NDE 2501: The Ghetto's Fall 2025

Registration will begin on September 22nd and the couse will begin October 1st and go through December 31st. It aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the historical context, structure, and daily realities of life in Nazi ghettos during the Holocaust. By examining firsthand accounts, survivor testimonies, and scholarly research, students will explore the social, economic, and cultural aspects of life in these segregated communities. The course will also address the impact of Nazi policies on Jewish populations, the resilience of those living in ghettos, and the broader implications of these experiences within the context of human rights and social justice.

Objectives:

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

1. Understand Historical Context: Explain the Nazi ghettoization policies and the broader history of the Holocaust.

2. Analyze Daily Life in Ghettos: Describe the daily challenges and adaptations of Jewish people in ghettos, and explore the roles of leaders, cultural activities, and education.

3. Examine Survivor Testimonies: Analyze firsthand accounts from people who lived in ghettos.

4. Evaluate Nazi Policies: Assess how ghettoization affected Jewish communities, socially, economically, and psychologically.

5. Discuss Resistance and Resilience: Explore both active and passive resistance and how individuals and communities showed resilience under oppression.

6. Reflect on Human Rights: Connect these historical events to modern issues of human rights and discrimination.

Essential Questions:

1. How have historical events, like forced migrations, shaped Jewish identity and community?

2. How have myths and stereotypes contributed to antisemitism over time?

3. How have political, religious, and legal systems influenced the protection or marginalization of Jewish communities?

4. Why is it important to understand historical antisemitism, and how can this help address today's discrimination and prejudice?