Materials for Holocaust Education in Churches
(For availability and more details check with Holocaust Centers and Museums,
Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, Libraries, Simon Wiesenthal Center, Jewish
community etc.)
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| Children of the 3rd Reich
This video features excerpts of a meeting between Children of Holocaust Survivors from
Israel and the USA and Children of Nazi War-Criminals. Taped in Israel in 1993. This film
covers human emotions seldom touched by other Holocaust studies. In English and some German
with Subtitles. A most moving production, suitable for youth and adults. Colour 45 min.
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Confession of a Hitler Youth
A former member of the Hitler Youth recounts his experiences. Excellent film uses archival
film strips of nazi propaganda and News reels. Colour and black & white. (Attention:
Only to be used after consultation with pastor or teacher) 30 min.
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Courage to Care
People who risked their lives to protect Jews from the Nazis. Excellent film to introduce
Holocaust Study to Christians. Narrated by Elie Wiesel. Viewers guide is available. Colour
30 min.
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Crimes of Hate
This documentary video reveals the twisted thinking of perpetrators, the anguish of the
victims and the strategies used by law enforcement officials, community organizations and
individuals to address these crimes. Discussion Guide available. Produced by Anti-Defamation
League of B'nai B'rith. Colour. 30 min.
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Facing Hate
Nobel Prize Winner Elie Wiesel discusses hate with Bill Moyers at a conference in Oslo in
1990. Excellent film for adult audiences because of it’s length. Colour 55 min.
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Hearts of Hate
A documentary video that explores Canada's Racist Movements. The video is loosely based on
Warren Kinsella's book: "Web of Hate; Inside Canada's Far Right Network". Colour
52 min.
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In Christ’s Name
Various denominations examine Anti-Semitism in church literature. This video traces
Christian antisemitism from its beginning to the Holocaust. It ends with the United Church
Declaration of "Bearing Faithful Witness." Produced by the Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation (CBC) "Man Alive". Colour 25 min.
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More than broken Glass - Memories of Kristallnacht
The sounds of broken Glass, on the night of November 9, 1938, will be forever etched in the
collective memory of the Jewish people and the world. It was the night when the Nazis
publicly and blatantly announced to the world that they had declared open war on the Jewish
People. Through archival footage, photographs and interviews with witnesses, the video forms
a sharp portrait of the time and events. Colour and black & white, 30 min.
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Might be – VE’ULAI
This film captures a layer that is not often seen when studying the Holocaust. This true
story is about an elderly woman, who lost her 5-year-old son in Czechoslovakia during the
Holocaust. No matter how much time passes, she refuses to believe that her talented,
artistic son is not alive. She is often
"sure" that an artist she learns about is her long lost son. She tracks down the
artist and repeatedly finds out the man is not her son. Hebrew with English subtitles.
Teachers Guide available. Colour 15 min /2.
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Not in Our Town
The residents of a small town in Montana USA stand together for their neighbors under attack
by white supremacists. Colour 26 min.
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One Survivor Remembers
Through a series of interviews, photographs and footage, shot in the actual locations of her
memories, Gerda Weissman-Klein takes us on a journey of survival through one of the most
devastating events of the history of humankind. 39 min.1996,awarded 1995 Oscar. Colour and
black & white.
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Shadow on the Cross
A powerful documentary program which looks at the tragic story of Christian-Jewish
relations, as seen by Christians across 2000 years and reports a modern revolution in
Christian attitudes. Filmed on location in the UK, Israel, Germany and the United States
with the co-operation of leading church figures and scholars of various denominations.
Shadow on the Cross plots the story of Christian antisemitism, the ambivalent role of the
church during the Nazi period and the tentative path toward reconciliation between Jews and
Christians in the post war era. The program includes rare archival film of the period never
before shown on TV. It challenges the church to re-examine the Christian-Jewish relationship
and to acknowledge responsibility for 2000 years of antisemitic teachings and preaching.
Colour 52 min.
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| Weapons of the Spirit (short version)
Le Chambon is a remote village surrounded by modest farms in the mountains of south
eastern France - its inhabitants, 5000 Huguenot Protestants. During World War II the entire
village sheltered and saved 5000 Jews. Not one villager informed the authorities. Film maker
Pierre Sauvage returns to Le Chambon, the village that saved his life, to honor this
"Conspiracy of Goodness." Colour with black & white39 min.
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Who is Peter Iswolsky?
See under youth programs. Excellent film for adults as well.
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The Power of Conscience
The Danish Resistance and the Rescue of the Jews. When Hitler occupied Denmark in 1940,
the country was allowed to keep its king and constitution in exchange for food and supplies.
However there were those who refused to be peacefully occupied and chose the path of
resistance. In October 1943, when the Gestapo decided to round up the Danish Jews, ordinary
citizens banded together with resisters and created a rescue operation that hid and
transported over 7.000 of their countrymen across the water to Sweden. Over the next year,
hundreds of saboteurs, resisters and policemen were sent to concentration camps. The Power
of Conscience features the testimony of prisoners and saboteurs, the rescuers and the
rescued, to tell the story of a people who refused to co-operate, placing the dictates of
their conscience above an immoral authority. 55 min.
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For Youth Programs:
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Dear Kitty, (Anne Frank’s Diary)
A video presentation on the life of Anne Frank, for ages 10-13. Produced by the Anne Frank
Foundation. 30 min.
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Just an Other Diary. (Anne Frank’s Diary)
The life story of Anne Frank is told from the perspective of a 17-year old girl. She
played the part of Anne in a recent stage performance about this Jewish girl who's fate
became well-known all over the world. From her dressing room in the theatre she tells her
feeling about Anne Frank followed by one of the main scenes out of the play. The film
continues with historical film material, images of the place where the family Frank hid
during the war and photographs taken from their family album. In 25 minutes the whole life
of Anne Frank is told as well as its background: the rise of Hitler, the persecution of the
Jews, the occupation of the Netherlands and what happened in the concentration camps of the
Nazis. Produced by the Anne Frank Foundation. Partly in Dutch. Colour 25 min.
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A Book of Dreams. (Anne Frank’s Diary)
Martin, a schoolboy visits the Annex and reads Anne Frank's diary. He relates Anne's
ideas, dreams and hopes to the world of today. Produced by The Film Business Amsterdam &
The Anne Frank Foundation. Colour 30 min.
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Preserving the Past to Insure the Future
This sensitive and soulful video deals with the most tragic victims of the Holocaust, the
one and a half million children whose only "crime" was to have been born Jewish.
We join visitors, young and old, white and black, Jew and Gentile, as they express their
profound shock at the incomprehensible realities with which they are confronted on their
visit to Jerusalem's Yad Vashem museum and its haunting Children's Memorial. Current news
footage of racist violence around the world, juxtaposed with poetry and artwork of children
who perished in the camps, makes this a stirring and powerful experience for young and old
alike. Colour 15 min.
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Who is Peter Iswolsky?
Encourages teenagers to take a chance and speak out against racism. This video combines
drama, animation, interviews with teenage victims and by-standers, an anti-racism workshop,
and the perspective of an Italian who sheltered Jews from the Nazis and the story of a Jew
who was rescued. Together, they show how much racism can hurt and how one person can stop
the hurt or even save lives by taking a risk against racism. Colour 25 min.
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| It is suggested that video programs include a Question & Answer
session with an appropriate panel such as clergy, community leaders, survivors, "hidden
children", rescuers, resisters, etc. |
