To chime in on this, simulation experiments are highly problematic to say the least. The context of Jewish identity, removed from history, thousands of years of civilization, culture, learning - summarily distilled into a symbol on a garment is a disservice to the whole enterprise. Yes, the Nazis and their allies implemented this with vitriol and nefarious purpose. That happened to people who, by and large knew they were Jews and had some sense of history. To simply impose the identity and it's most negative connotation upon an unsuspecting child is really not fair or wise. The yoke of the mitzvot are a burden. A service we do for the most high because the alternative is to be a slave to garbage. It is customary to strongly dissuade a potential convert to Judaism on three separate occasions; to create an awareness that this isn't fun and games. What then is the utility of imposing this superficially as a label and then using that as a means to teach about disenfranchisement, divorced from the experience of what it means to actually be a Jew? It's wacky.
Chaim Singer-Frankes Associate Director of Special Projects Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education College of Letters, Arts & Sciences Leavey Library University of Southern California 650 W. 35th Street, Suite 114 Los Angeles, CA 90089-2571 Phone: 213-740-6028 Fax: 213-740-6044 [EMAIL PROTECTED] web: www.usc.edu/schools/college/vhi Ha-Safran (The Librarian) Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
