My Former Neighbors is an educational initiative for high school students, which focuses on the history of the Jews of Oswiecim.

Through a multidisciplinary and innovative approach, the My Former Neighbors presents the Jewish history of the town in the context of the religion, history, and tradition of Judaism. Through hands on artifact study and other activities, the history of the Jews of Oswiecim is presented in a manner appropriate and informative for both residents of the region and visitors to the AJC.

The program consists of three workshops:

Part I: Elder Brothers in Faith (90 mins) is an interactive workshop introducing students to Jewish traditions, holidays, and culture. The workshop begins with a multimedia presentation about Jewish holidays, tradition, and laws, with a focus on the Jews of Poland. After the presentation, students are taken on a dialogue-based tour of the Chevra Lomdei Mishnayot synagogue where they learn first-hand about the subject.

Part II: What was Oshpitzin? (90 mins) begins with a multimedia presentation about the history of Oswiecim Jewish community. This is followed by a tour of the Centers core exhibition on pre-war Jewish life in Oswiecim, located in the former womens section of the synagogue. This tour familiarizes students with the diverse and culturally rich community that once lived in the town.

Part III: Walking Their Paths (90 mins) is an in depth study of what was once Jewish Oswiecim. Students learn about and examine historic sites, such as Jewish Street, the site of the Great Synagogue, and the Jewish cemetery. At the cemetery, they have the opportunity to learn about the symbols and meaning on Jewish tombstones. This activity allows them to call on the historical, cultural, and religious knowledge that they gained in the earlier sessions.

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