Jewish Federation debuts mobile Holocaust museum
SDJW staff report
The Jewish Federation of San Diego this week premiered its Sparks Interactive mobile Holocaust museum to the students, faculty and staff of Canyon Hills High School in the Tierrasanta neighborhood of San Diego.
Nearly 200 high school students were ushered through the mobile exhibit that documents the Holocaust with photos, videos, written materials, and live lectures.
The idea behind the mobile exhibit is that is far more convenient and less cumbersome for students to learn about the Holocaust at their home schools rather than schlepping across town to a permanent exhibit hall.
“The power of Spark Interactive is seeing what happens when we give students the chance to step inside the history they’re learning about, engage with the exhibits, ask questions and make connections to the world around them,” said Darren Schwartz, founding director of Legacy of Light Goldberg Institute for Holocaust Education.
“We want to spark curiosity and give students the tools to think critically about the past and understand its relevance today. We’re not telling them what to think — we’re giving them the opportunity to form their own understanding and consider the role they can play in shaping a more just and informed society.”
“As an educator, this is really exciting for us because we’re always looking for new and novel ways to bring history to life for our students,” said Dr. Michel Cazary, Area B Superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District.
“What Spark offers our students is an immersive experience and Holocaust education, but also a recommitment to democracy and our civic values, so this experience really aligns with the vision of our whole district and really what we want for our students.”
“There’s real value in giving students opportunities to step beyond a textbook and engage with history in a more personal and immersive way, and Spark Interactive brought that to life for our students,” said Dr. Erica Renfree, principal of Canyon Hills High School.
“Having Spark at Canyon Hills gave our students and teachers a new tool for exploring a complex subject and created opportunities for conversations that can continue well beyond the visit. We’re grateful our students were among the first to experience Spark in a school setting.”
Besides the San Diego Unified School District, arrangements so far have been made to visit the middle schools and high schools of San Dieguito Union High School District, Poway Unified School District, Carlsbad Unified School District and Sweetwater Union High School District.
“Goldberg” in the interactive program’s title refers to the family of philanthropist Lee Goldberg, who states on the Legacy of Light website provided by the Goldberg Institute for Holocaust Education: ““I experienced painful antisemitism as a young girl growing up in the aftermath of World War II. At the same time, I saw how survivors’ stories were woven into the fabric of Jewish life. Those memories serve as powerful reminders of the importance of Holocaust education, especially in light of all that’s happening today. Only by learning from the past can we inform the present and the future.”
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Preceding based on press materials provided by the ‘Goldberg Institute for Holocaust Education.”