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Visiting Info
Opening Hours:

Sunday to Thursday: ‬09:00-17:00

Fridays and Holiday eves: ‬09:00-14:00

Yad Vashem is closed on Saturdays and all Jewish Holidays.

Entrance to the Holocaust History Museum is not permitted for children under the age of 10. Babies in strollers or carriers will not be permitted to enter.

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Prewar Jewish Life in Zagreb

The Synagogue on Praska Street

Grades: 9 - 12
Duration: 1.5 hours

This lesson provides an opportunity for high-school students to learn about Jewish life in Zagreb before the Holocaust. In this lesson, students will explore Jewish symbols and traditions. They will become acquainted with the community of Zagreb and its unique features within the context of the Jewish world. Learning about Jewish life before the Holocaust is essential for further studying the Nazi era and the Holocaust. By gaining a stronger awareness about how Jews integrated into European culture, students will better relate to the murder of Jews as human beings rather than as statistics. Furthermore, exposing students to a vibrant Jewish community will help students perceive Croatian Jewish people not only as victims but rather as active and involved European citizens.

The synagogue on Praska Street in Zagreb was destroyed by the Ustasha between Fall 1941 and Spring 1942. At that time, Croatian Jews were persecuted and murdered. We, as educators, do not have the means to change the course of history. However, through an educational process with our students, we have the ability to affect the future. Together with our students, we shall symbolically reconstruct the synagogue of Zagreb, listen to testimonies of Croatian Jews, and hopefully gain a better understanding about prewar Jewish life in Europe.

Objectives

  • Students will learn the meaning of Jewish symbols.
  • Students will be familiarized with Croatian Jewry before World War II.
  • Students will learn about the unique characteristics of a minority.
  • Students will read testimonies and discuss the importance of using different sources.
Lesson Procedure
Additional Resources