Enrichment Through Perspective – History Site Study

The power of oral history is that it is subjective and allows students to empathise with people from the past. Year 10 History students had the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the impact of memory on the construction of personal history when listening to Holocaust Survivor Stories. The History Site Study at the Sydney Jewish Museum invited students to consider how events impact the real people who lived to experience world history and the lessons that can be learnt from the past.
Brigida Zagora
Head of HSIE (Humanities and Social Sciences)

Student Reflections

Visiting the Jewish History Museum was an invaluable experience that helped shape my understanding of the Holocaust and its lasting impacts. We participated in a tour of the material culture that the museum holds, which was led by individuals with connections to Holocaust survivors, and we listened to a Holocaust survivor’s testimony. We also had the opportunity to engage in a guided source analysis with a historian. These learning opportunities illustrated the gravity of the Holocaust, giving victims’ names, faces and personalities, and helped build both our senses of empathy and critical thinking skills. This excursion was both enriching and touching for us.
Calliope Stewart

At the Jewish Museum Sydney I listened to a Holocaust survivor’s experience, which was moving and made me realise a new point of view of children during the Holocaust. We were then shown around the Jewish Museum by a tour guide who explained primary sources. My favourite item was the ‘fantasy feast’ which was a small book containing the favourite meals of people in the Nazi Camps who would read these stories while eating to ‘fill their stomachs’ with imaginary delicious food.
Harper Harris-Roxas

I learnt a lot at the Jewish museum, especially from my tour guide. I learnt about the surprising inequalities in Jewish death rates across Europe, and the high death rates in The Netherlands and Poland surprised me the most. I also learnt about the significance of the pomegranate to Jewish culture as a symbol of life and hope.
Poppy Haigh

On Friday 26 July we had the privilege of visiting the Sydney Jewish Museum, learning about the history of the Holocaust through viewing artefacts, listening to historians and hearing survivor testimonies. We were able to further our understanding of the atrocities that took place in WWII, gaining valuable insight into first-hand experiences that Jewish people endured. One aspect of the museum that was particularly educational was the Children’s Memorial. It is terrible that many young people were sacrificed at the hands of prejudice. This experience has certainly assisted me in gaining an understanding of the Holocaust and why it should continue to be remembered today.
Eve Ardagna