Jewish parents -- how and at what age did your kids learn about the Holocaust?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Holocaust Museum recommends a minimum age of 10 to visit. That seems reasonable to me.

my oldest is 9, in 3rd grade, and we'll start broaching the subject next year at the earliest. my kids go to a school with a social activist bent and they have been reading a lot about the civil rights movement. but the holocaust is a whole different ball of wax and it can really affect how you view yourself, as a Jew, and the history of our people. we are further away from the holocaust than when i was growing up (my grandparents were first generation Americans and three of them fought in WWII), so it may not smart as much, but it really changed me and felt like a huge burden to carry around.

How were you told about the holocaust as a child?

honestly, i cannot remember. we did have survivors and an American soldier who liberated a camp come and talk to my Hebrew school class, but again i cannot remember what age.

I suspect that a generation or two ago, the holocaust was one of those topics that was part of the family and broader culture conversation -- and that there was no issue of how to first introduce it to children.

Absolutely. I can't remember not knowing. It was part of the fabric of our lives even if we were not religious--I was aware of how lucky our family was to be out of Europe by the early 1920s. By 4th grade, I had certainly read Judy Blume's Starring Sally J. Freedman As Herself.

However we were cowards and let DS learn about it at Hebrew School...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably at three.

Me: he looks like a nazi with his shaved head
Kid: what's a Nazi?
Me: someone who hates Jews and black people and wants to kill them all
Them: why?
Me: because they're sick in the head and filled with hate in their heart

Great job teaching your child to make snap judgements about people based on appearance. Super parenting.

[Anonymous]

Very young. We have a holiday commemorating the Shoah every year. So, in that context it’s not that difficult to say many years ago there were some bad people who hurt people in our family and in our community, so every year we take a day to remember them. And each year, add more content and wait for questions.

[Anonymous]

I am not a Jewish parent. I don’t mean any disrespect but non-Jews also have a difficult time approaching this topic with children. Maybe for different reasons but not really - it’s horrifying on every possible level. No my family was not murdered (that I know of) but every human being was and is impacted by the holocaust.
My kids began learning about it in school so we went to the museum for the children’s program (David’s house or Daniels house? I don’t remember, it was a long time ago) - I felt like my kids lost their innocence. Please don’t think the Holocaust is not upsetting to non Jewish children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not a Jewish parent. I don’t mean any disrespect but non-Jews also have a difficult time approaching this topic with children. Maybe for different reasons but not really - it’s horrifying on every possible level. No my family was not murdered (that I know of) but every human being was and is impacted by the holocaust.
My kids began learning about it in school so we went to the museum for the children’s program (David’s house or Daniels house? I don’t remember, it was a long time ago) - I felt like my kids lost their innocence. Please don’t think the Holocaust is not upsetting to non Jewish children.

Nobody is saying that. I would hope that the Holocaust is difficult for all people, no matter the religion or ethnicity.

Speaking as a Jew, the fact that we have been persecuted for literally a couple of thousand years, the fact that our families were driven out of their countries of birth due to pogroms or were murdered in the Holocaust is a massive burden. Being Jewish is our lineage, our collective history. To learn that we, as a nation of people, have been persecuted for so long makes it very difficult for many Jews to feel proud and safe in our own heritage. The question “why the hell are we so despised” is always present. I have only come to feel more comfortable and more vocal about being Jewish in my 40s.

I won’t pretend to know how it feels to be a non Jew learning about the Holocaust, because I have zero clue. But I do know how it feels to know that my relatives died in Auschwitz, just by virtue of being Jewish.

I hope you take this as it is offered - a good faith attempt at explaining why this is such a complex issue for Jewish parents. But please know that this is not a zero sum game...just because it is difficult for Jews does not mean that it isn’t difficult for others. It is just...different.

[Anonymous]

I am not Jewish, am a Christian but the topic came up: I was watching a WWII documentary and my children asked me about Jews, Hitler, Nazis, communists and all that.

I explained to them that the Nazis hated the Jews because Jews believe in God and obey his commandments: thou shalt not steal, etc. I told them Nazis hate Jews because Nazis HATE GOD because Nazis are completely evil. There is no other logical reason to hate Jews who are, from my encounters with them, kind, generous, intelligent, educated, and very committed to improving themselves to be top notch individuals. Many people hate Jews out of jealousy. Jews work very hard, are deeply committed to the education of their children, and although not perfect (like everyone) strive to be the best in all that they do. Of course there are "bad eggs" but in general, they are all around good folks. I wish there were more of them and hope they do not all immigrate to Israel.

Next, I explained to my children that people who are not as industrious and diligent as the Jew, rather than work hard themselves, choose to hate instead. I told my kids, "That is evil and lazy, and you are never to do such a thing. There are few things that make me more angry than to hate somebody because you refuse to make the effort to be successful yourself. You don't like it that so many Jews are doctors? Then study hard and go to medical school and become a doctor! Don't sit there and hate them. There is nothing stopping you from succeeding as they have, nothing! You do not like it that so many are lawyers? Then shut up and go to law school."

The Nazis next plan was to kill all the Christians once they won their war but luckily, that did not happen. Although Hitler wanted to, and he imprisoned many evangelical Christians (as did the communists), there were too many people who identified as Christian to kill them all because it would severely damage the German economy, and there would be less soldiers to fight in the war.
Stalin did not care about this and killed all that he could which nearly caused their defeat when Germany invaded. Stalin actually passed a law making it illegal for parents to teach their religion to their children. Many parents disobeyed, as I would have done, and they lost their lives because of it. God is the final authority, not the communist party, nor any government on earth.

Note: what follows below is what Christians believe about Muslims. I do not hate Muslims, I just think they are wrong. I have Muslim friends and coworkers and they are honorable people. Naturally, we do not discuss religion as there is no point: the Muslim would be shamed, cut off from the family, or even put to death if they converted away from Islam so very few will do so. I am posting below my opinion on Muslims. It is not out of hate but from observation. This is a TRIGGER WARNING ---do not read if you are Muslim and are likely to be offended by an anti-Muslim opinion. Go to your safe space. Now.

I then explained to my children that Muslims hate Jews just as much or even more than the Nazis because their god, Allah, is not God but an ancient idol of the moon god:

http://www.letusreason.org/Islam6.htm
http://www.billionbibles.org/sharia/allah-moon-god.html

Even today, Muslims declare, in the name of their god Allah, their intent to "wipe Israel off the face of the Earth". This is not the God Christians worship, it is none other than Satan who was a murderer from the beginning.

Then I went on and explained that the Crusades was a failed attempt to fight back against the Muslims who were on a murdering rampage throughout the recently fallen Roman empire.

So that was their little history lesson for the day. Again: I do not hate Muslims, do not discriminate against them, and treat them all with respect and dignity, However, I think they are completely wrong and can be called the "Cult of Mohammad".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not Jewish, am a Christian but the topic came up: I was watching a WWII documentary and my children asked me about Jews, Hitler, Nazis, communists and all that.

I explained to them that the Nazis hated the Jews because Jews believe in God and obey his commandments: thou shalt not steal, etc. I told them Nazis hate Jews because Nazis HATE GOD because Nazis are completely evil. There is no other logical reason to hate Jews who are, from my encounters with them, kind, generous, intelligent, educated, and very committed to improving themselves to be top notch individuals. Many people hate Jews out of jealousy. Jews work very hard, are deeply committed to the education of their children, and although not perfect (like everyone) strive to be the best in all that they do. Of course there are "bad eggs" but in general, they are all around good folks. I wish there were more of them and hope they do not all immigrate to Israel.

Next, I explained to my children that people who are not as industrious and diligent as the Jew, rather than work hard themselves, choose to hate instead. I told my kids, "That is evil and lazy, and you are never to do such a thing. There are few things that make me more angry than to hate somebody because you refuse to make the effort to be successful yourself. You don't like it that so many Jews are doctors? Then study hard and go to medical school and become a doctor! Don't sit there and hate them. There is nothing stopping you from succeeding as they have, nothing! You do not like it that so many are lawyers? Then shut up and go to law school."

The Nazis next plan was to kill all the Christians once they won their war but luckily, that did not happen. Although Hitler wanted to, and he imprisoned many evangelical Christians (as did the communists), there were too many people who identified as Christian to kill them all because it would severely damage the German economy, and there would be less soldiers to fight in the war.
Stalin did not care about this and killed all that he could which nearly caused their defeat when Germany invaded. Stalin actually passed a law making it illegal for parents to teach their religion to their children. Many parents disobeyed, as I would have done, and they lost their lives because of it. God is the final authority, not the communist party, nor any government on earth.

Note: what follows below is what Christians believe about Muslims. I do not hate Muslims, I just think they are wrong. I have Muslim friends and coworkers and they are honorable people. Naturally, we do not discuss religion as there is no point: the Muslim would be shamed, cut off from the family, or even put to death if they converted away from Islam so very few will do so. I am posting below my opinion on Muslims. It is not out of hate but from observation. This is a TRIGGER WARNING ---do not read if you are Muslim and are likely to be offended by an anti-Muslim opinion. Go to your safe space. Now.

I then explained to my children that Muslims hate Jews just as much or even more than the Nazis because their god, Allah, is not God but an ancient idol of the moon god:

http://www.letusreason.org/Islam6.htm
http://www.billionbibles.org/sharia/allah-moon-god.html

Even today, Muslims declare, in the name of their god Allah, their intent to "wipe Israel off the face of the Earth". This is not the God Christians worship, it is none other than Satan who was a murderer from the beginning.

Then I went on and explained that the Crusades was a failed attempt to fight back against the Muslims who were on a murdering rampage throughout the recently fallen Roman empire.

So that was their little history lesson for the day. Again: I do not hate Muslims, do not discriminate against them, and treat them all with respect and dignity, However, I think they are completely wrong and can be called the "Cult of Mohammad".

Please don't hijack this thread with your woo-woo

[Anonymous]

There are so many books and movies available now. My 8 and 10 year olds are Latinos (with brown skin- no one would mistake them for being white) and we make it a point to talk about discrimination.

They have both seen so many kids movies about WW2 like
Belle and Sebastion (on prime video)
The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas
Paper Clips (documentary about a class collecting millions of paper clips to represent victims of Holocaust)
Bedknobs and Broomsticks


And I am reading aloud The Inquisitor's Tale (a story set in middle ages about a Muslim Boy, a Jewish Boy (whose relatives are killed because they are Jewish) and a Christian girl - it was a Newberry Award Honor book.

My son also read a book by Alan Gratz called Prisoner that is about the Jewish Ghetto's and the Holocaust without being too graphic. My son is about to start reading another book by Alan Gratz that is about WW2 and the Nazi's.

And I read aloud Number the Stars

Start reading books aloud, watching movies, and discussing. It is so important that every child learns about the Holocaust.

[Anonymous]

I'm not Jewish, but I started reading about the Holocaust, especially 1st person accounts, when I was around age 8. I checked out every book in the library that I could find, plus my mother had a copy of The Hiding Place, which I read over and over. I cried many, many times over these books, over the pictures, and just over the? pure evil that would cause this to even be able to happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Probably at three.

Me: he looks like a nazi with his shaved head
Kid: what's a Nazi?
Me: someone who hates Jews and black people and wants to kill them all
Them: why?
Me: because they're sick in the head and filled with hate in their heart

Now your child is going to assume that every man that they see with a shaved head is a Nazi. You are teaching your child to discriminate against people base on their appearance alone. Supposed the person has cancer, AIDS, or some other type of illness? Or suppose the dude just want to rock a bald head?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not Jewish, am a Christian but the topic came up: I was watching a WWII documentary and my children asked me about Jews, Hitler, Nazis, communists and all that.

I explained to them that the Nazis hated the Jews because Jews believe in God and obey his commandments: thou shalt not steal, etc. I told them Nazis hate Jews because Nazis HATE GOD because Nazis are completely evil. There is no other logical reason to hate Jews who are, from my encounters with them, kind, generous, intelligent, educated, and very committed to improving themselves to be top notch individuals. Many people hate Jews out of jealousy. Jews work very hard, are deeply committed to the education of their children, and although not perfect (like everyone) strive to be the best in all that they do. Of course there are "bad eggs" but in general, they are all around good folks. I wish there were more of them and hope they do not all immigrate to Israel.

Next, I explained to my children that people who are not as industrious and diligent as the Jew, rather than work hard themselves, choose to hate instead. I told my kids, "That is evil and lazy, and you are never to do such a thing. There are few things that make me more angry than to hate somebody because you refuse to make the effort to be successful yourself. You don't like it that so many Jews are doctors? Then study hard and go to medical school and become a doctor! Don't sit there and hate them. There is nothing stopping you from succeeding as they have, nothing! You do not like it that so many are lawyers? Then shut up and go to law school."

The Nazis next plan was to kill all the Christians once they won their war but luckily, that did not happen. Although Hitler wanted to, and he imprisoned many evangelical Christians (as did the communists), there were too many people who identified as Christian to kill them all because it would severely damage the German economy, and there would be less soldiers to fight in the war.
Stalin did not care about this and killed all that he could which nearly caused their defeat when Germany invaded. Stalin actually passed a law making it illegal for parents to teach their religion to their children. Many parents disobeyed, as I would have done, and they lost their lives because of it. God is the final authority, not the communist party, nor any government on earth.

Note: what follows below is what Christians believe about Muslims. I do not hate Muslims, I just think they are wrong. I have Muslim friends and coworkers and they are honorable people. Naturally, we do not discuss religion as there is no point: the Muslim would be shamed, cut off from the family, or even put to death if they converted away from Islam so very few will do so. I am posting below my opinion on Muslims. It is not out of hate but from observation. This is a TRIGGER WARNING ---do not read if you are Muslim and are likely to be offended by an anti-Muslim opinion. Go to your safe space. Now.

I then explained to my children that Muslims hate Jews just as much or even more than the Nazis because their god, Allah, is not God but an ancient idol of the moon god:

http://www.letusreason.org/Islam6.htm
http://www.billionbibles.org/sharia/allah-moon-god.html

Even today, Muslims declare, in the name of their god Allah, their intent to "wipe Israel off the face of the Earth". This is not the God Christians worship, it is none other than Satan who was a murderer from the beginning.

Then I went on and explained that the Crusades was a failed attempt to fight back against the Muslims who were on a murdering rampage throughout the recently fallen Roman empire.

So that was their little history lesson for the day. Again: I do not hate Muslims, do not discriminate against them, and treat them all with respect and dignity, However, I think they are completely wrong and can be called the "Cult of Mohammad".

As a Jew, I might recommend you do a lot more reading about Nazis, Jews, the history of European anti-Semitism, and (in particular) Islam before you repeat any of this to your children again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not Jewish, am a Christian but the topic came up: I was watching a WWII documentary and my children asked me about Jews, Hitler, Nazis, communists and all that.

I explained to them that the Nazis hated the Jews because Jews believe in God and obey his commandments: thou shalt not steal, etc. I told them Nazis hate Jews because Nazis HATE GOD because Nazis are completely evil. There is no other logical reason to hate Jews who are, from my encounters with them, kind, generous, intelligent, educated, and very committed to improving themselves to be top notch individuals. Many people hate Jews out of jealousy. Jews work very hard, are deeply committed to the education of their children, and although not perfect (like everyone) strive to be the best in all that they do. Of course there are "bad eggs" but in general, they are all around good folks. I wish there were more of them and hope they do not all immigrate to Israel.

Next, I explained to my children that people who are not as industrious and diligent as the Jew, rather than work hard themselves, choose to hate instead. I told my kids, "That is evil and lazy, and you are never to do such a thing. There are few things that make me more angry than to hate somebody because you refuse to make the effort to be successful yourself. You don't like it that so many Jews are doctors? Then study hard and go to medical school and become a doctor! Don't sit there and hate them. There is nothing stopping you from succeeding as they have, nothing! You do not like it that so many are lawyers? Then shut up and go to law school."

The Nazis next plan was to kill all the Christians once they won their war but luckily, that did not happen. Although Hitler wanted to, and he imprisoned many evangelical Christians (as did the communists), there were too many people who identified as Christian to kill them all because it would severely damage the German economy, and there would be less soldiers to fight in the war.
Stalin did not care about this and killed all that he could which nearly caused their defeat when Germany invaded. Stalin actually passed a law making it illegal for parents to teach their religion to their children. Many parents disobeyed, as I would have done, and they lost their lives because of it. God is the final authority, not the communist party, nor any government on earth.

Note: what follows below is what Christians believe about Muslims. I do not hate Muslims, I just think they are wrong. I have Muslim friends and coworkers and they are honorable people. Naturally, we do not discuss religion as there is no point: the Muslim would be shamed, cut off from the family, or even put to death if they converted away from Islam so very few will do so. I am posting below my opinion on Muslims. It is not out of hate but from observation. This is a TRIGGER WARNING ---do not read if you are Muslim and are likely to be offended by an anti-Muslim opinion. Go to your safe space. Now.

I then explained to my children that Muslims hate Jews just as much or even more than the Nazis because their god, Allah, is not God but an ancient idol of the moon god:

http://www.letusreason.org/Islam6.htm
http://www.billionbibles.org/sharia/allah-moon-god.html

Even today, Muslims declare, in the name of their god Allah, their intent to "wipe Israel off the face of the Earth". This is not the God Christians worship, it is none other than Satan who was a murderer from the beginning.

Then I went on and explained that the Crusades was a failed attempt to fight back against the Muslims who were on a murdering rampage throughout the recently fallen Roman empire.

So that was their little history lesson for the day. Again: I do not hate Muslims, do not discriminate against them, and treat them all with respect and dignity, However, I think they are completely wrong and can be called the "Cult of Mohammad".

As a Jew, I might recommend you do a lot more reading about Nazis, Jews, the history of European anti-Semitism, and (in particular) Islam before you repeat any of this to your children again.

+1 million. There is so much stereotyping in that post I don't even know where to start.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not Jewish, but I started reading about the Holocaust, especially 1st person accounts, when I was around age 8. I checked out every book in the library that I could find, plus my mother had a copy of The Hiding Place, which I read over and over. I cried many, many times over these books, over the pictures, and just over the? pure evil that would cause this to even be able to happen.

Books is the way to go. Movies can be very graphic. There is always something more in a book.
I think that the Hiding Place is not the best literature out there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably at three.

Me: he looks like a nazi with his shaved head
Kid: what's a Nazi?
Me: someone who hates Jews and black people and wants to kill them all
Them: why?
Me: because they're sick in the head and filled with hate in their heart

OMG, seriously?

Yep. We're pretty blunt about stuff like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably at three.

Me: he looks like a nazi with his shaved head
Kid: what's a Nazi?
Me: someone who hates Jews and black people and wants to kill them all
Them: why?
Me: because they're sick in the head and filled with hate in their heart

Now your child is going to assume that every man that they see with a shaved head is a Nazi. You are teaching your child to discriminate against people base on their appearance alone. Supposed the person has cancer, AIDS, or some other type of illness? Or suppose the dude just want to rock a bald head?

Nope, not everyone with a shaved head looks like a skinhead. My kids understand that. Just like they know people whose hair has fallen out from chemo and they don't think everyone with no hair has cancer. Just like they know my friend Alicia shaved her head when she turned 30 because she wanted to. And she's healthy and non-discriminatory.