Workshop: Resistance, Memory Politics and the Presence of War

May 10-12, 2023

The third meeting of the MuRem-Network took place in Warsaw from May 10th to May 12th, 2023. It provided a vital platform for Holocaust educators, researchers, and participants from across Europe to engage in substantive discussions and explorations. By focusing on multiperspectivity within the context of the 80th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and the ongoing war in Ukraine, participants gained fresh perspectives on the Holocaust, deepened their understanding of the remembrance of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, and examined the influence of the war in Ukraine on Holocaust education. The workshop facilitated fruitful exchanges and collaborations between the network partners. To facilitate this, individual projects were presented and discussed.

Day 1: May 10th The workshop began with an introduction to the MuRem-Network and its objectives. Local experts from prestigious institutions such as the POLIN Museum and Warsaw Ghetto Museum presented their projects in the context of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, setting the stage for subsequent discussions.

Day 2: May 11th The focus of this day was to explore and examine various perspectives. Participants embarked on a visit to the exhibition “Around Us a Sea of Fire: The Fate of Jewish Civilians During the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising” at the POLIN Museum. Engaging in a Q&A session with the curator and participating in a discussion with the members of the education department, attendees gained valuable insights into the conception of the exhibit, as well as the challenges and approaches of the educational program associated with the exhibition. Additionally, European perspectives and experiences relating to resistance, memory politics, and the impact of the war in Ukraine were presented and discussed. The afternoon was dedicated to presentations by network partners (for details, see “Program Warsaw” below). The overall aim was to gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges, methodologies, and concepts employed by educators in the field of contemporary Holocaust education.

Day 3: May 12th The final day featured a visit to the exhibition “What we’ve been unable to shout out to the world” at the Emanuel Ringelblum Jewish Historical Institute. A guided tour followed by a Q&A session allowed the group to delve into the exhibition’s concepts, educational approaches, as well as the challenges and ethical considerations in handling the archive and its materials. The workshop concluded with a final round of discussions, feedback, and an outlook for future collaboration.

 

 

 

 

 

Workshop Warsaw, exhibit at the Polin museum. © Minor

Workshop Warsaw, visit at the Jewish Historical Institute © Minor

Workshop Warsaw, presentation © Minor

Workshop Warsaw. © Minor