At the beginning of June, the Tennessee Holocaust Commission hosted the Vise Family Holocaust Education Summit, a program focused on exploring the mosaic of Holocaust victims through literature and the arts. More than 60 educators from across Tennessee, ranging from elementary to high school, gathered at The Temple. As the JCRC associate, the ability to understand the landscape of Tennessee schools and the realities facing our educators was insightful.
It was a full two days of thoughtful discussions about how to teach the Holocaust in a way that would meet the students where they are. The conditions our students are navigating these days are eye-opening; a theme that surfaced was the increasing presence of AI. An educator shared that when teaching the Holocaust, they have had students ask if the haunting images of suffering were AI. This skepticism of the truth permeates the culture of the schools today.
The Summit explored several powerful themes, including: the persecution of queer men, the genocide of the Romani people, collections of wartime diary entries from young people, the reclaiming of agency by women, and the power of art as a form of expression and recognition. One of the most compelling aspects was the way speakers wove in individual stories, showing how grounding broad historical concepts in personal narratives makes them more tangible and digestible.
The Summit’s keynote speaker was Newbery Medal–winning author Lois Lowry, best known for Number the Stars, a widely taught book that introduces young readers around the world to the history of World War II. Her talk, which was open to the broader community, drew nearly 400 attendees. It featured powerful storytelling and rich insights into the inspiration that shaped the book.
While the Summit was undeniably heavy and somber, I left with a deep sense of optimism and gratitude for our Tennessee educators who remain committed to preserving Holocaust memory and ensuring it continues to resonate with future generations.
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