08/25/2026
The MA in Holocaust and Genocide Studies at the Fish Center offers an interdisciplinary curriculum that emphasizes historical literacy, primary-source research, ethical reasoning, and effective communication. Through three immersive summer study-abroad trips—to Central Europe, Israel, and the Balkans—students have explored Jewish history and culture, Holocaust memory and education. Learned about the evolving impact of historical events on contemporary society, deepened their understanding by engaging directly with survivors, scholars, and historical sites illuminating the different ways each country experienced—and remembers—the Holocaust.
The Holocaust in Central Europe:
Our first study-abroad course investigated Jewish life and culture that had thrived in Central Europe (Czechia, Slovakia, Austria and southern Poland) and its annihilation during the Holocaust. We surveyed socio-cultural, religious and political dimensions of Jewish culture within the broad historical and geographical framework of Central Europe, a term that has become useful in general European history, but that has not been yet extensively used by Jewish history scholars. We also considered post-war issues of memory and preservation, as well as the rise of extremist politics today.
Israel and the Landscape of Holocaust Education:
Our second summer study-abroad course took us to Israel where we investigated Holocaust museums and resource centers in and around Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem to learn the different philosophies and methodologies each uses to teach about this watershed, particularly in light of October 7th.
We spoke with the directors and educators in these institutions, examined their exhibitions, and learned about their teaching. We learned how October 7th and its aftermath have changed their approach to teaching about the Shoah, and discussed political challenges and changes faced both by the administrators and their audiences.
Jewish Life and the Impact of the Holocaust in Greece and the Balkans:
On our third study-abroad course this summer, we traveled through Greece, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, and Albania. This journey provided participants with a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the intricate history of Jewish communities in the Balkans.
The trip allowed students to engage with the rich and complex narratives of Jewish life in the region, examining how these communities lived before the Holocaust, endured its devastation, and rebuilt in its aftermath. By visiting significant historical sites and interacting with local perspectives, participants deepened their understanding of the Balkans’ Jewish heritage and its transformation across different eras.
