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2009-10-05
Teacher seminar on anti-Semitism and other forms of discrimination

Since 2005, the Vilnius Yiddish Institute has participated in a project initiated by the OSCE / ODIHR. The project aimed to create teaching tools on anti-Semitism.  A Module of teaching materials was created by the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam in cooperation with international experts. Each country project partner who participated in the creation of the module later made an adaptation of the materials to its national context and needs. The VYI curates the Lithuanian version of the materials. The official launch of the Lithuanian version of the materials took place in June 2009 at the Lithuanian Ministry of Education and Science. The presentation was hosted by the Minister and attended by the ODIHR Director, Ambassador Janez Lenarcic.

On September 24 and 25 the two day teacher training seminar was organized by the VYI in the frames of the project. The aim of the seminar was to introduce the teaching tools to the teachers. The seminar venue was the Regional History Museum of Raseiniai. Twenty-five teachers and educators from Raseiniai and its surrounding area participated in the seminar. This vital and intensive seminar program offered participants the opportunity to learn more about the topic of “Anti-Semitism” through the workshops, lectures and documentary films.

Program highlights included, workshops led by international expert, Mr. Vitalii Bobrov, an educator from the Ukrainian Center of the Holocaust Studies in Kyiv. Lectures given by Dr. Egle Bendikaite on stereotypes of the Jews most encountered in the studies of Lithuanian Jewish history. And seminar organizer and curator, the VYI Assistant director, Ms. Ruta Puisyte introduced the documentary film “Surviving History”.

A second teacher seminar will be organized in November. It will take place in Joniskis.

The seminar participants gladly shared their feedback with the seminar organizer. These comments are shared below:

"The seminar helped me to understand how I have to construct my own behavior. I understand that I need to think first before judging, and this is the way I sometimes used to behave.  I wish these kind of seminars could be organized for the school principals. We (and they) could gain new points  of view through learning new methodologies." "The project idea is so beautifuland its topic is so relevant to our society. If someone lives in fear of others, he/she suffers. We need to find strength within ourselves in order to break this barrier. We have to make progress. I am happy for our teachers and grateful to the seminar organizers."

In the photos: Work in groups; Dr. Egle Bendikaite and Mr. Vitalii Bobrov.