Let´s get started!
To do a research trip without the support of a university or any other institution is challening. Since I do this for some years now, I developed a procedure that works for me. Besides the obvious, get the trip paid!, the main issues are to get in touch with the right people and arrange the appointments. Also, to book flights and hotels, figure out how long it takes to get from one place to another, where and when to eat and how to do some supermarket shopping is time consuming but needs to be done. Over the years I was able to build a pretty good network but even then, it is difficult to get answers on time. Unfortunately, most people need a least one reminder to confirm date and time. This can be very stressful – especially if you are in town less than 48 hrs.
Since lovely Lufthansa overbooked the flight a new factor occured to deal with. Also, Lufthansa does not say clearly which flight was overbooked - it would be an achievement if they would let passengers know. Unfortunately, it was the long distance flight. Means: terribly full in the aircraft and the flight attendances were just impolite and stressed. Plus an additional delay.
Since there was a fully packed day ahead, I had no dinner just some stuff in the room and organized the next day.
One day after arrival - Toronto
After a 45 minutes taxi ride and 50 CAD less in my pocket… meeting at the new Holocaust Museum in Toronto. Whenever you get a chance to go there, please do so. It is a very good exhibition, everything is brand new and the technical achievements make this new museum a pleasure. Check out more here: https://torontoholocaustmuseum.org/
Even if the topic is horrible and sad as always, I was able to enjoy the stay for several reasons. On the one hand the new museum is developed as a survivors museum. The focus stays on the stories of the survivors, lives and families. It is heart warming to see the familiar faces, even if they are not with us anymore. Over the last years I had the honor and pleasure to meet some of the most known survivors in Toronto. I feel blessed I was able to speak to them, learned about their stories and felt welcomed, even as a German. Their stories are in the center of the entire exhibition.
On the other hand, the museum raises the most important question right at the entrance: Why does the Holocaust matter?
I hope we all agree on: learning about the Holocaust is learning about mankind. And therefore it is not only a topic for perpetrators and victims but for all human beings. I agree in this regard with UNESCO and the so called “global citizen approach”. It is needed to teach and learn about the Holocaust for understanding, prevention and for being human, since its one of the darkest chapter in mankind.
I had the great pleasure to meet volunteer Joseph during my visit. A polite and quite elderly gentleman who pays very much attention about what is going on around him. Joseph and I started to talk a bit and once I told him I am German he shared his story with me. His parents were Holocaust survivors and his brother was born in a DP (displaced person) camp before they had the chance to emigrate to Canada. Joseph tells his parents story without any bitterness. He later became a dentist and returned to Germany, Cologne, for several times to attend the world biggest conference and show for dentists. I had no idea about that dentists do conferences at all.
Joseph asked me a lot of questions about my work. He thinks Germany is one of the closest allies to Israel. I had to disappoint him by sharing my view on this: the German government knows about its responsibility towards Israel – that’s one part. But the other part is German society. And that’s a totally different story.
Joseph was eager to learn about the German Jewish communities and how people feel. I answered his questions frankly, as I always do. I had to tell him that I am not sure if every Jew will stay in Germany after what is going on there. We agreed on the fortune to have a plan B in case it is needed: Israel.
I left Joseph and met my colleague Carrie. Carrie is the director of Museum Experience and shared with me some background information.
Since I am planning the new study, my main interest was about the funding they got and the support private donors and foundations provided. Also, I learned more about the government in Ontario that made Holocaust Education mandatory for grade 6 in fall 2023, but gave only little money to implement the new curriculum. Actually, I asked Carrie the same questions I already asked the Ministry of Education : Who pays for the education of the teachers? What about new textbooks? Who makes sure that the topic will be taught at all? And alike the Ministry, Carrie, could not answer. But certainly she asked herself the very same questions. We agreed on staying in touch.
Right after that meeting I had lunch with my friend Marilyn. Marilyn is a lively lady – on all fronts. We met some years ago after I searched the name of the Ambassador of Claims Conference in Canada. I checked websites and newspapers and at some point her name came up. After more research I got a mail address, emailed her and we had a chaotic phone call – me in Calgary in my hotel room, she in her car, stuck in traffic in Toronto. I think she did not understand what I was asking for at all. I flew over to Toronto about 3 month later for a conference doing a talk. At some point a little lady came into the conference room and took a seat at my table, actually right beside me. I looked on her name tag and it was Marilyn. She realized in the very same moment and hugged me out of the blue. Since then, we stayed in touch and I helped her to get funding from the Canadian government by writing a letter of support for her. Marilyn organized the world largest gathering of Holocaust survivors and families in Toronto, 75 years after the liberation of the camps. Postponed due the effects of the pandemic, people gathered in 2021. Her https://www.liberation75.org/ – event was a huge success. I am glad to took part in a small way. Now, lunch with Marilyn. I told her about my planned study and the need of money to get it going. She came up – no, not with money 😉- but with new views. We brainstormed a bit and she agreed that it is it a good idea to open up my work to public. I will definitely follow up on this brainstorming ideas. Stay tuned.
Coffee and sugar in the state of cinnamon rolls with my friend Tony right afterwards. Tony and I met some years ago during a film screening at the Toronto Jewish Film Festival, November 2018. I was invited to present two German movies about the Nazi area and the Holocaust. I gave two introductions to the films in a cinema – 300 people were in the room, at least. After the movie I stayed for another hour to answer questions from the audience. I very much like this type of talk and presentation! Tony gave me his card after the Q&A part and told me he wants me for his congregation´s speakers series. So, we organized the trip when I returned to Toronto in January 2019 and I gave my talk in September 2019. It was a very well booked evening event. Now Tony started a new project, called Israel Action Task Force, to support Israel after the attack of the terrorists in October 2023. Tony and his co-activists want to spend money to the destroyed Kibbutzim, so people can return to their villages, rebuild their homes and start anew. If you want so support this important project, please let me know and I will make a contact.
After this eventful day and my returning at the hotel, I decided to do some sightseeing as long as the sun was still shining. Since my hotel was located down town I just had a few meters to walk to see Torontos most historical sides.
