Untitled Lesson Holocaust

Holocaust Education Week

Why is it important to hear Holocaust survivor stories?

Brainstorm:

Why do people tell stories about
their lives?

What can stories teach us?

Learning Targets

Today I will examine elements of the
Holocaust.

I’ll know I have it when I can…

●Identify what the Holocaust was

●Define anti-semitism and identify
examples of anti-semitism

●Respond to analytical prompts around
primary source accounts of the Holocaust.

●Explain why it is important to hear
Holocaust survivor stories.

Key Terms for Understanding

the Holocaust

Judaism: the religion practiced by Jews and
includes the belief in one God.

Anti-semitism: prejudice or hatred against Jews

Kristallnacht: Kristallnacht was the event which
helped to escalate the violence and persecution
against Jewish people.

Nazi Government: Ruled with total control over its
citizens. Used power against Jewish citizens.

Refugee: A person who has been forced to leave
their country in order to escape war, persecution,
or natural disaster.

During the Holocaust, the lives of
everyday people were dramatically
changed. Places like Austria, Vienna
became very dangerous for Jewish
people to live. This lesson follows
the footsteps of a young Jewish girl
who dreamed of becoming a concert pianist.

Lisa & Her Family

Lisa Jura was born on April 21, 1924, in
Vienna, Austria. She lived in an apartment
in this building with her parents and two
sisters. From an early age, she spent hours
practicing piano and taking lessons. She
dreamed of becoming a professional
pianist.

After Nazi Germany invaded and occupied
Austria, anti-Jewish laws were put in place.
Life quickly changed for the Jura family,
who were Jewish, and Lisa was no longer
allowed to take piano lessons.

Map of Europe 1933

Then & Now

Compare the photos of Lisa’s family apartment. What is the same? What is different?

Lisa Jura

Every Sunday since her tenth birthday, fourteen year
old Lisa left her home and took a streetcar to her
piano teacher’s apartment. Lisa looked forward to her
piano lesson each week.

Think-Pair-Share:
What are some things that you look forward to doing
weekly?

How would you feel if you couldn’t do the things you
enjoy?

Escalating Anti Semitism

On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria. By the next day,
Nazi Germany was ruling Austria.

One day when Lisa arrived for her
piano lesson, she was met by a
German soldier, blocking the doorway.
She was relieved when her teacher
waved her up from the window.

After the hour long lesson, her teacher
informed her that there was a new
rule. “It is now a crime to teach a
Jewish child,” he said.

Stunned, Lisa felt tears rising.

Think-Pair-Share

The Nazis did not like Jewish people, and the
Nazi government passed many unfair laws.

How do you think Lisa felt about this law?

Kristallnacht

A few nights later, Lisa and her sister
awoke to the sounds of shouting.

From a window they saw the flames of
burning buildings, and heard the
piercing sounds of shattering glass. Nazi
soldiers in brown shirts ran down the
block.

Lisa and her family hid in a bedroom as
they waited for the terrible night to
end.

Kristallnacht

The Night of Broken Glass

★

November 9-10, 1938

★

Kristallnacht was the event which helped
to escalate the violence and persecution
against Jewish people.

★

Over two days and nights,

○Jewish synagogues and business
were burned

○Homes, schools and hospitals were
vandalized

○Many Jews were killed

○More than 30,000 Jewish males ages
16 - 60 were arrested

After Kristallnacht, how do you think
Jewish people felt about their
safety??

Lisa’s Family Makes A Choice

Everyone in Vienna had been talking
about the Kindertransport-the
Children’s Train.

While the Nazis had forbidden Jews
from leaving Vienna, they did allow
some trains to take Jewish children,
under 17, to England.

Every Jewish family wanted seats on
the train. Lisa’s father managed to get
one ticket.

Kindertransport

Kindertransport Memorial in London

Review the map and the image of the Kindertransport memorial.

What do you see? What do you think? What do you wonder?

Lisa’s Family Makes A Choice

Lisa’s parents had three daughters, but they only had one ticket for the
Kindertransport. They had to make the difficult decision to choose one of their
daughters to make the journey alone from Austria, Vienna to London, England.

They ultimately decided that Lisa would go ahead of her sisters.

How do you think Lisa felt when she
boarded the Kindertransport?

Lisa arrives in London

Exhausted children were met at the
train station by a group of nuns,
rabbis, and Red Cross workers.

They carried clipboards and checked
names off a list.

Lisa was relieved that her name was
on the list.

Lisa and others initially stayed at
Bloomsbury House, a Jewish refugee
rescue organization.

What challenges do you think Lisa
and other children on the
Kindertransport may have faced as
refugees in a new country?

Lisa Rediscovers the Piano

One night, after clearing the plates
from dinner, Lisa walked by a piano,
sat down and began to play. As
children arrived home, they sat down
to listen to her play.

Everyone in the room was transfixed
by the beauty of her music.

How might Lisa have felt after
reconnecting with her music?

How might other child refugees have
felt listening to her play?

Lisa and Her Dream

In 1941, Lisa was given the
opportunity to audition for a spot at
the famous Royal Academy of Music.

She practiced for months and finally
the day arrived in early 1942 to play
for the judges.

Discuss:
How might the grand and famous
building have made Lisa nervous?

What else might she have been
thinking about?

Lisa and Her Dream

After several weeks, Lisa received the
results of her audition. The letter read
as follows:

“ ‘The Associated Board of the London Royal
Academy of Music is pleased to inform Miss Lisa
Jura that she has been accepted into the
program for the study of the pianoforte.’”

How might Lisa’s success have provided
inspiration for other children?

The Pianist

Lisa graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in 1945 and made her debut at Wigmore
Hall.

Her many friends sat in the audience at her debut. Lisa wove their stories through each piece
she played, and the music became the tale of so many in war-torn London. Through their
tears, all of them remembered their proudest, bravest moments. They remembered their
courage during the bombings. They remembered their determination. They remembered
their ultimate victory.

After several seconds of awed silence, the audience erupted in applause. Lisa rose and the
applause grew louder.

Wrap Up

What will you remember most about Lisa’s
story?

Why is it important to continue to hear
survivor stories like Lisa’s?

Lisa, age 17