as some of the Jewish experiences in America. There are many so please stick w/me to the end. With so many choices they can be spread out thru the years, on Holocaust Remembrance days, as independant reading, one deep, long study, etc…
This is an allegory of the Holocaust. I have read this to my children and it created real conversation. If you have an ultra sensitive 6 yr.old, you may want to wait till 8, because it is effective and serious. I recommend it. I checked it out at the library, and you may, too so you can preview it.
I checked this one out, too. It’s a much softer presentation. It created discussion between me and my children, so it was good. As I was on Amazon, there were many good other books on this topic to share with children.
It is March 1945, the last days of World War II, just inside the German front. Kurt, a German army deserter, and Rachel, a 15-year-old Jew who has escaped from the terrors of Nazi Berlin, meet. The two must trust each other in order to survive and escape.
age 10-14 –1919 Russia: Set against a backdrop of stormy historical events — pogroms, the influenza epidemic, the Bolshevik Revolution, and the struggle to create the State of Israel
for ages 8-11 a book called ” The Grey Striped Shirt” by Jacqueline Jules
Gently introduces students to the Holocaust through the eyes of a young girl. Frannie discovers her grandmother’s concentration camp uniform while looking through the closet. Through a series of conversations, Frannie’s grandparents unfold the truths about their experiences in the Holocaust, developing themes of resistance, courage and survival.
For adults- “Teaching the Holocaust” Teaching about the Holocaust is necessarily an act of shaping memory, of forging the consciousness our students have. Teaching the Holocaust is written to help you help your students to define their understandings of this difficult period in our history.
There’s also an entire course for grades 6+ “The History of the Holocaust”
Nine individual lessons on the Holocaust. These lessons focus on both events and personalities that mark the Holocaust.
Now, a personal recomendation. It’s heavy stuff, again not until upper high school and adult.We were present at our synagogue when Rose Price gave her amazing testimony of her experiences, then how she came to know her Messiah- http://www.rosepriceministries.org/aboutRose.php
Here’s her book “A Rose From the Ashes”-http://store.jewsforjesus.org/ppp/product.php?prodid=891
Another tesimony book about surviving then coming to know the Messiah
Lastly, and I don’t mean to offend,in your church history studies, consider looking in other circles for books that chronicle the church history that the church doesn’t like talk about; such as the imbedded anti-semitism spouted by church fathers, Pope’s, the Catholic Church, and even Martin Luther that contributed ideas, false doctrines and beliefs creating thought processes contributing to the Holocaust. Some I am aware of are on this site:
This is great list! I want to add a few more that have been very personally meaningful to me. I have no special qualifications other than “reader” but I have been fascinated with the whole issue of what happened in WWII to so many people and why so few did anything.
Some of my favorites: The Endless Steppe, by Esther Hautzig–I first encountered this book about a Polish Jewish girl deported to Siberia when I was ten and have loved it ever since, returning to it again and again.
Torn Threads by Anne Isaacs
Letters from Rifka by Karen Hesse (both of these, while plenty tough, are an easier read for me personally than Anne Frank)
Viewing the Holocaust Today by Phillip Brookes has even more ideas for reading
I’m fascinated by stories of those who DID help, and want my children to read about THEM, and discuss what made them different from others. Often, although there was in fact anti-Semitism in most European Christianity at the time, nevertheless the single biggest group of those who risked (and often gave) their lives to help, were dedicated Christians.
Some for children:
The Hero and the Holocaust, David Adler
In My Hands, by Irene Opdyke (pre-read this one, parents)
And one for adults that while long is nevertheless a wonderful experience:
The Righteous by Martin Gilbert
And The Hiding Place is hard to read indeed, but sooo important. I might delay it a while if there was a sensitive child, but all my children will be reading this if I have to call them every night on the phone and read a page. 🙂 My children have already heard many parts, as whenever they complain about anything they get the Corrie/Bessie and the fleas and the Bible story, and whenever they are slow to forgive they get the Corrie forgiving the SS officer story. 🙂
Your welcome, Sonya. I pray G-d uses them for His Plan and Purposes in yours and others families!
Thank you Michelle for your book selections, too. I will jot them down. I didn’t get a chance to find the account of Schindler. So let me know if you find one.
The Rose Price story (who experienced experimentation)is similar to The Hiding Place story in that the message of forgiveness is what the author really wants to get across. So it’s necessary to give the gruesome facts to show the magnitude of the forgiveness of Yeshua(Jesus) and reconciliation in these women’s lives and the officer’s lives.
Then of course is the sovereignty of G-d in the birth (Isaiah 66:8) of The Nation of Israel out of the ashes of the Holocaust. In fact, today is Independance Day!
I’d like to add a biography titled ‘Zvi’ that can be reviewed on the Friends of Israel website (foi.org). It is an incredible story and taught me more about the Jewish nation than I had ever understood.
Yes, those dedicated Christians who are called “Righteous Gentiles” or “The Righteous Among the nations”. G-d shows us that He works in the human heart individually, not just corporately.
I found some info. for Schindler, though not a Christian, he makes for an interesting study of how G-d uses even the most worldly of people to work out His purposes. Amazing!
“Schindler’s List” by Thomas Keneally for adults
grade 7 and up “Oskar Schindler (Importance of series)”: Jack L. Roberts
Rachel
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