May 16
Visiting the Galicia Museum in Krakow, one of the temporary exhibitions they had on display was a photo series by Chuck Fishman conducted in both 1975 and 2018 in Poland. In 1975 Fishman sought to capture the last of Poland’s Jewish population, whom were believed to be the last of their community. This is important …
May 16
Around 2010 I wanted to add Holocaust courses to the curriculum at Old Dominion University. I started by participating in a number of programs at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., and in 2013 I launched a Holocaust Study Abroad. It’s amazing to me how once you start going to a place, …
May 14
Tonight we ate dinner at “Dawno Temu Na Kazimierzu” or “Once upon a time in Kazimierz.” The restaurant tries to recreate the ambiance of a late 19th- or early 20th-century Jewish home. It’s small and intimate. Now admittedly we are in Kazimierz which is to Jewish culture what Colonial Williamsburg is to colonial times—made up, …
May 14
The thing I love about study abroad is getting to know the students. Of course I love being in the classroom, but on study abroad, the world is the classroom. It’s fantastic. We have such a great group of students…and no one complained that it rained all day. I have seen many a Kraków skyline, …
May 10
In preparing to leave for Poland, remember to pack two important items: 1) Peter Hayes, Why? Explaining the Holocaust 2) Patrick Desbois, The Holocaust by Bullets
May 08
To be very frank, I am not sure how I feel about this trip coming up so soon. On one hand, I am eager to be in Poland and be able to learn from others various dimensions of the Shoah. On the other hand, it makes my heart sick. Reading “Holocaust by Bullets” by Father …
May 06
I still feel amazed at the fact that I am able to head back to Poland for a second time so soon. When I went on this trip last year I absolutely fell in love with Poland and discovered a passion in historical studies of the Holocaust. Though I knew I would make it back …
May 04
I’ve always loved travel. In fact, when I was a kid, I use to pack up a nap sack and sit on my bed pretending it was an airplane taking me somewhere. I don’t even really mind airplanes…they get me places. I do look forward to traveling with Tom and the students on this trip. …
May 03
One of the things I look forward to most on this trip is spending the day with the faculty from Yahad-in Unum to visit previously unknown killing sites. I am aware that the scope and the scale of the Holocaust goes well beyond established killing sites, so this will be a rare opportunity to expand my …
