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| Raising Asian Awareness of the Holocaust | Raising Asian Awareness of the Holocaust |
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| HONG KONG — Natalie Leung, a 16-year-old student in Hong Kong, first learned about the Holocaust about four years ago, when she read Anne Frank’s “The Diary of a Young Girl.” The book opened her eyes to one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century in which six million Jews died at the hands of the Nazis and their collaborators. | HONG KONG — Natalie Leung, a 16-year-old student in Hong Kong, first learned about the Holocaust about four years ago, when she read Anne Frank’s “The Diary of a Young Girl.” The book opened her eyes to one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century in which six million Jews died at the hands of the Nazis and their collaborators. |
| The Holocaust, however, is not a topic that students at local Chinese schools are likely to encounter in class. “We learned about Chinese history, but not much about world history,” said Ms. Leung, who has since switched from a Chinese school to an international one. | The Holocaust, however, is not a topic that students at local Chinese schools are likely to encounter in class. “We learned about Chinese history, but not much about world history,” said Ms. Leung, who has since switched from a Chinese school to an international one. |
| A Hong Kong-based nonprofit organization is trying to offer what is lacking. In 2011, a group of largely Jewish residents founded the Hong Kong Holocaust and Tolerance Center to raise awareness and promote education about the Holocaust, both locally and, eventually, more widely. The center has organized activities in about two dozen schools, including screening of films and talks by Holocaust survivors. | A Hong Kong-based nonprofit organization is trying to offer what is lacking. In 2011, a group of largely Jewish residents founded the Hong Kong Holocaust and Tolerance Center to raise awareness and promote education about the Holocaust, both locally and, eventually, more widely. The center has organized activities in about two dozen schools, including screening of films and talks by Holocaust survivors. |
| As part of the commemoration for International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Monday, it is having Olga Horak, an 86-year-old Slovak-born Jewish Australian who survived the Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen concentration camps, visit selected schools in the city. | As part of the commemoration for International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Monday, it is having Olga Horak, an 86-year-old Slovak-born Jewish Australian who survived the Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen concentration camps, visit selected schools in the city. |
| It is also working with the Hong Kong Education Bureau on two projects. One is to prepare teaching materials, in Chinese and English, for use in secondary schools and universities. The other is to create teacher training materials to help educators integrate the Holocaust and other genocides into their class work. | It is also working with the Hong Kong Education Bureau on two projects. One is to prepare teaching materials, in Chinese and English, for use in secondary schools and universities. The other is to create teacher training materials to help educators integrate the Holocaust and other genocides into their class work. |
| “Teaching about the Holocaust is an opportunity to teach about tolerance,” said Jeremy Amias, a co-founder of the center, and its chairman. | “Teaching about the Holocaust is an opportunity to teach about tolerance,” said Jeremy Amias, a co-founder of the center, and its chairman. |
| Except for a relatively small number of students attending international schools with Western curriculums, most young Hong Kongers enrolled in local schools are unlikely to learn about World War II in Europe or the Holocaust. “It is not part of the local curriculum,” said Hayley Goldberg, a board member of the center who teaches at an international school, Li Po Chun United World College. | Except for a relatively small number of students attending international schools with Western curriculums, most young Hong Kongers enrolled in local schools are unlikely to learn about World War II in Europe or the Holocaust. “It is not part of the local curriculum,” said Hayley Goldberg, a board member of the center who teaches at an international school, Li Po Chun United World College. |
| “The most important part of our activities is youth education,” Ms. Goldberg said of the center’s work. | “The most important part of our activities is youth education,” Ms. Goldberg said of the center’s work. |
| In addition to its school and college projects, the center runs a public outreach program. In October and November, it organized a Holocaust exhibition titled “An Oasis of Survival and Hope,” displaying artworks by Hong Kong students along with works by children who had been imprisoned in the Theresienstadt concentration camp in what is now the Czech Republic. | In addition to its school and college projects, the center runs a public outreach program. In October and November, it organized a Holocaust exhibition titled “An Oasis of Survival and Hope,” displaying artworks by Hong Kong students along with works by children who had been imprisoned in the Theresienstadt concentration camp in what is now the Czech Republic. |
| Asia had its own share of massacres in the past century, including: the Japanese mass killings of Chinese prisoners and civilians in Nanjing in 1937-1938; the Indonesian massacres of alleged communists in 1965-1966; and the Khmer Rouge killing fields in Cambodia in the 1970s. | Asia had its own share of massacres in the past century, including: the Japanese mass killings of Chinese prisoners and civilians in Nanjing in 1937-1938; the Indonesian massacres of alleged communists in 1965-1966; and the Khmer Rouge killing fields in Cambodia in the 1970s. |
| And while Germany killed millions of Jews during World War II, the Shanghai ghetto in the 1940s, under Japanese control, was a noted haven for Jewish refugees from the European slaughter. | And while Germany killed millions of Jews during World War II, the Shanghai ghetto in the 1940s, under Japanese control, was a noted haven for Jewish refugees from the European slaughter. |
| But a lack of Holocaust awareness in Asia has produced some controversies. | But a lack of Holocaust awareness in Asia has produced some controversies. |
| Last July, students at Thailand’s prestigious Chulalongkorn University, in Bangkok, painted a mural of superheroes to celebrate graduation day. On the large banner, flanked by Batman and Captain America, was Adolf Hitler giving the Nazi salute — a gesture mimicked by students who happily posed in front of the giant painting. | Last July, students at Thailand’s prestigious Chulalongkorn University, in Bangkok, painted a mural of superheroes to celebrate graduation day. On the large banner, flanked by Batman and Captain America, was Adolf Hitler giving the Nazi salute — a gesture mimicked by students who happily posed in front of the giant painting. |
| Less than a week later, a newspaper report featured Soldatenkaffee, a Nazi-theme restaurant in Bandung, Indonesia, with walls adorned with swastikas, a large photograph of Hitler and waiters dressed in Nazi uniforms. | Less than a week later, a newspaper report featured Soldatenkaffee, a Nazi-theme restaurant in Bandung, Indonesia, with walls adorned with swastikas, a large photograph of Hitler and waiters dressed in Nazi uniforms. |
| In 2003, the Hong Kong fashion chain Izzue produced a casual chic clothing line sporting Nazi symbols, and at various times shops and bars named after Hitler have cropped up in cities across the region, from Ahmedabad in India to Pusan in South Korea. | |
| “I don’t think they are racist,” said Mr. Amias, whose mother, as a child, survived detection hidden by a Catholic family in Belgium. “It is partly because of lack of knowledge. They may not mean it, but it is offensive. People need to understand that Hitler was a very bad guy.” | “I don’t think they are racist,” said Mr. Amias, whose mother, as a child, survived detection hidden by a Catholic family in Belgium. “It is partly because of lack of knowledge. They may not mean it, but it is offensive. People need to understand that Hitler was a very bad guy.” |
| There are two older Holocaust education centers in East Asia, both in Japan: the Hong Kong center, however, has the widest, most regional perspective of the three. | There are two older Holocaust education centers in East Asia, both in Japan: the Hong Kong center, however, has the widest, most regional perspective of the three. |
| It has plans to create materials on fighting anti-Semitism and other forms of discrimination in English, Chinese and other Asian languages. It also seeks to address the region’s other genocidal episodes. | It has plans to create materials on fighting anti-Semitism and other forms of discrimination in English, Chinese and other Asian languages. It also seeks to address the region’s other genocidal episodes. |
| “We are trying to make it relevant,” said Mr. Amias. “We see many similarities between these different events. When you make it more locally relevant, it is more interesting to the local students.” | “We are trying to make it relevant,” said Mr. Amias. “We see many similarities between these different events. When you make it more locally relevant, it is more interesting to the local students.” |
| This may not be easy. Many Asian countries are reluctant to confront their own dark chapters of history: Violent pasts are often missing from school textbooks and curriculums. | This may not be easy. Many Asian countries are reluctant to confront their own dark chapters of history: Violent pasts are often missing from school textbooks and curriculums. |
| Another challenge lies in Muslim-majority countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia, where anti-Jewish sentiment has risen, partly stoked by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Last May, Beth Shalom in Surabaya, Indonesia, a heritage site and Java Island’s last synagogue, was demolished in unexplained circumstances. | Another challenge lies in Muslim-majority countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia, where anti-Jewish sentiment has risen, partly stoked by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Last May, Beth Shalom in Surabaya, Indonesia, a heritage site and Java Island’s last synagogue, was demolished in unexplained circumstances. |
| “Indonesia is not the most sensitive place” about Holocaust education, said Ahmad Suaedy, of The Wahid Institute, a research center in Jakarta that promotes pluralism and tolerance. That is partly because “the education sector is controlled by the religious conservatives,” he said. | “Indonesia is not the most sensitive place” about Holocaust education, said Ahmad Suaedy, of The Wahid Institute, a research center in Jakarta that promotes pluralism and tolerance. That is partly because “the education sector is controlled by the religious conservatives,” he said. |
| Before taking on the challenge of raising awareness in the wider region, the Hong Kong center is planning an exhibition by the Israeli artist and Holocaust survivor Sara Atzmon in Hong Kong early this year, with a view to taking the show to Indonesia or other parts of Asia possibly at a later date. | Before taking on the challenge of raising awareness in the wider region, the Hong Kong center is planning an exhibition by the Israeli artist and Holocaust survivor Sara Atzmon in Hong Kong early this year, with a view to taking the show to Indonesia or other parts of Asia possibly at a later date. |
| The center has also been working with Yad Vashem, the Jerusalem-based center for Holocaust research and education, and with Steven Spielberg’s Shoah Foundation, to make educational material available to Hong Kong students. | The center has also been working with Yad Vashem, the Jerusalem-based center for Holocaust research and education, and with Steven Spielberg’s Shoah Foundation, to make educational material available to Hong Kong students. |
| The Shoah Foundation in particular has opened access to its IWitness online archive to the Hong Kong center and affiliated teachers. The archive of testimonials by Holocaust survivors, containing more than 52,000 recordings in 32 languages, from 56 countries, is now available at two Hong Kong secondary schools, including Elsa High, the city’s Jewish high school where the center has its temporary base. | The Shoah Foundation in particular has opened access to its IWitness online archive to the Hong Kong center and affiliated teachers. The archive of testimonials by Holocaust survivors, containing more than 52,000 recordings in 32 languages, from 56 countries, is now available at two Hong Kong secondary schools, including Elsa High, the city’s Jewish high school where the center has its temporary base. |
| For the Hong Kong center, it is important not only to introduce the topic to students but also to instill a deeper understanding. | For the Hong Kong center, it is important not only to introduce the topic to students but also to instill a deeper understanding. |
| Ms. Leung, who is now a student at Li Po Chun, had her first lesson on the Holocaust when she took an English literature class taught by Ms. Goldberg. The teacher used Eva Hoffmann’s memoir, “Lost in Translation : Life in a New Language,” to inspire discussions. | Ms. Leung, who is now a student at Li Po Chun, had her first lesson on the Holocaust when she took an English literature class taught by Ms. Goldberg. The teacher used Eva Hoffmann’s memoir, “Lost in Translation : Life in a New Language,” to inspire discussions. |
| In December, Ms. Leung took part in a class taught by Jackie Metzger, an educator from Yad Vashem, who visited five schools in Hong Kong to teach “Holocaust through literature” to about 400 students. | In December, Ms. Leung took part in a class taught by Jackie Metzger, an educator from Yad Vashem, who visited five schools in Hong Kong to teach “Holocaust through literature” to about 400 students. |
| For her, learning about the Holocaust is more than just a history lesson. “I never knew,” she said, “how cruel humanity could be.” | For her, learning about the Holocaust is more than just a history lesson. “I never knew,” she said, “how cruel humanity could be.” |