Kevin (23, USA), studied art, gives art lessons and works in an art shop in Brooklyn/New York.
Wednesday, 22nd July
Today, instead of working on the site at the Walldorf Labor Camp, our group went to Frankfurt to visit the Jewish museum. There, we learned about the history of the Jews in Frankfurt and saw a reconstruction of the Frankfurt ghetto. We also learned about the development of anti-Semitism and anti-Jewish sentiment in Germany. After our guided tour, I, along with a few others in our group continued to look around the museum. While doing this, I explained the history and significance of the Jewish ceremonial object and cycle of Jewish holidays to the others in our group.
After the museum I went with Cornelia, and along with Yannick and Emilie to survey our work site, where we are digging out a cellar where the women in the camp were beaten. We surmise that the outer wall of the building we are looking for is about 20 metres from the path where there is a slight elevation from the ground. If this prediction is correct, there is a lot more digging to do. Although digging at the site is difficult, there is a specialness to it, as my grandmother and her sisters were in this camp, and I feel privileged to be able to come (back) to the site to restore it to a level of dignity and as a fitting memorial.
In the afternoon we began discussing the different countries we originate from, with a particular regard on Germany, France and Hungary. We discussed what we all thought about these three countries, their historical policies, and their attitudes toward Jews and other minorities. We also discussed nationalism, and pride that we either have, or do not have for our countries. While the Germans in our camp have a strong German identity and enjoy living in their country, they do not feel proud to be German because of their nation's horrible history. While young Germans do not feel responsible for Holocaust, they do feel it is their responsibility to remember, and never to forget.
Now, after the sun has set and it is getting dark, a few from our group are playing volleyball. As our group is truly international in scope, it is a joy to watch them play together.