Discovering Spain 2018 — A Look Back
This year marked our inaugural study-seminar through Spain – and we couldn’t be more excited about it! Approximately 25 teachers – some from public schools, some from private or Catholic schools – took part in the 10-day seminar. And they came from a broad cross-section of disciplines, running the gamut from history and social studies […]
Poland Personally 2018 – A Look Back
They all had seen the photographs of gas chambers and the piles of dead children’s shoes. But, it wasn’t until they went to Poland that they saw them as humans do. In the words of one participant, “I knew they existed but, until today, I knew like I knew Jupiter existed; no experience, just certainty.” […]
VAMPY Holocaust Education – Reflection – Griffin Graham
VAMPY was an incredible experience that has inspired my thinking, fueled my curiosity, and “gifted” me with friendships that will last a lifetime. It has offered me a life changing world of friendship and learning. Earlier in the school year, Zane, my friend, and I were working in study hall, and Zane received a notification […]
Local Educator To Head CWB’s Wheeling Office
Please join us at Classrooms Without Borders in welcoming on-board Jamie Campbell, who will serve as the new program administrator for our Wheeling, West Virginia chapter. Campbell, a social studies teacher and department chair at Wheeling Central Catholic High School, first became introduced to the organization about six years ago. “My principal came to me one day […]
Germany Close Up Reflection – Jessica Kreger
Nineteen young Jewish leaders from across the U.S. recently embarked on a 10-day Germany Close Up (GCU) trip in cooperation with Classrooms Without Borders (CWB), in association with the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. Although visits to Berlin, Potsdam, Nuremberg, and Munich educated participants on Holocaust history and reconciliation efforts, the trip encompassed more than […]
The Children’s Village, Israel – Summer 2018 – Maya Groff
As soon as I stepped into the living room of my mishpachton, Eleanor ran up to me screaming, “Are you the Pittsburgheet?” with a huge grin across her face. At first, I was bewildered, but as soon as she took me by the hand and began showing me around The Children’s Village with her endless […]
Poland Personally – 7/8/18 – Adam Marquart
Salt Mine, Plaszow, and Closing Today we went to the salt mine outside Kraków. It was amazing to see the sculptures and to consider how much and how hard people worked for salt over the centuries. It was another opportunity for us all to be grateful. We see salt as a common place commodity. […]
Poland Personally – 7/7/18 – Adam Marquart
Tour of Kraków Our first main stop today was outside Schindler’s enamelware factory. There, Jonty told us of how Oskar Schindler saved 1,100 people by putting them to work in his factory. We discussed whether or not Schindler should be a righteous among […]
Poland Personally – 7/6/18 – Adam Marquart
Auschwitz-Birkenau Auschwitz one was powerful, but at times it didn’t feel like a former concentration camp. At times, it felt like a display. Tourist groups crowded every area that we saw, leaving not enough time to pause and contemplate what one was seeing. However, this didn’t suppress the power of what we did see […]