Move Against Hate
The Sh’ma Project creates a safe space for young adults to learn about the Holocaust and to explore, identify, and ultimately reject hate speech and behaviors that lead to atrocities and genocide.
Sh’ma—‘Listen’ in Hebrew—comes from the central prayer of the Jewish liturgy. The Sh’ma Project entreats the audience to listen and respond to one family’s story of the Holocaust using the following three approaches:
The Film Sh’ma
Combining dance theater with film and text projections, Sh’ma tells one family’s story of the Holocaust through the visual, emotional language of dance film. The protagonist is based on director Suki John’s mother, who journeyed from school days to yellow star, deportation to concentration camp, stateless teen to American citizen.
UPSTANDER WORKSHOPS
In pre- and post- viewing workshops, student groups are guided in thoughtful, safe, and collaborative ways to contextualize history and make contemporary connections. Through movement, writing, and dialogue, these workshops give young people an opportunity to create their own expressive responses in empowering, personal ways
OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
Sociologist and fellow 2nd generation survivor, Dr. Michael Polgar, is working with Suki and a team of scholars to develop “The Holocaust: Remembrance, Respect, and Resilience.” This resource, a project of Penn State University, is free to educators and students, enhancing and informing the meaning and impact of The Sh’ma Project.
Suki John, PhD
Professor in TCU’s School for Classical & Contemporary Dance Director of Dance for Texas Jewish Arts Association
Suki has worked internationally as a dance artist, writer, and scholar. Choreography credits include Ballet Nacional de Cuba, Danza Contemporánea, Joyce SoHo, Ritmo Flamenco, The Culture Project, Connecticut Repertory Theatre, and Havana Arts Festival.
Her book, Contemporary Dance in Cuba: técnica cubana as Revolutionary Movement is a personal and scholarly account.
suki@theshmaproject.com
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The Sh’ma Project needs you!
Your support will ensure that Sh’ma Project Video and Upstander workshops will be available to students and to anyone interested in learning from the Holocaust and who want to stand up to hate, bias and genocide, helping all of us to make our world a better place.
The Sh’ma Project is program of the Jewish Federation of Fort Worth and Tarrant County. We are a registered 501 (c) 3 Non-Profit Organization and any gift may be tax deductible.
