Majdanek Blog Entry by Nancy O’donnell
Today was a day that challenged me to push my boundaries. I had to choose between entering the building with the gas chambers or not. There was absolutely no pressure to do so, but as a historian, as a teacher who wants to be authentic, and as a person who wants to understand as much […]
“juxtaposition” By Mallory Brown
the smack of hands meeting before a quick embrace fills the little square of the Old Town of Lublin. two men grin at each other. “dzień dobry!” “dzień dobry!” their smiles are bright, familiar, Everything is angles here. The sign, stairs, barracks, Offices, even the name itself: Majdanek—sharp in letter. like the morning sun that […]
Lublin by Karina Duenas
Walking into the Jewish Quarter of Lublin was absolutely beautiful, a true hidden gem. The beauty of this town quickly caught my eye, but my feelings instantly changed after visiting the Old Town Gradzka Theatre. Immediately after entering the theater I felt an extremely heavy sense of sorrow, yet nothing that could come close to […]
The Prisoners of Majdanek: Their Belongings by Rosamary Grant
While touring Majdanek in Lublin, something that stood out to me the moment we step foot on the grounds was how well preserved the camp was. Walking down the gravel path sent chills down my spine as if at any moment this clearly inactive camp could quickly revert to what it once was. Something I […]
Teach By Example By Jessica Scerbo
On our first evening in Warsaw, the guest speakers told us not to leave Poland sad. The weight of this journey holds pain and sadness, but the message was clear. Be thankful for the time we live in and spread the important lessons to ensure the message of…never again. I hold this close to me […]
Treblinka Blog Entry by Nancy O’donnell
Today was challenging! There was a complete disconnect for me- As you roll into Treblinka, there is a beautiful forest and the area seems peaceful. Yet, if you know anything about the past, it is a place of ugly, hateful destruction of men, women, and children. You realize they were placed after the evidence of […]
You Need To See What Is Invisible By Carrie Shapiro
This afternoon we visited Treblinka Memorial Site, a two hour bus ride outside of Warsaw. My friend and colleague Kate Vitek and I traveled with 20 stones from our community of Beachwood, a small suburb outside of Cleveland. Before our travels, we collected stones from those who wanted to pay tribute to Holocaust victims. I […]
Protectors of Warsaw’s Children By Charlene Foose Geyer
I have held an extreme interest in WWII and the Holocaust for many years, educating myself throughreading, researching, and watching documentaries; but nothing I have ever done could even come closeto teaching me as much as this trip with Classrooms Without Borders. Not only am I able to see theactual locations where events occurred, but […]