Exploring additional materials as presentations created by specialists for specific issues’ discussion helps understand the various aspects of the topics studied. I chose a presentation uploaded on the ChhangeBCC channel and dedicated to International Holocaust Remembrance Day Commemoration in 2022. The Center for Holocaust, Human Rights & Genocide Education executive director, Sarah Brown, introduced the speaker – Dr. Devin Naar, a professor of Sephardic Studies. He was the only presenter in the video: he revealed the question about Sephardic Jews in the Holocaust and answered questions from the audience. In particular, speaker traces the fate of the Jewish community from the Salonika city (Greek name – Thessaloniki), located in Greece. Despite the widespread discussion of the Holocaust tragedy and the Jewish genocide during World War II, many aspects are still insufficiently covered, and Dr. Naar seeks to fill some gaps.
The presentation contains many aspects which may surprise the audience. First of all, even though Holocaust horrors are widely-known, its scale and the Nazi efforts put into genocide are underestimated. For example, it is surprising that historical maps do not include Greece in the history of the Holocaust. Even a woman, Auschwitz survivors, whom Dr. Naar met, did not know that there were Jews from Greece in the camp. Another interesting point of the presentation is the question of identity for the Jewish community in Salonika. The professor told the story of a postcard from an orphanage, which shows Jewish children and indicates their affiliation through inscriptions in the corresponding languages (ChhangeBCC 35:03-37:40). The institution taught children from various directions of Judaism, and they also considered themselves Greeks and Europeans. Such a multicultural approach is more consistent with the modern world but was very provocative for nationalism dominant in Europe of that time.
Dr. Naar’s presentation contains a story about a Jewish cemetery in Salonika, revealing human nature’s unpleasant side. The cemetery in this city was one of the largest in Europe, and it was destroyed in 1942. The uniqueness of this situation is that the cemetery’s destruction occurred on the initiative of the Greek people and not the Nazis. Moreover, materials from the cemetery were used to construct various buildings in the city – university, church, and other places. The presentation includes many more surprising points, like buying tickets to Auschwitz and attitude to Sephardic Jews in the camps, which significantly complements the material studied on the course.
The presentation’s information simultaneously disputes, reinforces, and complements the materials studied earlier. In particular, Dr. Naar draws attention to the exclusion of Greece from the maps of the Holocaust, significantly limiting its understanding, and he gives a broader map for the audience’s attention. His understanding disputes the course materials since Bentley et al. also uses a limited map (625). Video reinforce knowledge obtained from materials, as all sources mention the cruelty of the Holocaust but do not present it in such details. Finally, the presentation greatly complements the understanding of the events. Strayer and Nelson briefly mention the Holocaust as a war outcome and report that the Nazis destroyed Jews and other peoples – the Slavs and Gypsies (914). Bentley et al. also concentrate mainly on Jews from Europe and briefly describe the period (624). The presentation from Dr. Naar provides significantly more information and understanding.
The addition of material mainly concerns the fate of Sephardic Jews from Salonika. The study of this perspective has critical importance for the research of the entire Holocaust, which is not sufficiently covered. The information complements the understanding of the Jewish mentality in Salonika and knowledge about anti-Semitic sentiments. Moreover, the video adds knowledge of the events that took place in the camps, for instance, the use of Sephardic Jews by the Nazis to accompany victims to murder, their riot, and execution. Such data are difficult to find in ordinary textbooks and articles.
One can consider the importance of studying Holocaust history from a personal and professional perspective. From a personal position, students should realize the horrors of the past and honor the victims’ memory. This aspect is critical for those who have the Holocaust as a family history – commemoration demonstrates respect for the past and the dead. Moreover, understanding the fate of victims and their heroic examples of struggle inspire people to value their own lives. From a professional perspective, history teaches the analysis of events and the need to prevent genocide. The study of the Holocaust highlights the importance of combating stereotypes, prejudices, and xenophobia. Moreover, understanding the past is necessary to discuss and protect human rights, promote peace, and prevent abuse of power.
Thus, in the considered presentation, Dr. Devin Naar reveals the details of the experience of Sephardic Jews from the Greek city of Salonika before and during the Holocaust. He presents unique information since little data is available on this issue. It is essential to study all perspectives to understand better the events of World War II and the Holocaust. The presentation includes many surprising moments and stories, which significantly expands the knowledge gained earlier from the course. Studying the past, particularly the Holocaust, is necessary to commemorate the victims and prevent future genocide.
Works Cited
“2022 International Holocaust Remembrance Day Commemoration: Sephardic Jews and the Holocaust.”YouTube, uploaded by ChhangeBCC, 2022.
Bentley, Jerry, et al. Traditions and Encounters, A Brief Global History. McGraw Hill Publishers, 2016.
Strayer, Robert W., and Eric Nelson. Ways of the World: A Brief Global History with Sources. 4th ed., Bedford/St. Martin’s, A Macmillan Education Imprint, 2019.