Holocaust Education Program Podcast

Recorded at Royal West Academy on Yom HaShoah, this episode brings together four Secondary 5 students and Rachel Goodman in conversation with Mark Bergman. Following Rachel’s powerful presentation about her mother’s experience during the Holocaust, and the family who risked everything to save her life, the group reflects on the impact of hearing such a story firsthand. Through thoughtful discussio...

The EMSB is proud to continue its vital Holocaust education program, thanks to a generous grant from Federation CJA. In this episode, host Mark Bergman takes listeners on a tour with Grade 11 students from John F. Kennedy High School, exploring the impact of this important program. He also sits down with Sara Fogg, Communications Director at the Montreal Holocaust Museum, and Paula Kilian, EMSB Co...

In this episode, we sit down with students from Pierre Elliot Trudeau School—Beatrice, Massimo, Azhana, and Simone—four thoughtful and articulate Grade 6 voices, joined by Rocco Speranza, student animator at the EMSB. Together, we delve into their journey of learning about the Holocaust.   We explore the significance of Holocaust education, reflecting on what the students knew beforehand, the mome...

In this episode, we sit down with Grade 6 students Ciella and Léon from Edward Murphy Elementary School, along with Rocco Speranza, the school’s personal development and community involvement animator, to reflect on their visit to the Montreal Holocaust Museum.   We explore the students’ experiences, starting with what they knew about the Holocaust before their visit and the educational preparatio...

In this episode, we sit down with Grade 6 students Alex De Cola, Lily Daniliuc, and Sidney Chheng from Dante, alongside Mary Poulas, a dedicated personal development and community animator. Together, they reflect on a transformative educational experience: their visit to the Holocaust Museum. The conversation delves into how the students were prepared for this profound journey, their initial under...

In this episode, we sit down with students from Perspectives I and II who recently took part in an educational tour of the Montreal Holocaust Museum. Joining us are Damien Anthony Masson-Ioanna, Mia Manicone, and Victoria from Perspectives II, all in Secondary 5, along with Massimo Vitale, a Grade 8 student from Perspectives I.   Also featured are Rodney Hanelsman, a teacher from Perspectives II,...

Embark on an insightful journey with award-winning teacher Chantal Clabrough, recipient of the 2023 Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Teaching. Join Chantal and two exceptional students, Aissatou Barrie and Joseph Pozdena, as they share their moving experiences at the Montreal Holocaust Museum and discuss the profound impact of learning about the Holocaust in the classroom. This e...

On Monday, November 13, some members of the English Montreal School Board  (EMSB) Council of Commissioners made an unprecedented visit to the Montreal Holocaust Museum. The EMSB has placed a heavy emphasis on students, notably those from non-Jewish areas, visiting the Museum and learning more about the Holocaust and the evils of antisemitism. Most recently, the Council of Commissioners adopted a r...

Sandra Banon, Cycle 3 French teacher (St. Monica), and Samantha Page Smith, Spiritual and Community Animator (Westmount High, St. Monica, Hampstead, and John Grant High School) were selected to take part in the 2023 Canadian Society for Yad Vashem Holocaust Educators Scholarship program in Israel this past July along with dozens of other educators from across Canada. Mme Banon took part in the two...

The Grade 5 students at Gardenview Elementary  School in St. Laurent have spent the last few months learning about the Holocaust in order to begin their novel study on the book , Number the Stars. Listen to this episode as Mark Bergman chats with teacher Ms Fogel, as well as students Olivia Tseles, Konstantina Kromida, and David Tarasco about their visit.

In this latest play from multi-award-winning playwright Joshua Harmon, a Jewish couple in 1944 Paris faces the impact of the Holocaust. More than 70 years later, their great-grandchildren find themselves facing the same question as their ancestors: "Are we safe?" Join hosts Eliane Goldstein and Mark Bergman as they chat with Ellen David (graduate of Wagar High School) and Misha Kreyzerma...

Secondary V students at Lester B. Pearson High School in Montreal North have been engaged in a learning process where understanding our history, developing both empathy and compassion, as well as empowerment for the future, have been the objectives. This learning path began with a novel study of the memoir Night by Elie Wiesel which was read by LBPHS students in Pangiota Seremetis' Secondary...

Mark Bergman chats with Secondary V Rosemont High School students, Alessandra Cristiano, Katherine Sideris, and teacher Mr. Giancola, about their recent visit to the Montreal Holocaust Museum.

After learning about the story of Muguette Myers , the Holocaust survivor visited Stacey Blumer's class at Marymount Academy International. In this episode you'll hear all about that visit, as we chat with resource teacher Stacey Blumer, students Johanna Seligman and Sam Deljouy Toheidi, as well as Muguette Myers herself! If you'd like to learn more about Muguette Myers, you can pic...

Royal West Academy Secondary III teacher Katharine Cukier took her class to see The Covenant ,  a play based on a true story from 1944 where Nazis deceived a Swiss Red Cross team investigating the treatment of Jewish inmates at a camp in Theresienstadt, Czechoslovakia. The play was written by Alice Abracen , a graduate of Royal West Academy, and former student of Ms. Cukier! Hosts Eliane Goldstein...

As part of Holocaust Education Month, author Monique Polak visited two elementary schools –  Our Lady of Pompei in Ahuntsic and Westmount Park to read from  The Brass Charm . This marks her first picture book for children. In it she  tells the story of a gift from a perfect stranger that her mother (the late Celien Spier) received on her 14th birthday while a prisoner at the Nazi concentration cam...

On Friday October 28th, Liberal MP for Mount-Royal Anthony Housefather, joined Grade 6 students at Carlyle Elementary to discuss antisemitism, hate, and disinformation. On this edition of the podcast we'll chat with 2 students who attended the session (Anthony Minit-sios  and Aaditya Ratan Gupta), as well as Anthony Housefather, to discuss and recap what the class learned! 

Our first school visit was courtesy of the grade 5 students, at Nesbitt Elementary . You'll hear what the students learned from their tour, plus their tour guide's incredible reaction! Also hear how their Child Care Worker was deeply affected by the class visit. In this podcast: Grade 5 student Nicolas Kelly. Grade 5 student Olena Holowka Child Care Worker Charlene Timothy Montreal Holoc...

In this premiere episode, you'll meet our hosts Mark Bergman  and Westmount High student Eliane Goldstein. They'll   talk about the new program and find out more about the upcoming year from  Monique Mcleod, head of education at the Montreal Holocaust Museum and Danika Swanson ,Consultant for the Spiritual and Community Animation Service of the EMSB.