You recently viewed the PBS documentary
The Longest Hatred in class. What did you learn that you did not know before watching the film? Please share your thoughts about the film and the lecture by Rabbi Rachel Gurevitz. You should free to contact the Rabbi directly at
rabbi@cbnaishalom.org if you have any additional questions. She will me making comments throughout this particular blog as well.
41 comments:
I came into this class not knowing much about the Holocaust; however, I think that after watching this documentary it gave me a much better perspective of the reality that was the Holocaust. Like many people in class have already mentioned, it’s one thing to read about the Holocaust, but to actually put names and faces to it, it makes it much more real. I also thought it was interesting to get a sense of Hitler and his entire persona and the way he presented himself in front of his followers. He seemed very powerful and intimidating when he spoke, which I think is one of the reasons many people began to look up to him. I thought it was fascinating to hear the opinions of the people in the documentary who actually supported Hitler, even to this day. Listening to everything the rabbi had to say also added to my knowledge of Judaism and the Holocaust. I thought her presentation was inspiring and her confidence and self-respect was comforting. It was easy to listen to what she had to say because she was clearly passionate about everything of which she spoke. I thought it was particularly interesting to learn about the connection between the Jews and their drastic effects on the economy when they provided loans to many people. I feel much more informed about the Holocaust having watched the documentary and listening to the rabbi speak.
I was very grateful for having the option of having the rabbi come in and speak today. I feel that I learned much more about the Jewish history, community and culture. I can not believe that these people have been suppressed from society for such a long period of time and I regret their misfortune for it is not their fault that they have been deemed the scapegoat in most societies. I feel that the rabbi was very personable and did a good job of not pushing her religion onto us while making us understand what it was all about. I also think that in the video I learned a lot about Hitler as a person, I saw the human side of him as opposed to the idea of person that he has always appeared to be in textbooks and such throughout history. I was grateful to have the ability to hear the speakers in the video as well who talk about their experience in Germany and why they supported or didn't support Germany and what they thought looking back at that time period. I feel that I am much more versed in Judaism and the background behind the Holocaust than I have been ever before.
I agree with Mark's comment on the rabbi's reluctancy to push her religion onto us. I thought she was very informative of her beliefs while still being respectful of other people's religious beliefs.
Before watching the film, I wasn't aware of the hatred towards the Jewish community centuries before Hitler. While watching the film, I learned how the hatred originated with the Roman Catholics, because they held the Jews responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus. Also, I thought it was interesting to watch Hitler and his demeanor. He showed great strength and confidence when he spoke to his country, which made it easy for the people to support him in their time of crisis. I enjoyed listening to the Rabbi because she increased my knowledge of Judaism and its past. She expressed great confidence and thoroughly explained the answer to each question which made it easy to listen to. Both the film and the Rabbi helped me to learn more about Jewish history, community and culture.
I agree with Kate that it was very interesting to listen to the opinions of the people who actually supported Hitler today. As one man believed the Jews were still at fault.
I thought the film was very informative, because after watching it, I felt like I had a stronger grasp on Jewish history. I learned that the things the Jews were forced to do to separate themselves from the rest of society while they were under attack have been the same throughout centuries. I had known about the Jews and their history of persecution, but never knew just how similar it was over time, in relation to other cultures. A part of the movie that also really struck me was when Martin Luther King was mentioned and how he wanted to punish the Jews who refused to convert. I thought this was extremely surprising because I had always seen Martin Luther King as a great historical figure, who wanted to combat iniquity, but this film revealed a side of him that made him seem no better than Hitler to me. It was also interesting to see from a different view point of how the Germans viewed Hitler at that time. They saw him as a powerful human being, who they looked at for support. It was interesting to hear the reasoning of the people who had supported Hitler back then, and how they stood now, still supporting him and thinking he did nothing wrong.
I really enjoyed listening to the Rabbi speak today because her presentation was inspiring. I liked how honest and open she was with us, because that wasn't something I was really expecting. I also liked that she was able to talk about various religions aside from Judaism in a very fair manner, because it's very easy to defend and instill bias opinions of your own religion. After watching this film and listening to the Rabbi speak, I feel much more informed about Jewish history.
I agree with Maria's comment, that prior to watching this film, I did not know the level of long-held hatred that the Jewish people faced. I had always thought that the hatred for Jews originated from Hitler's time period, and did not know that it had been extended for centuries before Hitler, and in a way, paved the path for the Holocaust to happen.
Before watching the film, I didn't know the feeling of anti-semitism was so strong in many cultures before the Nazis. I also thought it was intersting how at one time, the Nazis were once a tiny party, with barely any political influence. Three years later, led by Adolf Hitler, this small party had plans for world domination, and wanted to wipe out an entire culture. It just shows how one person can drastically change the course of history.
I'm really glad the Rabbi came in today to speak to us. I came into the presentation not knowing much about Judiasm, so I feel much more informed than I was. I appreciated her clear effort to answer every question that we asked with the best possible answer. Also, her openess about both her religion and lifestyle made her seem very down to earth and comforting.
I agree with Mark's comment. It's really unfortunate that the Jewish people have been scapegoats for so many different cultures over such a long period of time.
After watching this film, I definitely learned much more about the Holocaust. I thought it was very interesting to listen and to see just how Hitler presented himself in the film. For example, of how he delivered his speeches to his followers and overall, how he was perceived back then. I wasn't able to be there when the Rabbi spoke, but I am sure that she was very open-hearted and well-admired. I think it is very courageous to want to become a Rabbi, when you're lesbian, it shows great poise.
I agree with Kate when she said that it's one thing to read about the Holocaust, but to actually put names and faces to it, makes it is more real.
I thought that this film informed me about the Jewish population in a way that I have never seen before. Listening to eyewitnesses talk about this era was unbelievable. As well as being able to listen to Hitler's speeches. He truly was a very captivating and charismatic speaker and I can see why he gained so many followers. It was hard to believe at points in the film, just how hated and how widespread that hatred was of the Jewish population, it was just awful.
It was very cool to be able to listen to the Rabbi. I have not gotten very many opportunities to hear someone speak who is so knowledgeable and involved in the Jewish community. I learned a lot about the different forms of Judaism and the odds that they all faced in life. I was very fortunate to be able to her the Rabbi speak to me.
I agree with Mark in that I think the Rabbi was very personable. She did a good job of understanding that we were a big group coming from a variety of backgrounds and that we were here to further our knowledge of Judaism.
This film opened my eyes to the extensive amount of years that the Jewish people were put under persecution for their beliefs. Initially, I assumed the Jewish persecution began shortly before the time of the Holocaust, but this movie taught me that I was mistaken. I also was forced to question my religion; being a Christian, I was ashamed of the past actions that people of my same religion took against the Jews. It forced me to question whether or not I would follow in the footsteps of the Christians if I were alive during the time of the crusades. I also thought the discussion session with Rabbi Gurevitz was informative while also being intriguing. She efficiently answered the questions that were asked, while teaching us the broad ideas of the Jewish religion. I am thankful to Rabbi Gurevitz for being willing to share her beliefs with us, while informing us on the history and current events within the Jewish culture and religion today.
I agree with Maria: before watching this film, I was unaware of the extensive time frame in which Jews were put under persecution.
I think that this documentary unveiled a lot of things that we as students had learned about, but never really understood. I beleive that the film did a fantastic job at making the situation in Germany that led up to the holocaust relatable and understandable. I feel as though people often think that such a thing could never happen in real life, because of the extreme outcome, but this documentary really did show the little steps that led up to the final outcome of the holocaust. One small thing led to the next, in a such a gradual manner that nobody realized what an extreme event they were experiencing until it was too late to prevent it. I thought that Rabbi Gurevitz did a fantastic job in also making her own life story and experiences relatable to an audience so far removed from them. She brought the concepts down to earth in a very simplistic way that made it easy for the audience to understand. I am glad to have had her as a speaker, I thought it was a fantastic experience.
I agree with Mike's comment. It's really unfortunate that the Jewish community has been scapegoats for such a long period of time.
Before watching The Longest Hatred I was under the impression that Judaism wasn't much different then Christianity. I figured it was as simple as saying that one follows the old testament and one follows old and new. Since Jesus was a jew, I always figured that Christians and Jews weren't that different in their beliefs. What I realized is that Christians and others have had a long held feeling of anti semitism towards jews. What I found odd was seeing Hitler waving to crowds. He was someone who could be considered powerful, godlike, and so on but what stuck me was the way he waved to the crowds. He seemed oddly feminine for a man of his beliefs.
I agree with Connie. It was really surprising to see MLK and his beliefs being used by Hitler.
I enjoyed the documentary because it introduced many new facts about the harsh treatment towards jews not only during the Holocaust but throughout much of history. Also, i found it interesting that the film showed us the unpopularity of the Nazi Party until times of hardship occurred in Germany. The experience of having the Rabbi come talk to us at school was different than i thought it'd be. I expected to have someone come and preach their religion at me, but instead she was very open about herself and answering questions we had about her religion.
Before I watched the film, I had background knowledge about how Jesus died and I knew that it was done by the Jews, but I was unaware that this led to the persecution of the Jews for centuries afterwards. The level of power that the Catholic church had was astounding and their corruption was widespread. After hearing all of this new information, I understand how Hitler made connections to the past, and some of the parallels that he had with the previous generations. When the Rabbi spoke of the Jewish history, it reinforced what I learned in the film, and these two sources together have built a strong foundation what is to come.
Along with Kate, I was also unaware of the unpopularity of the Nazi party before coming to power.
Before watching "The Longest Hatred", I thought I knew a lot more than I actually did about the history of the Holocaust. I did not even realize that Jews had been unfairly scrutinized throughout history. I also did not know that Hitler had followed several other methods that had been used against the Jews in the past such has pinning a gold star of David on them to be able to distinguish them in public. I really enjoyed Rabbi Rachel Gurevitz's lecture because she was very knowledgeable and did not have any biases. I also like how one of her core beliefs is that it is not how you pray or go to church to just say that you went but how you implement it in your own life.
I also did not realize how corrupt the Catholic Church was in the Johnny's comment.
I personally am from an Irish Catholic background, went to a Private Catholic school until 6th grade, and lived in Maine which is predominately Catholic. I honestly had little to no knowledge of the Jewish religion at all. Watching the film gave me a little more insight on the history of the Jewish religion, showing what they went through as a religious people. Though the movie was interesting, I thoroughly enjoyed the Rabbi much more. First off when I heard a Rabbi was coming to speak I was expecting a Older Jewish man with a very long beard, because that is what I had always seen as a Rabbi being. When I saw that she was a woman I instantly thought that she was something similiar to a nun, when I was proven wrong I was surprised. When I found out she was a lesbian, I was honestly shocked. For a couple minutes I couldn't fathom how she had become a Rabbi. I don't want you to misunderstand and think that I am Homophobic, I am all for Gay Rights. But ever since I was a child I have associated Religion with being Homophobic and unaccepting of differences or change, as the Catholic Church seems to act sometimes. I was impressed that the Religion would accept her in a leadership position, as well as I found a new respect for her as a person. She was respectful and down to earth, she didn't really sugarcoat anything to make it seem better. She told her opinion, not the opinion of the Jewish religion as a whole, but her own. Overall my opinion on the Rabbi speaking was completely changed. I went in dreading it and came out thinking about it for the entire day.
I was absent
I was Absent
I learned a lot about the origins of the Nazi ideology towards the Jewish People as well as the constant persecution of the Jews. Previously I had no idea that the Jews were ostracized and massacred during the Crusades the way they were. I had watched documentaries on the Holocaust before taking this course, so I had a basic understanding of it already, but the documentary showed me the mentality of the German People and their response to the Nazis' radicals ideas, which I had never seen before.
I'm grateful for having the opportunity to have the Rabbi speak with us. I feel that I learned a great deal about Jewish culture and history, and what it means to be Jewish. I also found the Rabbi's openness comforting. The discussion felt personal and friendly.
I agree with Mike that it's incredible how Hitler managed to take a minority Nazi Party, and elevate it to the major political party, over the other twenty or thirty some odd parties, and establish the Third Reich. It truly shows how one individual can change the course of history.
I was absent
One thing that I learned from this film was that the Jewish people were involved in a couple of massacres and that not man people liked them. I was suprised that the Romans burned down a sinagouge that was full with Jewish people inside. One thing that I learned from the Rabbi speaking with us is that a lot of the Jewish people lived in Great Britain and that German made mistakes with not taking out the troops of the French because Great Britain helped them out and got their forces bigger by adding the French with them. So all the Jewish people were safe in Britain.
I liked the visit from the Rabbi in school. She was very informative about the history of Jews and also their beliefs. After watching the movie and listening to the Rabbi I finally saw just how much hatred the Jews have received and for how long. I didn't realize that they were hated before Nazi Germany. After listening to the Rabbi and watching the movie I feel that I have learned a lot more about the Jewish people and what they have gone through.
Before watching the video, I was well educated on what happened during the holocaust and how much suffering the jewish people went through during that time. What I did not know however was how long anti semintism has been going on. Ever since the fall of christ, Jewish people have been slaughtered and tortured purely for following that religion. The jewish people have been seen as negative force and the people to blame for the world's problems. The video opened my eyes to the fact that the jewish people have been suffering for 2012 years not just a few hundred.
Something that the film "The Longest Hatred" taught me was that first Crusade was a massacre of the Jews and that was interesting because i thought i knew the gist of the Crusades but ended up proving that I didn't know as much as I thought i did. What really stuck out at me from the film was that it seemed like every new chapter in history there was a new plot to exterminate the Jews. I really enjoyed the Rabbi, I thought she was really brave sharing some of the things she did and i was very appreciative of her full length thoughtful responses.
I also agree with Kate it was interesting hearing people's opinions of Hitler that were part of Germany during his reign.
What I took away from the documentary and the Rabbi's visit to the high school was that the fundamental difference between judaism and catholicism was more than just a belief system. Though I had effectively abandoned my religion prior to this year, I was raised as a catholic, and still remember having to memorize my church's creed. And that memorized list of beliefs seemed to drive how my church operated, under the assumption that everyone subscribed to them. This starkly contrasts what the rabbi told us about judaism, where there was less of a focus on what to believe and more of a focus on how to act. It was a very interesting twist for me, to hear how what a rabbi preaches is up for your own interpretation and use instead of immediate truth.
From the documentary, I learned that the nazi party was not always such a big part of Germany. In fact, it was a very minor part that not many people took seriously. It was not until Hitler was appointed to chancellor that the party started becoming so big. I learned a lot about the jewish faith while listening to the Rabbi. The main thing I took away from it was that so many jews gave up their faith so they could marry into a non-jewish family. I did not know that this was a common thing to do, or that it would be allowed. But even though so many people did this, it was still extremly frowned upon by jewish familes and society.
When someone asked me about the Holocaust, i would respond "Yeah Hitler's bad, he killed a lot of Jews, started world war 2, and a lot of people died." I never even thought of the idea "wait where does this even come from, Why would Hitler dislike his own German citizens?" This film taught me where that hatred came from and how far back it really goes. I also saw how Hitler started.In our society now he is just known as this powerful monster that was eventually defeated by the allies working together, but he was once just a regular guy like everyone so it was interesting to see how he got to such a high position. I appreciate the rabbi coming out.I know it's hard for her to that and talk about her beliefs to a bunch of kids from Westborough, so the fact that she did that was amazing and she answered the questions authentically.
Like stated in Maria's comment, I was unaware that the jews were hated for such a long period of time, even before Adolf Hitler.
Before watching this film, I thought I knew most of what had happened during the Holocaust. Turns out I didn't. I learned that even before Hitler, the Jews were hated by many people. Another thing that stood out to me was how Martin Luther King wanted to punish the Jews if they did not convert. I've always been taught that Martin Luther King was a wonderful person and that he wanted to help everyone, so this was very shocking. Lastly, I was not here to listen to the rabbi speak.
I've read all of the thoughtful comments left by each class. Clearly there's a lot of new perspectives and understanding coming out of the material in this course. I think that's probably one of the most important things to take away - that you all now have a much deeper and more complex understanding of what happened in the Holocaust. Its that understanding that will enable you to be much more tuned in to things that people or say today that set off warning signals when you hear or see prejudice of any kind at work. You are welcome to drop me a line if you'd like to talk about anything further.
Rabbi Rachel Gurevitz
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