Yad Vashem - Appropriate?

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ChossidMom ↓

Sun, Aug 02 2009, 11:40 am

My 3 big kids are 14, 11 and 9.
Do you think that a visit to Yad Vashem is appropriate for these ages? They're dying to go. Especially my eldest is totally fascinated with the holocaust (both my husband's parents were Auschwitz survivors).

manhattanmom

Sun, Aug 02 2009, 11:55 am

I think they should.
I wasn't at Yad Vashem recently--I was there a few years ago but I remember it being a lot of memorials--if you don't think they could handle disturbing images, movies, and exhibits there's plenty else to see and gain some understanding...like lists of people, testimonies, monuments, etc.

BeershevaBubby

Sun, Aug 02 2009, 11:56 am

I think 9 is the perfect age to start to appreciate what the Holocaust was about.

Seraph

Sun, Aug 02 2009, 11:59 am

keep in mind there are untznius pics. in terms of ages, you have to know if they'd get nightmares or not.

Ruchel

Sun, Aug 02 2009, 12:02 pm

I wouldn't go myself!! And I would so not introduce the topic by something so extreme... I will have to do it unfortunately pretty early (I don't want dd to discover it at school especially as a minority of european origined Jew), but Yad vashem?? No way, I'm told many adults can't handle the new one!!

beilariva

Sun, Aug 02 2009, 12:04 pm

If they themselves express the will to go I think you should do it but prepared for what exhibits to focus on. Read up on the museum before you go.

cindy324

Sun, Aug 02 2009, 4:51 pm

Quote:

but Yad vashem?? No way, I'm told many adults can't handle the new one!!

I was just there, and yes, the main building where the exhibits go from the time Hitler came into power until the time the camps were liberated is extremely difficult to get through. It's also situated in a way that you can't just decide you can't take anymore and turn around and walk out. It's like a zigzag with noway to skip stuff.

Never mind the pictures, there are videos playing constantly, with VERY graphic and disturbing images, such as nebach dead people just literally being shoveled into mass graves with tractors Crying

it's like they were never human beings.

The 14 year old, yes, she's old enough (if she's very strong) but not younger, I wouldn't.

Tova ↓

Sun, Aug 02 2009, 6:17 pm

I think that if they want to go you should bring them but they should walk through the exhibits with an adult.

[Side point - I found the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC much more graphic/ poignant/ horrifying than Yad VaShem...although that could definately be that I went to the former in 10th grade and the latter in seminary...]

↑ ChossidMom ↓

Sun, Aug 02 2009, 9:55 pm

Thanks for the feedback.
I spoke with dh about it last night. He says he thinks he first went when he was about 9.

Marion ↓

Sun, Aug 02 2009, 10:05 pm

The children's memorial might be a good place to start, and it's rather "benign" in terms of graphicity (is that a word?). There's also a children's exhibit (or was, last time I was there) that focusses more on the kids' experiences and what was saved (art, poetry...) than the concentration camp experience. I haven't been since they redid it though.

↑ ChossidMom ↓

Sun, Aug 02 2009, 10:07 pm

When did they re-do Yad Vashem? I was there eons ago.

hila ↓

Sun, Aug 02 2009, 10:21 pm

I think under 13 it is not suitable. Too graphic, and too long.

Also I think every Israeli should HAVE to go there.
I know trhey take most Chayalim

THe new part is long though. About 3 hours walking round. And tehn there are areas outside too.

Takse water bottles. It isa hard (physically and mentally) challenging day.

↑ Marion ↓

Sun, Aug 02 2009, 10:23 pm

My cousin went almost 4 years ago...I think they had just finished the reno. It took him 2 7 hour days to get through it all. He was 28 at the time.

↑ ChossidMom ↓

Sun, Aug 02 2009, 11:26 pm

Truth be told, we really don't need to see everything.

↑ hila

Sun, Aug 02 2009, 11:30 pm

Trouble is you cant get out in the middle really - it is a long path through all the exhibits. With the most harrowing at the end.

tomorrow

Sun, Aug 02 2009, 11:38 pm

I just took my 12 and 10 year olds there last week. They absolutely will not let a child under age ten into the place. They stopped my younger son and asked:
How old are you?
When was your birthday?
What grade are you in in school?
How long 'til your bar mitzvah?

In their re-doing, they've also PC'ed it and there's a nice little corner about homosexuals. You really need to be on your toes as to what's the next thing on the docket. I had to do a fair amount of steering there. They've also prettied up the Judenraat business, making them sound like really good guys. It was a little bizarre. They did have some very good videos for frum kids. Be prepared that you cannot bring babies, bags, any liquid but water. There is a cloakroom to check in your bags. We had be in and out in 2 1/2 hours and it wasn't nearly long enough. It isn't as scary as it was in the old premises, but I think it lost a lot in the translation.

freidasima ↓

Mon, Aug 03 2009, 1:16 am

I think that it's definitely appropriate for ages 10 and up. The inappropriate things - meaning anything questionable for frum kids - are placed above eye level on purpose. So you have to really look for it, I would take them.

↑ ChossidMom ↓

Mon, Aug 03 2009, 1:48 am

Yeah, well, now I'm stuck. The youngest of my "big" kids is only 9 and it looks like they won't let him in.

shalhevet

Mon, Aug 03 2009, 1:59 am

There is a frum Shoah museum in BB called Ginzecha Kadosh or something - I don't know any other details. And there is/ was a Shoah museum on Har Tzion.

I've only been to the old Yad Vashem years ago, but I heard the new one is inappropriate for frum people of any age, both because of the pictures and the hashkafa.

Also, what about Bet Hatefuzot? (It doesn't have anything much about the Shoah, but it might make a good substitute to see about how Jews lived in various countries before the Shoah).

↑ Marion

Mon, Aug 03 2009, 2:04 am

From their website:

"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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