Dr. Kokkonen's H.E.W. Talk

Synagogue in Berlin, Germany.

This week (and next), Halifax is "celebrating" Holocaust Education Week.

Thus far, I've attended two events - and am very glad I squeezed the time into my schedule, despite papers, Girl Guides and what precious nap time I can find.

On Monday, I attended an event that was put on in conjunction with the Russian Department at Dalhousie U., which hosted Dr. Susanna Kokkonen.

Dr. Kokkonen is a fantastic speaker - originally from Finland, now living in Israel. Dr. Kokkonen works with the Christian Friends of Yad Vashem - an organization with Yad Vashem that lectures and educates, as well as runs programs about how Christians can teach, learn about, and react to the Holocaust.

This talk included much thought - do Germans carry a national guilt? Do Canadians carry a national guilt for not allowing Jews to flee here as a haven following the war (I say "yes", personally)? Why do we need to study the stories of survivors? Why is it important for the younger generation to be interested and engaged with the Holocaust?

What I found most interesting during this lecture was the elderly couple who were in attendance. She, a German, born in 1938, does carry the national guilt and still cannot believe that the war and Holocaust was not taught - from any perspective - during her schooling, until she moved to Canada for the last year of high school. He, a Jew, born in 1943 (I believe) is touched that there were so many youth in attendance, but did not speak much on the topic of the Holocaust itself.

They told the story of their visit to Dachau Concentration Camp in 1997. The man told us that the bus was full of "children" - people in their teens and twenties, who he assumed would be getting off at a stop prior to Dachau - no doubt a shopping mall. He was touched and amazed that they were all going to Dachau, on their own (not with a study group/class) and their seriousness and attentiveness, and the emotions that they displayed. He touched on the fact that "us old people don't like you young people" - an issue (and stereotype) that bothers me as I feel I have swayed from the norm - I'm not loud, reckless, and out partying every night. I'm interested in the lives of others - no matter the age, and I'm compassionate, if I may say so myself. This man, whose name slips my mind, not only put an emphasis on the younger generations learning about history, but also spoke the same lessons that Faigie did during our retreat weekend in Ontario this past August. By learning the stories, we are carrying on the legacy of so many who cannot share their lives, or who will not be able to forever.

A book that our tour guide in Europe, Michael Bauer, referenced
and used for testimonies, poems, etc. It is my understanding that
this can only be purchased at Yad Vashem. If, however, anyone
finds it in North America - this would be a fantastic Christmas
gift. 

I am so glad that this discussion topic came up - the importance of learning the Holocaust - and we were able to discuss it through this gentleman's eyes as well as through ours - the younger generation.

This event included two short films - both focusing, to some extent, on Yad Vashem and the work and education they offer outside the main exhibits of their museum. Although Israel has never been on my list of travel destinations, it has recently been added as I would love to visit Yad Vashem and spend some time studying there. Who knows where the future will take me.......

I was very impressed with Dr. Kokkonen's vast knowledge on the Holocaust and her ability to connect and get students involved and engaged in the subject. I may be wrong, but part of the students in attendance were there for a class, and therefore, not on their own accord or interest. I even managed to learn a few things and take note of several aspects of the Holocaust and what lead up to it that I was not aware of before.

One thing that I had never thought of before that Dr. Kokkonen made note of is the question "why did people go along with?". I have asked myself this question before, don't get me wrong, and this is a huge issue that I'm sure troubles many - as it has, me. This is something that, I imagine, no amount of research will ever be able to answer. However, Dr. Kokkonen had us think of societal norms and "following trends" in our lifetimes. Then, it made sense.

Wall of "Prisoners of War" who were
sent to Auchwitz. Their identification #s,
and photographs lined many of the
corridors, here.

As much as we like to think that we have our own moral codes, the ability to say "no" or sway from the norm, society effects and shapes us all in same way or another. This is, then, simply, what happened during the Nazi Regime and in Europe with so many locals turning their shoulder to what was going on - right in their own backyards, often times, literally.

Dr. Kokkonen told us a story - although I cannot remember which Camp it referred to. A woman, a  civilian not affiliated with the Nazis, but a non-Jew, who could see a camp from her backyard (I could not help think of how close the fence at Majdanek was to the town of Lublin and the absolutely sick feeling I had, here). She was bothered by what she could see from her window everyday, and wrote a letter to the authorities asking (get this!) for something to be done so she could no longer see what was going on - for the camp to be moved or for a brick wall to surround it. She was, however, not concerned that this was happening, just that it affected HER life in that she no longer had a pleasant backyard view. Absolutely disgusting.

I will leave you with a few "did you know" facts that I picked up from this event:

-- The Star of David that Jews were forced to wear was yellow as it was recognized as the color of shame during the Middle Ages
-- The 1929 collapse of Wall Street was blamed on the Jews
-- The name "Yad Vashem" is taken from the Bible, and, in short, means "memory"


"Silence never helps the victims" - Dr. S. Kokkonen