On October 16–18, a seminar entitled “The World We Must Remember: Teaching About Lithuanian Jewish History and the Holocaust” was held in Vilnius.
The three-day seminar, held at the Vilnius Gaon Jewish History Museum – Samuel Bak Museum, was intended for teachers and educators interested in Lithuanian Jewish history. Participants learned about the museum’s educational programs and activities for students of various ages.
During the seminar, participants were presented with archival materials collected by the Centropa organization, such as biographies, photographs, films, and methodological materials. In addition, teachers had the opportunity to view a Centropa film about Ranana, a Holocaust survivor from the Vilkaviškis district. Historian Stanislovas Stasiulis delivered a lecture on the Holocaust in Lithuania, while participants also explored Vilnius’s Old Town with an audio guide and visited the Paneriai Memorial. Their visit to the Vilnius Choral Synagogue included a talk by educator Natalja Cheifec, who discussed Jewish religious traditions as well as the strong connection between the past and the present.
Participants did more than just listen; they actively interacted by analyzing the biographies of Lithuanian Jews and learning about several Jewish women who survived the Holocaust. The group also engaged in discussions about stereotypes, prejudices, and their origins. Among the attendees were four teachers who had participated in similar training courses multiple times and who actively use Centropa materials in their lessons and projects. These teachers shared their experiences, lesson plans, and project ideas, enriching the seminar discussion. In total, twenty-five teachers, museum professionals, and librarians took part in the three-day event.
The seminar was organized for the Lithuanian educational community by Centropa in cooperation with the Secretariat of the International Commission and the Vilna Gaon Jewish Historical Museum.
