Echoes and Reflections Publishes New Online Lesson on Contemporary Antisemitism

Echoes and Reflections, a Holocaust education partnership program of USC Shoah Foundation,  Anti-Defamation League and Yad Vashem, published a new lesson dedicated to teaching students about antisemitism as it exists in the world today.

Since its launch in 2005, Echoes and Reflections has reached more than 30,000 middle and high school educators with professional development programs and a range of print and online resources for the classroom. This new lesson is the first fully digital lesson on the Echoes and Reflections website.

“Contemporary Antisemitism” provides an opportunity for students to understand that anti-Semitism did not end after the Holocaust. Students will learn about the persistence of antisemitism worldwide and analyze the different types of contemporary antisemitism that are present in society today. In addition, students will be introduced to individuals who refuse to be bystanders to antisemitism as they consider the responsibility of all members of society to respond to and prevent antisemitism and all forms of bigotry.

This three-part lesson has material appropriate for history, social studies, civics, English/language arts, ethics, and religion. Instructional strategies used in this lesson include large-group discussion, reading skills, small-group work, understanding chronology of events, interpreting visual history testimony, analyzing political cartoons, maps, and data, critical thinking, and journaling.

The lesson includes four clips of testimony from the Visual History Archive in which Holocaust survivors describe the antisemitism they were subjected to before and during World War II. The survivors also implore students to speak up when they see prejudice and hatred.

After completing the lesson, students will be able to define contemporary antisemitism, identify levels of antisemitic attitudes and examples of antisemitic acts around the world, and identify ways to actively respond to and prevent antisemitism and other forms of prejudice.

Join @USCIWitness on Twitter for an #IWitnessChat on Wednesday, September 14, 4pm PST/7pm EST, hosted by Echoes and Reflections. The discussion will be focused on the Contemporary Antisemitism lesson and how to incorporate it into your classroom.