Facing History and Ourselves The Jews of Poland

Annotation

Facing History and Ourselves: The Jews of Poland considers the ways Jews and their non-Jewish neighbors in Poland and other parts of Eastern Europe responded to questions of identity, membership, and difference at various times in their shared history. Students explore this history by reading autobiographies, diaries, official documents, literary works, and other sources. Each helps them "draw conclusions from what we see to what we do not see" and "recognize themselves in the past, on the steps to the present." Like other Facing History publications, The Jews of Poland is intended to be used as a resource book. It provides a meaningful but flexible structure for examining complex events and ideas. Teachers are encouraged to select the readings that are most appropriate for their students and match the objectives of their curriculum. They are also encouraged to choose the questions and activities that further those objectives from a section entitled "Connections." It appears at the end of every reading and contains suggestions for class discussions, writing assignments, and research projects. Many of the questions encourage students to investigate key concepts and issues, prompt perspective taking, and offer opportunities to explore connections between historical events and their own lives.