As part of the campaign commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, October will focus on the ghettos, highlighting the complexities of life behind their walls. The establishment of the ghettos marked a critical moment in the Holocaust—an engineered isolation aimed at dehumanizing Jewish populations and erasing their identities. Yet, within these walls, people fought to preserve their humanity through acts of defiance, resilience, and memory.
This series will examine the complex realities of life in the ghettos during World War II. We will explore the factors that led to the forced isolation of Jewish communities, stripping them of freedom and dignity. The series then will delve into the daily struggles within the ghetto walls, highlighting how, despite starvation, disease, and fear of deportation, residents sought normalcy through clandestine cultural and educational efforts.
Key themes will include the fight for survival through smuggling, black markets, and communal kitchens, as well as the escalating Nazi brutality through mass executions and deportations. We also will reflect on the moral challenges faced by Jewish leadership, the rise of resistance movements, and the crucial role of documentation efforts in preserving the memory of these atrocities for future generations.
The final posts in the series, ‘The Legacy of the Ghetto: Reflections for the Future’ and ‘Memory in Ruins: The Ghetto in the Contemporary City,’ will consider how we remember these places today. The lessons from the ghettos—about dignity in the face of oppression, the fragility of freedom, and the enduring necessity of remembrance—remain relevant as we confront modern challenges to human rights and memory.
Read more about the campaign ‘WWII 80 Years After’ here.