Vereinigung für Jüdische Studien e. V. (eds.)

Spurensuche auf dem Jüdischen Friedhof Potsdam

Eine Handreichung für den Unterricht



ISBN: 978-3-86956-374-9
53 pages
Release year 2017

14,50 

The Jewish Cemetery of the city of Potsdam is the only authentic memorial site which reflects life and times of Potsdam’s Jewish inhabitants of the city’s era as a Prussian residence and garrison city. At the same time, it is an expression of how the following generations have dealt with their cultural heritage. Besides, Potsdam’s Jewish Cemetery is the only Jewish cemetery on German soil that is recognized by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Since only little is known about the Jewish history of Potsdam a project was launched which enabled students from Potsdam Humboldt Gymnasium to explore the Jewish heritage of their hometown by means of a project course. The project was funded by Stiftung “Erinnerung, Verantwortung und Zukunft” (Remembrance,Responsibility and Future Foundation). With the help of various thematical approaches to the Jewish Cemetery the young students were encouraged to engage with some Jewish individuals from Potsdam, their family history and life concepts. In addition, aspects of Jewish understandings of death and mourning were introduced to the students. The results of this project course have been documented and are gathered in this teaching material which shall inspire teachers who deal with the Jewish past of their hometown in their courses.

The Jewish Cemetery of the city of Potsdam is the only authentic memorial site which reflects life and times of Potsdam’s Jewish inhabitants of the city’s era as a Prussian residence and garrison city. At the same time, it is an expression of how the following generations have dealt with their cultural heritage. Besides, Potsdam’s Jewish Cemetery is the only Jewish cemetery on German soil that is recognized by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Since only little is known about the Jewish history of Potsdam a project was launched which enabled students from Potsdam Humboldt Gymnasium to explore the Jewish heritage of their hometown by means of a project course. The project was funded by Stiftung “Erinnerung, Verantwortung und Zukunft” (Remembrance,Responsibility and Future Foundation). With the help of various thematical approaches to the Jewish Cemetery the young students were encouraged to engage with some Jewish individuals from Potsdam, their family history and life concepts. In addition, aspects of Jewish understandings of death and mourning were introduced to the students. The results of this project course have been documented and are gathered in this teaching material which shall inspire teachers who deal with the Jewish past of their hometown in their courses.