On Febraury 7, 2011, Geoffrey Brahmer and Dr. Harold Burszta will be presenting to our classes on the topic of the Lodz Ghetto. Please take a moment and blog your response to their presentations. You may write what you would like, this is a chance for you to express your opinion. This will be a 5 point homework assignment. Please take the time to read what others have posted and react to their comments. Also, be aware that this is a blog and your comments will become public knowledge.
Thank you,
Mr. McCarthy
Good Morning,
ReplyDeleteI need to post a slight correction. The full name of our second speaker is Dr. Harold Bursztajn. I would like to apologize for shortening his name in my first posting.
Mr. McCarthy
One point that Dr. Bursztajn made particularly stayed with me after today’s presentation: that we all have the potential for hatred and evil. I don’t think that this is something high school students, or even people in general, consider. We all are capable of hatred, not just the Nazis. We may not act upon our hatred by committing mass genocide, but that does not mean that the hatred is not there. This unfortunately brings up a difficult question to answer: is it okay to have hatred as long as we do not express that hatred in a hurtful way? I think that the answer is yes; it is okay to have that hatred. After all, we can’t help it if we really don’t like something, whether it is a particular food, a TV show, or even another person. However, we do have control of our own actions. By choosing not to act upon that hatred, we make the right decision. I’m sure the Jews living in Lodz Ghetto extremely hated the Nazis. However, unlike the Nazis themselves, these Jews did not go around killing members of the Nazis party. They exhibited self control and did not allow their hatred to control them, something we can all learn from.
ReplyDeleteTwo people can change the future, and they were Dr. Bursztajn’s parent. I’m pretty sure none of us would have gotten to hear today’s story if they had not survived the ghetto. It definitely shows how much more we need to keep these stories as long as possible. The way that his parents survived through all the torture and starvation is absolutely amazing. These voices need to be heard and the journals/diaries of these Jews are something to cherish. I just find pictures and words to tell the story itself. It is very hard to believe when looking at the pictures, but all this stuff actually happened. Each and every picture has a meaning. They all show the hard times every Jew had to go through. I remember the unknown girl saying that will people in the future find out about Lodz. If the unknown girl didn’t write anything down, we wouldn’t find anything. We wouldn’t find out about anything if she didn’t take the time to write it. For me, I see stories as an inspiration because they are from the heart and everybody should find out about it.
ReplyDeleteI found this presentation to be a very eyeopening, moving and impressive one. Obviously the events that occured during the Holocaust were atrocious but to actually have two speakers come in and show us rather than tell us really made the presentation worthwhile. I was moved by the emotion that Dr. Harold Bursztajn had as he presented his life story. I became choked up when he said that he would not be here today if his father hadn't saved his mother from the train, if they hadn't been fecalists, if they hadn't built the bunker and if his mother hadnt't risked her life to see if the Russians were there to save them. It seems like, given the circumstances, the stars were aligned for Dr. Bursztajn's family. I also became emotional when Dr. Bursztajn showed us the picture of his mother and father holding the gravestone that they were finally able to give to his grandfather who gave all of his food rations to his daughter so she could survive. The love that his family had for each other was touching and moving and showed that even when they were oppresed, Jewish people believed in love and family.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately today I missed the first conference of Geoffrey Brahmer because I wasn't aware of the plans anyway I found the second presentation amazing and not just a normal story told by a book or a movie that can be very moving but not this real. Dr. Harold Bursztajn is a witness of the Holocaust thanks to his parents. Obviously the images made everything much more moving. The fact that most impressed me is their proud and their willing to be remembered and to show everybody what was happening to them. I didn't expect that in that situation created by the Nazy to dehumanize the jews people, they kept helping each other and thinking like a group and not just for themselves. I think this is a little win of the jewish people.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the book very impressive were also the images of the characters we read about also if we know the book is an historical fiction.
At last I have to say that in all my years of school I have studied a lot and made a lot of experiences about the Holocaust but this one is probably the most touching.
When looking back at both Mr. Brahmer’s and Dr. Bursztajn’s moving presentations, I am particularly struck by the goodness that can remain in people, even during such trying times as the Holocaust. It was amazing to learn that Dr.Bursztajn’s father gave up his chance to become a policeman, a position that would have secured some safety; instead, he chose to be a fecalist, a demeaning task that exposed its workers to disease and death, simply because he’d rather work with waste than treat others poorly. The sheer goodness of Dr.Bursztajn’s father was enlightening, for in many accounts from the Holocaust, people seem to transform under conditions of starvation and torture- they become embittered, selfish versions of their regular selves. However, his father was able to remain kind and selfless and he never allowed the tragedy of his life situation to overcome him. The account of Dr.Bursztajn’s father was not only remarkable, but gave me hope in evaluating the goodness and the potential of the human race.
ReplyDeleteObviously, the Holocaust is an amazing example of what the human body is capable of. I think Dr. Bursztajn provided us with two great examples of humans persevering by sharing the story of his parent's lives with us. I think a big theme in today's speech was the fact that people want to be remembered. This really struck a chord with me because I feel like it is so true. We read diaries of people in the Lodz ghetto who not only wanted to tell the true story of what happened, but also wished to be immortalized through their words. When Dr. Bursztajn told us about the first thing his parents did after they were liberated, it continued the idea that people can live after death if they are somehow immortalized, whether it be through journals or a grave stone, like the one Dr. Bursztajn's parents erected in honor of his grandfather. I really enjoyed the speakers today, and I thought they both raised points that really made me think about how lucky I am to live the life that I do.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed hearing the presentations that Mr Brahmer and Dr. Bursztajn gave. One thing that stood out to me especially was the life within the ghetto. As we learn more and more about the holocaust, it begins to become a bit redundant in regards to the ideas of death and survival. I am not trying to say that these are not very significant and interesting aspects of this time period, as they contribute a great amount to the information accessible to us today, but it was nice to learn a little about what we would consider to be everyday life events within in the Lodz ghetto. I suppose that in a sense, I began to take on a mindset similar to that of someone in the ghetto; I did not focus on anything except the increasing deaths and the Nazi rule, when there were still various other things taking place. Although the idea of a school system only was in place for about two years, as Mr. Brahmer mentioned, I believe this to be an important factor for children. One woman who attended school in the ghetto commented on how it was an escape for her, a place of safety. When she was there, she had an opportunity to gain knowledge and realize that there is life beyond the ghetto. I think this was important for the children who had not been exposed to the world as many adults had been. School and education, even a little, allowed the children to gain hope, a determining factor between life and death at times.
ReplyDeleteThis in my opinion was a breath of fresh air from the negativeity which is a common topic in our class curriculum. Because we hear so much about death and loss, I feel like we rarely see that people did in fact survive, and went on to live prosperous lives. It is truly remarkable, since they all went through such a traumatic experience. The presentation that Dr. Bursztajn and Mr. Brahmer put on for us was a very realistic and authentic, especially since one of them had a parent who endured, and needless to say survived, the atrocities of the Lodz Ghetto. This presentation also gave voice to those who would have otherwise been unknown, such as the Unknown Boy and Girl. It was constructed in such a way, that it tied into our course beautifully, and I will remember this original recognition for a very long time I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteI thought both presentations were absolutely amazing. Both speakers showed real passion and understanding for the subject. I thought that Geoffrey Brahmer's part of the presentation was very informative and showed different aspects of the lodz ghetto that were not mentioned in the book. The most powerful part of his presentation for me was that he did not just present information he showed us stories and reactions for people who were in the Ghetto. For some reason the fact that we saw pictures and dairies of what people thought about the ghetto made everything real for me. When I read the thrown of straw it was a powerful and moving story but it was not real for me. Hearing these peoples stories from the ghetto moved me and made me understand the true suffering they went through. Dr. Harold Bursztajn's presentation also moved me to tears. You could tell even though the Holocaust was over how it can still effect peoples lives and how even now people still suffer. At one point in his presentation he seemed to have this moment of realization when he said " if they had died I would not be here". That made me think about all the people that are not here today and how those people could have changed the world for the better but now they will never get the chance. The way his parents survived the ghetto was incredible. I cannot believe how resourceful they were and how clever. I do not think that if I was in the same position I would had been able to think like that. I also thought it was so brave when his mother was the one to leave their bunker first to check to see if they were truly being liberated. I am so glad I had the chance to hear these two speakers. They opened my eyes to the real pain and suffering but also they showed me that people did not give up even in the face of true evil.
ReplyDeleteI was taken by surprise at how much information the materials we have been working with failed to convey about the Holocaust. I know that we have been reading about the Holocaust, and I thought I had a fairly accurate idea of how bad it had been. I was wrong. The books we have been reading, and the movies we have been watching, while informative, do not carry the same weight, or convey the same emotions, as a live speaker. Dr. Burszta did not even live in the Lodz ghetto, and it was hard for him to speak about it; this is solely through his parents conveying to him after it happened just how horrible it had been to have lived in the Lodz ghetto. Something that can affect a generation that did not experience it, and on such an enormous level, is something that should be recognized as either a great achievement, such as the lightbulb, or as a great disaster. The Holocaust falls into the latter category.
ReplyDeleteI found this presentation to be a bit moving. It's one thing to learn the facts of the Holocaust and another to actually be able to listen to someone that has a personal connection with the Holocaust. In the socratic seminar today I expressed how even though people go through very distinct experiences in life, when you speak to someone or even just listen to someone, you can make a personal connection. When Dr. Bursztajn was speaking, all I kept thinking about was how lucky and privileged I am. Here I am listening to a personal account of the Holocaust and even though the facts of the Holocaust are known, it is very differnt to hear a personal story. It has more of an effect. I really appreciate both speakers taking time out of their busy schedule to come and speak to us. I also found it very amazing how in a time of desperation the Holocaust victims were able to unite and help eachother. They became the family that they needed. They had nobody else to rely on but themselves, and they did the best they could to help eachother out and I find it so amazing and moving. I really enjoyed being able to listen to what the Doctor had to say.
ReplyDeleteAside from the moving content expressed by the speakers, I thought that the way the two presenters worked together really created an incredible, well-rounded presentation. Geoffrey Brahmer’s investment and will to educate and prevent horrific genocides in the future was so clearly expressed and convincing. Rather than just dictate statistics, he made the audience feel as if each one of us can make a difference if we put forth the effort. His words and passion left me greatly impacted. The startling images and facts displayed to us serve as a constant reminder of what each individual has the power to do in the world. His presentation was very factual and touched upon the victims' emotions, while Dr. Harold Bursztajn spoke to us straight from his heart and personal life. With the facts just previously presented to us by Mr.Brahmer fresh in our minds, instead of reading about a story of survivors, we got to hear the thankfulness and hope in Dr. Bursztajn's words. Hearing the emotion behind his stories made it easier to connect and to better understand what victims were forced to endure. It is obviously hard to truly understand what went on and how victims felt, without having experienced anything similar, but we could feel the passion in his words. After reading stories and accounts of survivors during class, hearing this presentation served as a perfect tie from historical facts to real life. I am very thankful to have been able to hear their presentations.
ReplyDeleteSimilar to my fellow students, I really enjoyed Mr. Brahmer and Mr. Bursztajn's insights and thoughts on what happened in the Lodz ghetto during the holocaust. One of my favorite parts of the presentation was when Harold described how his father decided to become a fecalist. I though it was so noble of his father to say to Mr. Rumkowski that he "would rather work with shit than have to treat people like shit." That response was so noble and fearless it really made me think that if there were only more men and women like Harold's father then the people of Lodz and consequently, the world, would be much better off. His father's and mother's courage is extremely inspiring and hopefully that along with their kindness made an impact on everyone who has heard Harold's story. Again, I agree with everyone else that we can learn many things from people who have endured extreme hardship and how they dealt with their struggles and pain. I am thankful that we were all given the opportunity to hear his story and the important lessons of humility and kindness that it teaches us to have.
ReplyDeleteI thank all of you who have commented on this blog, as well as all who attended the class yesterday; it was our pleasure to speak with you and to also learn from you. Clearly, you are amazing people with much potential to make a great difference in the lives of others, both those you know now, as well as people that you will meet in the future.
ReplyDeleteAs I continue to research the holocaust (and other genocides), I now know that the murdered victims, as well as the fortunate survivors like the Bursztajns, want their faces seen, their words listened to, and their stories told. When we learn about their lives, we participate, in a strange way, in their jouneys. We begin to walk with them, and they with us. This is a process of empathy, compassion and humility.
The holocaust teaches us what we can become as human beings....and as nations: the good, the bad, the beautiful and the ugly. It teaches us that we all have the potential to do good or to do harm.....and that we can all be perpetrators, bystanders, victims, or as courageous rescuers/advocates for those who are suffering or in dire need. When we learn about and reflect upon the holocaust, we should envision that we are all part of a journey: the journey of humanity! The question is: What kind of human beings do we want to be? And what kind of humanity do we want to help make/create and struggle for? In addition, we also all have roles in this journey. That is, our own choices have the power to affect, shape and transform the lives of other, both in the present and the future.
Dr. Bursztajn discussed the importance of remembrance. Remembrance can be an active participation in the lives of others in the past....which can help our own lives be transformed in the present. Moreover, through our actions now, we are also linked to the generations that will one day follow us. In all cases, the past, present and future, we are all linked as one humanity!
It was truly a pleasure to speak with you and to listen to your comments and reflections. I thank you for your insights and also thank, Mr. McCarthy for helping arrange the opportunity for the presentations well as the post-dialogue.
Finally, your reflections now become part of our future talks. In sharing with us, you are also teaching us to give better presentations in the future. My own conception of our presentation is this: they are not ours; instead, they are a community event and process. The presentations are inspired by the community of the past, informed by the community of the present, and intended for the community of both the present times and the future. Thank you for taking the time to share with us. I will carry your insightful and thoughtful comments with me as I move forward in my own life and work. Take care. Geoffrey Brahmer
Thank you all for engaging, remembering, reflecting and responding and continuing my own education.
ReplyDeleteHarold J. Bursztajn, M.D.
I felt like both of the presentations tied in well together and did a good job of opening my eyes, to things I had not known. I liked how in the first presentation it started off with the history to give background information, and had diaries written by people who were in the Holocaust. I liked how it showed that they still went to school in the ghetto it seemed to make light out of a horrible situation and actually give the kids something to look forward to. In the second presentation I liked how it was a more of a personal account and less formal, I liked how it started off with the play of the doctor and patient and showed how the patient was willing to give up his life at that moment because he knew he was not going to live, and he wanted to be remembered and the doctor would never forget that conversation. What also stood out to me was how when Dr. Harold Bursztajn was describing how his father stood up to Rumkowski and said no when he had been asked to join the kappo , and how he was then given the job of having to clean up poop. In response to having been giving this job he said to Rumkowski “I would rather clean up shit then treat people like shit”, and that really stood out to me, because people were actually willing to become kappo and turn on there people, in an effort to save themselves, but it showed a lot of courage and strength and humanity to say no.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the presentations by the two speakers. Both of them told us their information in a way that was very moving and powerful. I really liked how when Mr. Brahmer was giving us information on the Lodz ghetto, he didn't just stand there and list facts. He had pictures and excerpts from people's diaries, people who had actually lived through those times and recorded everything that went on. It really made me think about how this isn't just a story that we read about, this really happened to people and its amazing to think that if they had not written it then there would have been things that happened in the ghetto that we would not have known. And I felt the same way when Dr. Bursztajn was telling us about how his parents met. It's just amazing to think that if his father hadn't told the guard to take his mother off the train, we would not have listened to his presentation yesterday because he would not have existed. I really liked when he said that his father either had the choice to become a police officer and lived a better life than others, or work as a fecalist, a job that only the lowest people got. Despite all the horrible things that were going on around him, he still knew himself what the right thing to do was, and that was to make sure that he would not let himself treat others poorly, like the Nazis were doing. It was great to learn that despite the hardships that people might have to go through, they endure it and can still stay true to themselves.
ReplyDeleteIt was so interesting to be able to make the connection between the play we read and to actually have someone come in and talk about the characters and show us pictures. I think that both speakers worked very well together, Mr. Brahmer was able to give us more the factual information about the Lodz ghetto while Dr. Bursztajn’s presentation was a lot more emotional. One thing that I really enjoyed about the presentation was the fact that showed something positive that came from the Lodz ghetto. The fact that Dr. Bursztajn’s parents were able to stay together and work together to survive the ghetto. If Dr. Bursztajn’s father had not spotted his mother on the train and he had not taken the risk to get her off the train Dr. Harold Bursztajn would not be around today to talk to us. At times of despair people often only think of themselves but Dr. Bursztajn’s parents were able to overcome the selfishness to stay together which in the end lead to their survival. I just found it incredible this chain of events and if one decision was made differently Dr. Bursztajn might have not been here today to share such an amazing story.
ReplyDeleteI thought the presentation was very touching and moving. Mr. Brahmer's presentation informed me of alot of inforamtion i had not known about the ghettos such as the bridges built to create seperation as well as control and order and i also found out that they had to create there own form of currency which was not helpful to them outside the city of Lodz. The second presentor Dr. Brusztajn had a very moving story. I dont think if i were in his parents position would keep a psitive attitude through everything they went through, esp. because they had a very tough job. I also thought it was moving how he said that the first thing that his parents did was put up a memorial for hi grandfather. In my eyes, his parents are somewhat heros to me. Out of everythig in the end they stil helped and helped people during and after and kept positive attitudes as well as had courage and bravery. Both presentations were very good and i enjoyed them.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the speckers.The first specker touched up on things we learned in class and other facts i knew about the Holocaust and added more. I really enjoy knowing the factural parts of history.When Mr. Brahmer read the quoates from the unknowed kids, i felt as if they were faceing me in the classroom and talking to my face. The Unknowed girl mentioned that people in the future will scold her, but i would not. I am fournate to have an education and to leared about what she went thought. Dr. Harold Burszta spech was very emotional to me. Even thought I will never know his mother but i feel very proud of her. She did her best to try to help other people. I am not sure I would do the same thing in her place but i fell like I would do from my prospective in as a person from the future. I thought that Rumkowski would look like a bitter and poor old man but he looked like an grandfater type. I always wondered what he felt like when he was in Lodz ghetto. I appreciate that the speaker came in and talked to use. The two men changed our lives forever. We have something to look back at when we maake majoir and minnor choices that relate to hummanity.
ReplyDeleteGeoffrey Brahmer and Dr. Harold Burszta made a great duo in giving a sincere presentation on the Lodz ghetto. The presentation was a refreshing way of learning about the usual topic of war & genocide. I was able to take in new facts and information, yet I was also touched by Dr. Harold Burszta's speech because of all of the raw emotion that was visible when he spoke about his parents and showed us pictures of them. It was moving to see that even though he was not personally in the ghetto, that he was effected by what had happened to his parents and that he carried on their lives with his own life by presenting their lives to audiences around the globe. I am thankful that I was able to see him speak about Lodz ghetto for he carried a great deal of emotion with him while speaking, and to me that is what makes a great presenter or speaker relatable to teh rest of the audience. Although nothing like this has happened to my relitives, I was still able to connect with him because I could sense his sorrow and all humans can sense sorrow and therefore may feel compassion as a reaction. Both of the speakers complimented eachother very well and they were phenomenal.
ReplyDeleteDr. Harold Bursztajn brought a dimension of humanity to the actions of Jews during the Holocaust. He painted a picture of a people that had a huge will to survive, but a people that stuck to their moral code to the bitter end. He spoke about the sacrifices many men and women made so that others could live; he spoke about the hope and inspiration that one person could bring. In Throne of Straw we saw how a family could be ripped apart by the brutal reality of the Ludz ghetto, but from Dr. Bursztajn we learned that not everyone acted only to save themselves and there were heroes who went as far as to sacrifice themselves so that others could live. Much of his talk was focused on his father and the trials and tribulations that his parents had to go through, but he also often branched out and told stories of other men and women who had equally compelling stories. A doctor sacrificing himself to save a bunker full of people, a general who veered off course to liberate a city of Jews, amazing stories took place everyday. All of the information came together to show us that in a place where famine, disease and death ran rampant there were individuals who brought the community together, and on any given day those individuals could be almost anyone in the ghetto.
ReplyDeleteI felt that this was a very informative and emotional presentation that really added additional meaning to everything we have learned in class thus far. Simply reading Throne of Straw was not enough to grasp the reality of the characters and what went on in the Lodz Ghetto, pictures and excerpts of the characters made the whole thing become that much more real. Something that really stuck out to me from the presentation was the fact that Dr. Bursztajin’s parents did not lose their humanity during that time like many others did and had decided that they would rather be working with shit then treating others like shit. This way of thinking was not something that comes easily when you never know which day will be your last on the earth. I would like to commend Dr. Bursztajn’s parent for doing what they had to in order to survive, because if it wasn’t for them we would not have been able to hear their story. Our generation is the lucky one who is able to hear first hand accountants and it will become our duty to keep what happened alive by remembering. In addition something else that stood out to me was the mini play between Mr. Brahmer and Dr. Bursztajn from which I understood that people want to be remembered and not be forgotten. I feel that by remembering we are able to keep those who passed away alive in our present and future. Geoffrey Brahmer and Dr. Harold Bursztajn’s presentations really went hand in hand and compliment each other well in terms of the information should be presented.
ReplyDeleteI thought that the presentation was amazing. Geoffrey Brahmer and Dr. Harold Bursztajn provided me with information and pictures that I had never seen or heard before. I felt that the pictures in the slide shows were the most powerful because they gave me a face to put with names. Reading "Throne of Straw" I just saw Rumkowski and Biebow as characters rather than real people. It was eye opening and extremely frightening at the same time. It is so hard for any of us to even begin to imagine what the victims of the Holocaust suffered through, but I finally had a different feeling that gave me insight into their feelings. When I first saw Rumkowski surrounded by all of his Kapo, it made me sick to my stomach to watch him just stand there while men smiled around him. I wish I could have had a chance to go back and ask him why he did the things that he did. I have learned the facts about the Holocaust, but with this presentation, I was really able to grasp the emotional turmoil it put people through. Dr. Bursztajn's parents really did live through this disaster and seeing Dr. Bursztajn, their own son right in front of us brought the emotional aspect and understanding of the Holocaust to a whole other level. I am so happy that I was able to experience this presentation for myself, the gratitude I have towards Mr. Brahmer and Dr. Bursztajn is very difficult to put into words. Thank you so much Mr. Brahmer and Dr. Bursztajn for educating us and passing on your own stories to the next generation to be remembered.
ReplyDeleteI regretfully missed the second half of the presentation especially after hearing how moving and touching Dr. Harold Bursztajn's presentation was. However, I did appreciate Mr. Geoffrey Brahmer's delivery of factual information on the Lodz Ghetto accompanied by pictures and diary entries. What I have come to value from the presentation is the true account by real people. The posession of a diary was illegal in the Lodz ghetto yet people like Dawid Sierakowiak risked their lives to tell their stories. Not only did Dawid write his story, but his intellectual ability allowed him to write his account in four different languages, which I believed was brilliant. The stories of the survivors and those who didn't survive should be treasured for years to come. However, in today's time, the survivors have aged but their stories still carry a remarkable message and continue to live on, being passed on to generations to come by the children of the survivors. Emily's post about the effect of a person's existence really have made me wonder. The existence of a person is just like the butterfly effect in which it captures the concept of how living things, and all things that exist as of that moment depends on the conditions. And it really makes one think if one parent had been a different person, we wouldn't be who we are today an time really does make a big difference as Michelle had raised in her post that had Dr. Bursztajn's father had not saved his mother in the time that he had, his presence would not have existed.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate the speakers for coming in and greatly thank them for their time to share their stories, facts and everything in between. I found that it was inspiring, emotional, moving, and a true wake up call that we need to educate ourselves to become aware of what has happened to understand why and how our world functions which will greatly contribute to our generation's future. Nevertheless, the stories will be remember and carried on for generations to come as long as they are being told.
The presentation by Mr. Brahmer and Dr. Bursztajn gave me a much deeper understanding of the factual events and the suffering involved in the Holocaust. I also think that the presentation did a really great job paralleling both the things we talk about about in class and Throne of Straw. I thought that the presentation was extremely moving and inspiring.
ReplyDeleteDr. Bursztajn brought up the point that if his parents hadn't survived, he wouldn't be speaking to us today. This just made me think a lot about the impact of one life; one seemingly inconsequential person has a huge impact on the world. One person can responsible for countless descendants. I also really liked the personal stories that he told, like the fact that he had lots of "cousins" that left Russia.
I think that it was great that Mr. Brahmer used examples and stories from real people in his presentation because it made the stories much more real and personal. Especially because the journal examples that he used were from people approximately our age.
Both of the speakers were exceptionally moving. Before the presentation I could not even fathom what it would be like to live in a ghetto. Listening to Dr. Harold Bursztajn’s story has given me a much better understanding of what it would be like to live and try to survive a ghetto. Listening to a first person account of the holocaust is much more moving than just reading books. The presentation helps us to connect a face to all of the horrible circumstances of the Holocaust. In my opinion, the most moving part of the doctor’s story was when his mother had to climb out of the bunker to see if it was Nazis or Russians. I don’t know what I would do if I were in her place, but I honor the selflessness of Dr. Bursztajn’s mother because I think that sounds like one of the hardest things she ever went through. What would it be like to wonder if you were going to be liberated or shot?
ReplyDeleteI think Mr. Brahmer's and Dr. Bursztajn’s presentation served as a great personification of the themes we have discussed in class. The themes of resistance and remembrance were clearly expressed in the presentation as well as in many of the works of literature and media samples we have used in class. Mr. Brahmer commented on how people from various genocides and the Holocaust in particular just want their story to survive. With every presentation like Mr. Brahmer's and Dr. Bursztajn's, we are helping these stories and people be remembered. The course of missing voices explores how important it is to remember these lost voices, stories, identifications, and people. By paying tribute to these people, continuing presentations like this one, and through education, our generation will be able to continue these people's important memories. I think the presentation was a perfect ending to the war and genocide portion of our class, because it embodied the themes we have thoroughly discussed, while making it more than the endless statistics and anonymous stories we are commonly exposed to. Hearing a presentation by a person who was so intimately affected by the Holocaust helped put it in perspective and demonstrated the striking truth of the quote: "save one life, save the world."
ReplyDeletei liked more the second speaker maybe because he was more connected with the story. I was interested to know about his parent's experience and really touched by it. I can't believe how much people would do to survive for example the work they used to do. Personally I don't think if I'm able to do that.
ReplyDeleteI thought that overall the presentation was very moving and it gave a deeper look into both the facts and the emotions behind the Lodz Ghetto. Both Mr. Brahmer's and Dr. Bursztajn's experiences with different as[ects of the ghetto complimented each other very nicely and gave the audience a better insight into the reality of the situation. What I found to be the most profound part of the presentation was when Dr. Bursztajn said that if it were not for the commander of the liberating forces to disobey orders and walk into the ghetto, he nor his parents would be have survived. It just goes to show how one seemingly small decision can lead to the survival of hundreds of people. Additionally, I thought it was interesting to learn about the impact of education on the ghetto's inhabitants as that aspect of history is not usually depicted.
ReplyDeleteOverall I really enjoyed the presentation both from Dr.Bursztajn and Mr.Brahmer. Both of their personal and emotional connections added simply to prove to us as the audience that they had a huge amount of knowledge on the topic. What I found to be most interesting was the heroic story of Dr.Bursztajn's parents. The fact that they chose to be fecilists was a choice they made that in the end saved their own lives. I was very intrigued by the unknown boy and girl and their story and time spent in the Lodz Ghetto. After hearing the presentations I am fully aware of the conditions in the ghetto and how much perseverance thousands of people had in order to survive.
ReplyDeleteI greatly appreciated having the opportunity to hear Mr. Brahmer's and Dr. Bursztajn's presentations. Both succeeded in making the Holocaust seem more real than any old textbooks or novels or plays that we have read, or any movies that we have seen. Mr. Brahmer ensured that his audience would not think that Nazis were trusting, friendly individuals. He explained things as they were, yielding enough details to depict the realistic depressing atmosphere in which the Jews were held and not to allow our minds to believe there was much hope for escape. For instance, he told us of the huge no man's island surrounding the Lodz Ghetto, as opposed to the potential thought that the Jews could still communicate with the other members of the town. It was interesting to learn that they were completely isolated from the rest of the world even though they were in the middle of a town. Mr. Brahmer's presentation also changed my opinion of Rumkowski. I had taken to sympathize with the poor old man that I encountered in "Throne of Straw," but this real Rumkowski threw feasts and wasted food on those close to him, instead of feeding the starving members of his community. Nonetheless, we dwelled on the good of humanity that survived through the Holocaust as well through Dr. Bursztajn's recounting of his parents' experiences, and through hearing the personal account of Rachel Herschenberg, who risked her life three times to attend to a woman in labor towards the final days of the ghetto. As Tess pointed out, it was heart-warming and a relief to hear of Dr. Bursztajn's father's bold action in refusing to become a Jewish policeman by telling Rumkowski "I'd rather work with sh** than treat people like sh**." Dr. Bursztajn's mother's rescue from the train was another story that raised our hope for humanity. The idea that good still exists in conditions as dire as the ones in the Lodz Ghetto comes to me as both a comfort and a relief. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteBoth presentations Geoffrey Brahmer and Dr. Harold Bursztajn gave made me realize that this horrific event has such an emotional impact on people generations later. When Dr. Bursztajn began to cry, it hit me that he must have cried hundreds of times before while telling this story. Though there was so much horror, torture, and saddness that came from the Lodz ghetto, a light of joy sheds upon the idea that in times of despiration and evil, good can sometimes prevail. So I believe that Bursztajn cried happy tears as well. He has been given the opportunity to tell the story of his parents and allow others to remember and honor those who had gone through unthinkable acts of torture and survival. That is truly something Dr. Bursztajn seems to be grateful for.
ReplyDeleteOne of the themes that we have been discussing in class is the idea of education regarding the Holocaust, and how drawing information from a wide variety of sources can help us to expand our knowledge and perhaps make a more personal connection to the suffering that occurred. I think that Mr. Brahmer and Dr. Bursztajn's presentations exemplified this aspect of our curriculum in a way that really helped me learn about the Holocaust from a new perspective. I loved hearing excerpts from the diaries of people in the concentration camps, as this is a kind of primary source of great value that I have not had much exposure to. Additionally, I think that the photographs brought a sense of realism to both presentations, and many of the pictures, while horrifying or perhaps graphic, were an honest portrayal of what the Jews endured. For example, I had never known much about the fecalists who worked at the concentration camps, but by looking at pictures of barefoot men and women dragging carts of fecal matter through these barren, dirty streets, the concept become much more real and shocking to me. The combination of Mr. Brahmer's more factual and research-based presentation and Dr. Bursztajn's emotional connection to his topic made for a powerful product that was informative without being disconnected. I think that sometimes people act emotional about the Holocaust because they feel obliged to or because they think that they should be deeply affected by this tragedy simply because of the inherent sadness that surrounds any genocide, but Mr. Brahmer and Dr. Bursztajn seemed to go beyond lingering on the depressing aspects of the Holocaust. Instead, they focused on the importance of honoring those who struggled and survived, passing down the stories and experiences of past generations, and on looking at how hope and kindness can persevere even during difficult times. Overall, I found the presentation very effective and moving, and I am grateful that we could have two such dedicated, passionate speakers share their knowledge and stories with us.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the presentation on Monday and I am appreciative that both Mr. Brahmer and Dr. Bursztajn were willing to come to the high school and teach us so much about the Lodz ghetto. It truly was amazing. Mr. Brahmer was able to give us the facts and figures about the ghetto but he also provided a lot of information that I believe most of us had not known prior to the presentation. Personally, I did not know that school and education were such big parts to the ghetto. I was surprised to hear that but also somewhat happy. Despite their being caged like animals, the Jewish people in Lodz were allowed an escape in the form of education and knowledge. That pleased me very much because they were still given a ray of light amongst the despair, even if it was only for a little while.
ReplyDeleteDr. Bursztajn’s presentation was incredible. The fact that his parents survived something so terrible and that as soon as they were freed they focused on others absolutely amazes me. They were open about their story with their family and others, I am sure, and now we are still able to learn about it thanks to Dr. Bursztajn. They must have been amazing people. However, what stood out to me the most from his presentation was the importance of remembering. When something like the Holocaust happens, and I pray to God that nothing similar ever will again, I believe the most important thing is keeping what happened alive. We must never forget what happened during that horrible time in our history, but most importantly, we must not forget those who so brutally had their lives taken away. It is our responsibility to make sure that those poor people will never forgotten. They lived significant lives, had families and people loved them, and in their death they deserve nothing less than our respect and thoughts so their spirits may live on forever. Like Dr. Bursztajn said, as humans, our greatest fear is not death, it is to die and to be forgotten. Thanks to both Mr. Brahmer and Dr. Bursztajn, we can go forward and always remember.
Listening to both Mr. Brahmer and Mr. Bursztajn, I could tell how much they truly wanted to teach us about the subject. With their facts and stories, I felt myself becoming extremely interested in what the had to say, and Dr. Drusztajn's secondhand accounts from his parents truly showed the emotions of someone who would be in the Lodz Ghetto. I could tell even in his retelling of his parents' lives, he felt a strong connection to the Ghetto, as it is part of his family legacy and heritage. Mr. Brahmer's knowledge of the inner-workings of the Ghetto was amazing, and it was clear that he would be able to answer any question put to him. The pictures and diaries he presented gave more in-depth primary sources than I had seen before, and made everything about the Ghetto seem even more real. The presentation was not only extremely moving, but also very informative, and I am glad we had the opportunity to hear what Mr. Brahmer and Dr. Bursztajn had to say.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this presentation. The combination of the factual information presented by Mr. Brahmer and the experiences related by Dr. Bursztajn was very powerful and moving.
ReplyDeleteAs I was listening to Dr. Bursztajn's piece of the presentation, I was struck by how much courage and strength of spirit his parents must have possessed to survive such an ordeal. I came to greatly admire them and I can only hope that I would have behaved as they did were I in their situation. I wish that I could have met them so that I could express how good it is, even for me-a student reading about Lodz decades after the fact, to discover that the Nazis never succeeded in crushing the spirit of the people they were trying so hard to destroy. It is very reassuring to find even just a spark of light and hope among so much darkness and despair.
Thank you Mr. Brahmer for coming to speak with us and thank you Dr. Bursztajn for carrying on your parents' legacy and being a testament to their bravery.
I actually have a question for Dr. Bursztajn...
What did your parents think about Chaim Rumkowski and the way he managed the ghetto and dealt with the Nazis?
It's fine if you don't get a chance to respond; I was just curious.
Thank you!
We have been studying the life in Lodz ghetto, but after this emotionally powerful presentation I will never think of the Holocaust in the same way again. It is so different reading about conditions of Lodz and hearing about it from a child of survivors. The first part of the presentation gave us facts that helped to get a better sense of the conditions and the situations of people forced to live in the ghetto. We had spent some time on this, but these figures, images, and diary entries brought me to a deeper understanding of what happened day-to-day in the ghetto such as the school. And then after the first presentation by Mr. Brahmer, Dr. Bursztain further enriched the facts and figures with his emotionally moving story. Both presentations gave me a new understanding of the Holocaust that could never be achieved through the books we have read in class. Also, I liked how this presentation was made applicable to our generation because both presenters enforced the idea that we all have the ability to be incredibly loving as well as the ability to be hateful. This is a heavy topic, but it is important to learn from these events. Looking toward the future, it is important to remember that we choose how we act towards others and that our actions should be guided by our moral righteousness. I am really thankful for the visit by Mr. Brahmer and Dr. Bursztajn because their words enriched me not only as a student learning about the Holocaust, but also as a person about to enter the world, which comes with it a great amount of responsibility and decision-making. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed the presentation on Monday by Mr. Brahmer and Dr. Bursztajn. The combination of the hard facts and the raw emotion created an environment of absolute truth that really brought the Holocaust to life. They have done the same presentation many times before, so prior to the presentation, I was expecting mere fact and detached story telling, and I'm glad I was wrong. Having to share the story so much, I expected Dr. Bursztajn to be immune to its emotional power, but he was anything but. The story of his parents has been a defining moment for him and it really shows the extent of the effects of the Holocaust. The legacy of horror and despair still continues on. In class, we were discussing whether we thought the memory of the Holocaust would live on into the future and pack the same punch as it does today and did in the past. With stories like Dr. Bursztajn's, it would be hard for it not too. There will always be touching stories, diaries, and photos to remind the world of these atrocities and prevent the same from happening in the future.
ReplyDeleteLastly, I would just like to thank both of the speakers for taking the time to talk to us!
I thought the presentation was very good, it was very balanced in the sense that we got both facts and real life experience. The first speaker, Mr. Brahmer, provided us with so much detail of life in the ghetto. Through excerpts, pictures, and 1st hand accounts, we learned just how much the want to survive lived in each person in the ghetto. Without this background information, much of what was told to us by the second speaker, Dr. Bursztjan, would have been without full understanding. The second presentation was so meaningful, the emotion could be felt by everyone in the room when speaking of the hardships of life in the ghetto. This provided us with the true emotion felt by those affected in nay way by the Holocaust. Between these two speakers, I think I learned alot about life in the ghetto and what iit really means to fight to survive.
ReplyDelete