Educators in Cairns, Brisbane and Perth combine to develop national teaching units on antisemitism
January 26, 2025 by J-Wire Newsdesk
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The ongoing success of the In My Pocket project in schools around Australia and South Africa, has brought together Perth’s WE ARE HERE! Foundation, Cairns’s Indigenous Friends of Israel International and Brisbane-based educator Shoshana Linnane to produce units for the National Curriculum starting in primary schools.
Barbara and Norm Miller, co-founders of The Indigenous Friends of Israel International, with Israel’s Ambassador Amir Maimon
Barbara Miller, Co-founder of Indigenous Friends of Israel International. “We are at a crisis point in our nation regarding antisemitism and our education system, particularly in the universities, has been a breeding ground for it. We need to intervene at the earliest level to provide teachers with units that will dispel false narratives and build empathy, compassion and a sense of identification with children of diverse backgrounds. As well as our Indigenous Friends of Israel International public education program, we are working with a curriculum writer in Brisbane and the WE ARE HERE! (WAH!) Foundation in Perth on a school program that aligns with the national curriculum and builds on WAH!’s successful In My Pocket project. It will build resilience in children to withstand some of the antisemitic material in the media. Once the modules are ready, we will invite schools to take part in a pilot program.”
Shoshana Linnane added: “As antisemitic voices and acts of hatred emerge in a daily torrent competing for a central stage position, it is imperative now, more than ever, to provide Australian teachers and school leaders with an alternative voice and potential for acts filled with compassion, respect for diversity and reaching out to connect with and understand our Jewish neighbours. It is of utmost importance and urgency to develop these teaching units on antisemitism for Australian schools in conjunction with the national curriculum, and together with teams from Indigenous Friends of Israel International and WE ARE HERE! Foundation. These units will guide teachers in how to discuss concepts of antisemitism, displacement of people groups, ethics and justice through quality literature such as the inspirational story, In My Pocket. It is a privilege to be involved in the writing of these units which have the potential to be a catalyst for change in our communities.”
WE ARE HERE! Foundation is run by Eli and Jill Rabinowitz, and is funded by the German Embassy, the German Hon Consul in WA, and local city councils in WA.
The project is unique in that it transforms a simple autobiographical book into an engaging learning experience, giving an age-appropriate stepping stone into later studies of the Holocaust.
The In My Pocket Project provides students with an understanding of the story of the Kindertransport and of the plight of refugees, particularly children, today. Each participating student receives a free copy of the mini-book, and in the art component of the project, designs and paints their own “pockets”.
In My Pocket is a true story written by Dorrith Oppenheim Sim, who was on a kindertransport to the UK from Kassel, Germany, in 1939. Dorrith was 7 ½ when she arrived in Scotland. She never saw her parents again.
The In My Pocket project is supported by the Israel and Lithuania Embassies in Australia, and the Goethe Institute in Australia.
thanks so much for your comments
Such a good idea. Barbara and Norm Miller continue to work with energy and dedication for Israel and the Jewish people. I have great admiration for them,