Holocaust Museum 

This term, Year 11 English and EAL students have commenced units of study in response to The Complete Maus and Night. To support students’ knowledge and understanding of the Holocaust, we visited the newly renovated Jewish Holocaust Museum, examined a range of artefacts and spoke with Holocaust survivors, Szaja Chaskiel OAM and Guta Goldstein.  The students found it an incredibly moving learning and life experience.

Acland Zhang

The Year 11 English excursion to the Holocaust Museum in Melbourne was an enlightening and impactful experience for all of us. As we stepped into the museum, we were given a presentation and an activity looking into the historic artefacts from that time, which gave us a glimpse into the lives of people during the Holocaust.

One of the highlights of our visit was meeting Szaja, an incredible 94-year-old Holocaust survivor. Despite the hardships he faced, Szaja's spirit was uplifting, and he shared stories of courage and resilience that left us inspired.

Listening to Szaja's personal account of survival and hope made history come alive for us. His presence was a living connection to that era, and his determination to share his story touched our hearts. His charisma and charm lit up the room as he recounted his first impression of Australia.

The trip to the Holocaust Museum was a powerful reminder of the importance of cherishing peace and embracing diversity. We will always remember the incredible encounter with Szaja, and these memories will guide us in creating a more compassionate world, as he left us with a final message to "not hate".

Said Ali

What I learned from the experience was the effects and perspectives of the Holocaust, from Szaja's eyes and the facilitator's eyes as well. I gained immense amounts of respect for Szaja after hearing his point of view and the stories he was able to tell. I appreciated the depth he went into with each question. 

A story that stood out to me was when Szaja was explaining how he travelled to Switzerland with the help of the Red Cross, to see his sister who was there. Another piece of information that stood out to me was the fact that he stayed close to his friends that he made at Auschwitz. A question I'd still have for him is ‘How did you hitchhike alone and make it to the ghetto?’. I would most definitely recommend this excursion to Year 10s because it's an amazing learning experience to hear about the Holocaust and what Szaja has experienced in his life.

Alec Staples

On the 17th of July, we left for the Holocaust museum in Elsternwick. Its solemn facade stood as a stark reminder of past atrocities. Stepping inside, the weight of history filled the air, and the walls whispered haunting stories of unimaginable suffering. The highlight of this trip was meeting Szaja. Szaja is a 94-year-old Holocaust survivor, who grew up during the time of the war. We all sat down knowing prior to the visit most of his story. His personal account of survival transcended words, although spending most of his childhood hiding he was a very intelligent person who knew how to impact all of us. His story compelled us to confront the darkest chapters of human history. Szaja's unwavering determination to share his experiences was palpable. Despite enduring horrors, his spirit remained unbroken. His desire to ensure future generations remember the Holocaust inspired us all. Encountering Szaja was a living connection to history that has allowed our whole year group to never forget his story. His words ignited a passion to stand against hatred and indifference and quotes such as " We are all human" will resonate forever. Leaving the museum, I carried Szaja's story, vowing to honour his bravery by championing compassion in the world. His resilience serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.