Virtual: “Yitskhok Rudashevski: A Teenager’s Account of Life and Death in the Vilna Ghetto” 

For Educators in Grades 8-12

Before the mass murder of the Jews of Europe, each victim was a real person. They had hopes, dreams, and vibrant lives. One such person was Yitskhok Rudashevski, a teenager in Vilna with a talent for writing and a passion for politics and Jewish cultural life. Rudashevski was tragically murdered in the killing pits of Ponar in 1943 but left behind a diary that chronicles his own and his community’s experiences of life in the Ghetto. The YIVO Bruce and Francesca Cernia Slovin Online Museum created an online exhibition on Rudashevski’s life, which includes animations, graphic novels, video dramatizations, and a host of other interactive features, combining innovative technology with engaging storytelling to bring Yitskhok’s tragic journey to life. Through the exhibition we gain insights into cultural resistance, moral dilemmas, daily life in the Vilna Ghetto, and the fierce passion of this young boy in the face of dire adversity. Educators will be guided by the Chief Curator of the exhibition, Karolina Ziulkoski, into how to use this resource in the classroom for high school students. 

Workshop includes:

• Classroom Resources
• 1.5 Clock Hours