Holocaust memory and cultural trauma: Israeli adolescents’ poetry and heritage journeys to Poland

ABSTRACT

The objective of this research was to analyse poetry written by Israeli high-school students during or after visiting Poland within the framework of Holocaust education. I describe first the stages of shaping the discourse of Holocaust memory in Israel, and of Holocaust education; the Holocaust’s place in the world of young Israelis; and the journeys to Poland as reflected in research. Following that, I present the results of the research and an analysis of the findings. The paper will discuss how Israeli adolescents cope with a cultural trauma.

KEYWORDS:

• Cultural trauma
• adolescents
• poetry
• Holocaust
• particularistic
• universalistic
• ideological questions

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Sal Van Gelder Center for Holocaust Research & Instruction.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.