SPOKANE COMMUNITY OBSERVANCE OF THE HOLOCAUST
ART and CREATIVE WRITING CONTESTS
MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS:
SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
“HEROES OF THE HOLOCAUST”
The Holocaust was the most extensive and premeditated genocide of the last
century. Persecution of the Jews in Germany began soon after the Nazi Party
came to power in 1933. Most of the world stood by silently, but there were
individuals who resisted the Nazi’s final solution: Jews and non-Jews who hid
Jews or arranged for their escape to safety; underground fighters who attacked
the Nazi war machine; politicians, journalists and others who tried to expose the
atrocities committed against the Jews.
Who would you nominate to be a “Hero of the Holocaust?”
Learn more on our Facebook page:
Never Again Spokane
or ask your English, Social Studies and Art Teachers
for information about entering the Contests
First, Second and Third place winners of both contests will be honored at the
Spokane Community Observance of the Holocaust on Thursday evening, May 5, 2016,
at Temple Beth Shalom on Spokane’s South Hill. At the service, the first place winners of
the Art and Creative Writing Contests will receive the following scholarship awards:
High School Division: $400
Middle School Division: $250
2016 SPOKANE COMMUNITY OBSERVANCE OF THE HOLOCAUST
2nd ANNUAL ART CONTEST
“HEROES OF THE HOLOCAUST”
THE THEME:
The Holocaust was the most extensive premeditated genocide of the last century. By the end of World War II the
Nazis of Germany and their collaborators had exterminated 6 million Jews, two-thirds of the entire European
Jewish population. They also murdered 5 million additional people whom they had deemed unsuitable for life.
Persecution of the Jews in Germany began soon after the Nazi Party came to power in 1933. German Jews and
Jews in German occupied countries were forcibly segregated into ghettos in 1939. Soon after, mobile Nazi SS
death squads began the systematic killing of Jews. With the establishment of the extermination camps in 1941 the
murdering became more efficient and continued until the liberation of the camps by Allied Forces in 1945. Despite
the depravation and the killing there were some shining lights -- people who acted against the Nazis -- non-Jews
and Jews who resisted the Nazi tyranny, saved Jewish lives, or brought attention to the plight of the Jews.
RESEARCH:
The Holocaust, Why the Nazis targeted the Jews:
http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007457
Diplomats Who Rescued Jews (see side bar):
https://www.facinghistory.org/rescuers/rescue-stories
Jews Who Saved Jews (click on “Stories”):
http://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/live_with_honor/jews_saved_jews.asp
Non-Jewish Rescuers (The “Righteous Among the Nations”):
http://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/righteous/stories/index.asp
Jewish Resistance Fighters (click on “View Personal Histories”):
http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005441
American Voices Against the Holocaust (watch video episodes):
http://dep.disney.go.com/theyspokeout/
REFLECTION:
Based on what you learn from reading the above resources and others, choose a person you would nominate as a
“Hero of the Holocaust” and
(1) Create an original art piece that uses images to exemplify the actions of that person.
(2) Email a statement of up to 100 words in MS Word format to [email protected] that
describes your piece and what inspired you to create it.
(3) Please choose someone other than: Oskar Schindler, Elie Wiesel, Anne Frank, and Miep Gies.
THE RULES:
(1) The contest is open to all high school and middle school students.
(2) All general media accepted (painting, sculpture, drawings, etc.). Fixatives should be used on charcoal, graphite,
and pastels. Please frame or mount your piece to make it ready for display. In deference to those affected by the
Holocaust, any use of swastikas must be limited to a very minor part of your submission.
(3) At the top of your MS Word statement include the title of your piece and on a separate cover page record your
name, phone number, email address, school name, teacher, and grade level.
(4) Pieces should be delivered on Wednesday March 30th between 4 – 7pm. To coordinate drop off and return of
pieces contact Mary Kay Grossman at [email protected].
(5) Submissions will be judged by the Spokane Community Observance of the Holocaust Planning Committee
based on originality, accuracy of information, AND evidence that you have read the resources.
(6) Winners will be selected and notified by Thursday, April 21st.
THE AWARDS:
(1) The top 3 entries in each division will be displayed at the Spokane Community Observance of the Holocaust on
Thursday evening, May 5th, at Temple Beth Shalom on Spokane’s South Hill.
(2) At the Observance the first place winners will receive the following scholarship awards:
High School Division: $400 Middle School Division: $250
(3) First prize in each division will be featured in The Spokesman-Review.
2016 SPOKANE COMMUNITY OBSERVANCE OF THE HOLOCAUST
10TH ANNUAL EVA LASSMAN MEMORIAL WRITING CONTEST
“HEROES OF THE HOLOCAUST”
THE THEME:
The Holocaust was the most extensive premeditated genocide of the last century. By the end of World War II the
Nazis of Germany and their collaborators had exterminated 6 million Jews, two-thirds of the entire European
Jewish population. They also murdered 5 million additional people whom they had deemed unsuitable for life.
Persecution of the Jews in Germany began soon after the Nazi Party came to power in 1933. German Jews and
Jews in German occupied countries were forcibly segregated into ghettos in 1939. Soon after, mobile Nazi SS
death squads began the systematic killing of Jews. With the establishment of the extermination camps in 1941 the
murdering became more efficient and continued until the liberation of the camps by Allied Forces in 1945. Despite
the depravation and the killing there were some shining lights -- people who acted against the Nazis -- non-Jews
and Jews who resisted the Nazi tyranny, saved Jewish lives, or brought attention to the plight of the Jews.
RESEARCH:
The Holocaust, Why the Nazis targeted the Jews:
http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007457
Diplomats Who Rescued Jews (see side bar):
https://www.facinghistory.org/rescuers/rescue-stories
Jews Who Saved Jews (click on “Stories”):
http://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/live_with_honor/jews_saved_jews.asp
Non-Jewish Rescuers (The “Righteous Among the Nations”):
http://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/righteous/stories/index.asp
Jewish Resistance Fighters (click on “View Personal Histories”):
http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005441
American Voices Against the Holocaust (watch video episodes):
http://dep.disney.go.com/theyspokeout/
REFLECTION:
Based on what you learn from reading the above resources and others, choose a person you would nominate as a
“Hero of the Holocaust” and follow these guidelines:
(1) Present a brief biography of the person and explain why their actions were so significant.
(2) Describe why you were personally inspired by your nominee.
(3) Describe how their example would apply to a more recent genocidal conflict or to genocide prevention.
(4) Please choose someone other than: Oskar Schindler, Elie Wiesel, Anne Frank, and Miep Gies.
THE RULES:
(1) The contest is open to all high school and middle school students.
(2) Your essay should be between 500 – 1000 words, double-spaced, in MS Word format.
(3) On a separate cover page, type your name, phone number, email address, school name, teacher, and grade level.
(4) Email your entry as an attachment to: [email protected] before midnight Sunday, March 20.
(5) Submissions will be judged by the Spokane Community Observance of the Holocaust Planning Committee based
on originality, content, evidence that you have read the resources, and accuracy of information.
(6) The winners will be selected and notified by Thursday, April 21.
THE AWARDS:
(1) The 1st place winner for the high school and middle school divisions will have the honor of reading their
compositions at the Spokane Community Observance of the Holocaust on Thursday evening, May 5, at Temple
Beth Shalom on Spokane’s South Hill.
(2) At the Observance the 1st place winners will receive the following scholarship awards:
High School Division: $400. Middle School Division: $250.
(3) The 1st place submissions will be published in their entirety in The Spokesman-Review.