
Jewish Resistance During the Holocaust
At a Glance
Language
English — USSubject
- History
- Social Studies
Grade
6–12Duration
One 50-min class period- The Holocaust
Overview
About This Lesson
In the previous lesson, students learned about the enormity of the crimes committed during the Nazi regime and were introduced to the ways in which Jews resisted the Nazis’ program of dehumanization and murder. This lesson invites a deeper exploration of Jewish resistance, both spiritual and physical, during the Holocaust. Students will learn about the different ways that the Jews resisted the Nazis, both within and outside of the camps, in an effort to preserve their lives, dignity, and culture, which the Nazis attempted to destroy. Students will start by defining the term resistance, and then they will review the different forms of resistance during the Holocaust: physical and spiritual. Students will explore this difference in the second activity using texts from the Oyneg Shabbos Archive that sought to preserve Jewish articles of faith, knowing that the Nazis were bent on destroying all remnants of Jewish culture along with the Jewish people. After analyzing and discussing five readings that explore resistance during the Holocaust, students will learn about Abba Kovner and the Vilna Ghetto Manifesto. They will analyze and respond to the famous words of the manifesto: “Let us not go as sheep to the slaughter.”
Preparing to Teach
A Note to Teachers
Before you teach this lesson, please review the following guidance to tailor this lesson to your students’ contexts and needs.
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