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3101 Clifton Avenue,
Cincinnati, Ohio 45220
513-487-3055
fax: 513-221-1842
chhe@huc.edu
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Vedem:
The Secret Magazine by the Boys of Terezin
General Background
Vedem
was
a secret magazine that was written, edited, and illustrated
entirely voluntarily, by the boys of Barracks L417 in
the Terezin Ghetto. Approximately one hundred boys,
aged twelve through fourteen, passed through this barracks.
Only 15 survived.
In Vedem, which translates "in the lead," the
boys of Barracks L417 expressed their experiences and
thoughts in poems, articles, dialogues, artwork, essays,
and jokes. They produced their magazine weekly, in longhand.
The boys gathered every Friday night from 1942 to 1944
to read aloud the week's issue. For some time, issues
of Vedem were also posted on the bulletin board of their
barracks. This was discontinued because of regular SS
inspections. Some of the articles in Vedem were satirical,
and even mocked the Nazis. Publicizing the magazine could
have endangered the boys. |
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The boys who created Vedem were inspired by Valtr
Eisinger (perished on a Death March, 1945), who
was a teacher of Czech language and literature before
he was deported to Terezin. In Terezin, Eisinger used
his training to foster a deep appreciation of literature
among the boys imprisoned there. Eisinger was also an
occasional contributor to Vedem.
For an article by Eisinger-"Preparing for the High
Holiday"-see
additional resources.
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| Questions: |
- Why
do you think the boys of Barracks L417 called their magazine
Vedem?
- Reflect
on one of your most memorable teachers. What makes him/her
a great teacher?
Consider this statement made by George Brady, one
of the surviving boys from Barracks L417: "He (Eisinger)
created a fascinating world for us behind the ghetto walls-the
boys developed talents they never dreamed of."
What do you think made Valtr Eisinger such a great teacher?
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CONTINUE
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