The Oneg Shabbat Archives “We aspired to reveal the whole truth, as bitter as it may be.” DR. Emanuel Ringleblum - Archivist / Warsaw Ghetto & Poland

What are the Oneg Shabbat Archives? Thousands of records and testimonials from Jews who risked their lives documenting their fate in the Warsaw Ghetto and Poland during the Holocaust over a period of three and one half years. Oneg Shabbat is translated as “Joy of Sabbath” (Hebrew). Meetings took place on the Sabbath and the name was given for secrecy. In 1942, three caches of documents were buried in sealed cans or tins in the Ghetto. Two caches were discovered in 1946 and 1950. They were the only remaining records after the Ghetto was destroyed. The third was not found.

Who was Dr. Emanuel Ringleblum? He founded the archives in 1939 so life under Nazi control in Poland and the Warsaw Ghetto could be recorded for history. He reviewed each piece included in the collection. “Jews began to write. Everyone wrote. Journalists, writers, teachers, public figures, youth, even children.” “Many sidedness was the main principle of our work.” “Objectivity was our other guiding principle.” He was murdered by the Nazis with his wife and son in 1944. Dr. Emanuel Ringleblum

“What we were unable to cry and shriek out to the world, we buried in the ground. I would love to see the moment in which the great treasure will be dug up and scream the truth at the world. So the world may know all. So the ones who did not live through it may be glad, and we may feel like veterans with medals on our chests. …May the treasure fall into good hands, may it last into better times, may it alarm and alert the world.” ~ From the last will and testament of David Graber (age 19), who helped bury the first cache of archives on August 3rd, 1942

Why are the Archives Important? The archive is considered the “single most important historical source” about Nazi occupation in Poland. ~ Yad Vashem It is first hand information about culture, art, social welfare, economic conditions and Germans atrocities. The archives provide different perspectives about the Holocaust for us to learn from while remembering what happened. It is a chronical of persecution that validates other information about the Holocaust and Nazi crimes. (drawing by Roman Kramsztyk, 1942) Polish Artist. Died, Warsaw Ghetto,1942

Containers that held the Oneg Shabbat Archives.

Examples of Jewish Records Letters, diaries and meeting minutes. Jewish ration cards, artwork, and records of cultural activities.

Examples of Jewish Records Medical reports. This is about the spread of Typhus in the Ghetto. Copies of underground newspapers, posters, events, and religious affairs.

Examples of German Records Documents such as this invitation to send children to an orphanage. German issued passports for Jews or deportation records and notices.

Examples of German Records German Announcements or posters. Summons to report for resettlement, 1942

“In the case of tyranny, the individual has to stand up and fight “In the case of tyranny, the individual has to stand up and fight. You become part of either the suppressors or the suppressed. There is no third way. No one nation can take all the blame, nor can another be the only victim; all humanity shares in both the guilt and the sacrifice.” ~ Dr. Robert O. Fisch “Those Martyrs Live”

Be an Upstander: “The history of the Holocaust is an example of what happens when hatred is unopposed.” ~ Henry Oertelt Upstander: A person who stands up for something, as contrasted to a bystander who remains inactive. #Stain of Denial Protest 2015 remembering centennial of first genocide of 20th century when 1.5 million Armenians were annihilated “Father Bruno with Jewish Children he hid from the Germans. He was recognized as “Righteous Among the Nations.” ~ US Holcaust Memorial Museum

Study and Tell Stories of Human Suffering: “For the dead and the living, we must bear witness.” ~ Elie Wiesel Join Human Rights Watch www.hrw.org Find another human rights organization at: www.humanrights.com Amnesty International Children’s Defense Fund Simon Wiesenthal Center Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees NAACP UNESCO Human Rights Council Family whose 14 year old daughter was stolen by Boko Haram, most of the girls were sold as slaves or wives, or murdered.

Embrace Differences: “We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same.” ~ Anne Frank Smile and say hello. Understand different perspectives. Be aware of your own values, biases, or stereotypes. Communicate and ask questions. Volunteer. Listen and learn.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead

References and Resources – 1 of 2 http://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/ringelbum/photos_documents_diaries.asp https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/Oneg.html http://theholocaustmuseum.info/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=new1_flypage.tpl&product_id=933& category_id=34&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=226 http://culture.pl/en/artist/roman-kramsztyk http://www.holocaustresearchproject.org/ghettos/ringleblum.html http://hmd.org.uk/resources/stories/emanuel-ringelblum-and-oneg-shabbat-archive https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnrpJkwj450 http://community.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2014/04/22/the-samuel-and-dorothy-frankel-memorial-lecture/ www.coroflot.com www.hrw.org http://www.yadvashem.org/odot_pdf/Microsoft%20Word%20-%205802.pdf

References and Resources - 2 of 2 http://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/ringelbum/overview.asp http://www.ushmm.org/m/pdfs http://www.eliewieselfoundation.org/eliewiesel.aspx http://chgs.umn.edu/histories/minnesotans/oertelt/ http://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007745 http://archives.jdc.org/exhibits/in-memoriam/emanuel-ringelblum.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/ http://www.deathcamps.org/occupation/ringelblum.html http://www.annefrank.org/ http://www.yellowstarfoundation.org/book/pages/14.htm http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/media_ph.php?MediaId=585 http://wagingnonviolence.org/feature/100-years-of-denial-sparks-new-student-movement-pushing-for- armenian-genocide-recognition/ www.humanrights.com

Kimberly Bohrer Vicky Knickerbocker The Holocaust through Multiple Lenses HUM 1177 - 99