In the 2007/2008 academic year, the Auschwitz Jewish Center launched a new educational initiative for high school students and adults entitled My Former Neighbors, 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.

My Former Neighbors both compliments the school curricula of the region and serves as a source of general knowledge about Jewish history and culture for students.  The history of Polish Jews spans almost 1000 years of coexistence and the case of Oswiecim can serve as an inspiration for a more in-depth study of Polish-Jewish relations.

My Former Neighbors is made possible by a grant from For Tolerance from the Stefan Batory Foundation and the support of the Consulate General of the United States in Krakow.

If you are interested in booking your visiting group for a My Former Neighbors workshop, please contact info@ajcf.pl



The program for high school students consists of four 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 Center’s core exhibition on pre-war Jewish life in Oswiecim, located in the former women’s 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.

Part IV: Why do we need tolerance? (120 mins) is a workshop based on the lessons of Jane Elliot's “Blue Eyes” lesson.  Students watch the a film on the famous classroom exercise, which shows how quickly individuals can succumb to discriminatory behavior.  The video serves as an introduction to a discussion on prejudices and stereotypes persistent in society.  It also raises sensitivity and awareness to the ways prejudices manifest themselves in everyday life.

The final section of the program is essential for students learning about Holocaust history, because it helps them understand how the lessons of the Holocaust speak to today’s world.  This session teaches about the dangers of being passive in the face of injustice and prejudice.  Special significance is attached to the meaning of individual actions that can make a difference, as is demonstrated in the film.