Student 1:
The day where we talked with Pinchas was a very stand out moment for me. The way we were able to learn about his culture really connected with me as sharing food with my family is a big part of my culture. When he talked about the ways people would come together to cook really reminded me of a potluck which my family sometimes does for big events. It also made the history of the Holocaust feel more human and raw. When we are taught these things in history we don't always feel that human connection, they are just a bunch of tragic stories that are easy to disconnect with. When Pinchas talks about his history before it brings that connection that is missing in textbooks it shows how these were real people and not just lines in a book. This really resonated with me as a lot of my ancestors fought in World War 2 but I will never really understand who they were on a human level and they will always just be a bunch of words on a wall during remembrance day. His stories of cooking with his mother also connected with me as that is something I used to do with my grandmother and that story was really the catalyst for me looking at all of these stories in a new light. The way Pinchas always answered questions with stories reminded me of my great uncle who passed away a few years ago which made me really connect with him as I could see some of my great uncle in him. All of these factors brought together with some amazing food created an amazing experience that I will never forget and cherish.
Student 2:
One thing I learned throughout the course was the connections between the learned course content and how easily it connected to the food history we were learning. One example in particular that I can point out was when the class learned how Jews were banished from many countries, most importantly Western Europe in this case. I learned about the expulsion of Jews from Spain and Western European countries, and this fact came back up when learning about the history of Kugel. Kugel had originally been created in Eastern France and Western Germany, however it was eventually spread to the rest of Eastern Europe. The way it was spread to Eastern Europe was through the expulsion of the Jews from Western Europe. Following their expulsion, they needed to move to a new home. Jews passed through France and Germany while on their way to Eastern Europe, where they learned of the Kugel recipe. They would learn this newly found food and would bring it with them to their new homes in Eastern Europe. I found this particularly interesting because it was one of the first times where a historical fact clicked in my head as a “cause and effect”. This made perfect sense to me, and I came to enjoy and be inspired by learning more about Kugel and its history. I then continued to learn of its origins and how different countries would manipulate the recipe depending on the locally available ingredients.
Student 3:
Throughout the process of learning about Jewish life before the holocaust, my perception and understanding of Jewish people overall, especially Holocaust survivors, changed. I was fascinated when I realized that I had been viewing them solely as survivors of a historical disaster; I was stuck viewing them through that lens. The day before the trip, we read about the personal stories of a Jewish family that immigrated to the United States and read through the challenges the family faced in their early years and their little anecdotes, which resonated with me a lot. It reminded me of similarities between my own family's immigrant experience and other shared events, which showed me the broader picture. I now believe we are all more similar than different but tend to focus on our differences. It helped me see aspects of pre-war Jewish life, and even though this exploration was not about Holocaust survivors, it made me think about their lives, extending beyond their tragedies. It became clear that my previous perspective had been limited, and learning about Jewish life in this comprehensive manner reminded me of our shared humanity. It expanded my viewpoint, showing me the importance of looking at the fuller picture and narratives that make up the human experience.
Student 4:
Reflecting on our Jewish history unit, it's a challenge to pinpoint just one aspect that captivated me the most. I thoroughly enjoyed the stories, whether they were about Pinchas or the Sarfaty Family (Sarah and Morris). The introductory lessons on Sephardic and Ashkenazi cultures made a lasting impression, standing out as the most impactful part of my learning experience. I thought I had a decent grasp of Jewish history, but it turns out most of what I knew centred around the Holocaust. These lessons opened my eyes to the richness of Jewish culture, especially the distinctiveness between Ashkenazi and Sephardic traditions. I never considered that there were distinct cultures among Jewish people.
Learning simple yet insightful facts, such as the tradition of some Ashkenazi Jewish men wearing those large fur hats, was eye-opening. It's funny how seemingly simple things can make such a difference. These lessons, covering everything from the basics of cultural differences to details like Shabbos, allowed me to revisit the fundamentals and understand everything in a new light.