Exploring Jewish Identity during the Second World War

Exploring Jewish Identity during the Second World War

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to understand the concept of Jewish identity during the Second World War and its impact on the Jewish community.

Introduce the lesson objective and explain what the students will learn in this lesson.

What do you already know about Jewish identity during the Second World War?

What is Judaism?

Judaism is a monotheistic religion originating from the Hebrew Bible. The religion has a rich history of traditions, beliefs, and customs.

Explain the basic concept of Judaism to the students.

Jewish Identity

Jewish identity consists of a combination of religious, cultural, and ethnic elements that define people who identify as Jewish.

Explain the concept of Jewish identity and how it is formed.

Jewish Identity during the Second World War

During the Second World War, Jews were persecuted and forced to wear the Star of David as a means of identification.

Explain how Jewish identity was targeted during the Second World War.

The Holocaust

The Holocaust was a genocide that killed approximately six million Jews during the Second World War.

Introduce the concept of the Holocaust and how it impacted the Jewish community.

Ghettos

Jews were forced to live in ghettos, which were overcrowded and unsanitary. Many died from starvation and disease.

Explain what ghettos were and how they contributed to the persecution of Jews.

Concentration Camps

Concentration camps were used to imprison and kill Jews. They were known for their inhumane conditions and brutal treatment of prisoners.

Describe what concentration camps were and how they were used during the Second World War.

Resistance Movements

Jewish resistance movements were formed to fight against Nazi oppression. They used various tactics to resist and sabotage their oppressors.

Explain how Jewish resistance movements were formed and how they fought against Nazi oppression.

Righteous Among the Nations

The Righteous Among the Nations were non-Jewish individuals who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust.

Introduce the concept of the Righteous Among the Nations and their role in saving Jews during the Holocaust.

Anne Frank

Anne Frank was a Jewish girl who lived in hiding during the Holocaust. Her diary has become a symbol of hope and resilience.

Introduce the story of Anne Frank and her impact on the Jewish community.

Video: Life in a Concentration Camp

Show a short video about life in a concentration camp to give students a better understanding of the conditions.

Image: The Star of David

Show an image of the Star of David to help students visualize its use during the Second World War.

Interactive Slide: Resistance Tactics

What are some tactics that Jewish resistance movements used to fight against Nazi oppression?

Create an interactive slide where students can brainstorm and discuss different tactics used by Jewish resistance movements.

Interactive Slide: The Righteous Among the Nations

Can you think of any non-Jewish individuals who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust? Share their stories.

Create an interactive slide where students can share stories of non-Jewish individuals who helped save Jews during the Holocaust.

Image: Anne Frank's Diary

Show an image of Anne Frank's diary to help students understand its importance and impact.

Review

In this lesson, we explored Jewish identity during the Second World War and its impact on the Jewish community. We discussed the Holocaust, ghettos, concentration camps, resistance movements, the Righteous Among the Nations, and the story of Anne Frank.

Summarize the key points of the lesson and review what the students learned.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.