Students visit Memorial Holocaust Museum in D.C.

The Steinhardt Jewish Heritage Program organized a trip to the United States Memorial Holocaust Museum in Washington this past weekend to give both Jewish and non-Jewish students the opportunity to learn about the chilling realities of the Holocaust. By examining a myriad of Holocaust artifacts -- including actual shoes, hair fragments, utensils and clothing -- students said they were able to truly feel what it was like to live through the Holocaust. College junior Haley Schneider said she felt the exhibit was "very well done," adding that it was a "very personalized and?emotional experience." She observed that the Holocaust Museum uniquely emanated a silent atmosphere. The tour of the museum concluded with a movie entitled "Voices from the Holocaust," which related tales of Holocaust survivors. Schneider said this was "the most spectacular and moving part." The museum experience culminated with a half-hour discussion, provoking a variety of responses. According to Ephraim Levin, a Steinhardt program advisor, many Jewish students left the museum with a feeling of pride. He added that they understood what it meant to have survived such a horrific experience and felt "lucky" to be a Jew in today's world. College junior Amanda Gross said museum provoked feelings of anger. "I tried to rechannel my negative reactions into being grateful that there actually is such a place," she said of the museum. Schneider suggested that everyone visit the museum. "I really want to go back because I don't feel like you can get it all in in one experience," she said. "It's so incredible." The purpose of the trip was not to experience depression but rather to comprehend the implications of such a tragedy and to direct this insight toward ensuring preventative measures, Levin said. The trip was organized by interns of the Steinhardt Jewish Heritage Program and was open to any interested University students. Wharton senior Dave Gallo said the program is designed "for people that aren't religious that want to know more about Judaism." The Jewish Heritage Program was created three years ago at the University as a pilot program. It has recently expanded to State University of New York-Binghamton, Queens College and the University of Pittsburgh. In January, the group organized a trip to Israel to visit Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust museum. Thirteen University students attended.