This intensive training examines the mass murder of Jews in Eastern Europe between 1941 and 1944, focusing on the period in which mass shootings preceded—and then continued alongside—the implementation of killing centers. 

The session begins with a historical overview of mass shootings in Eastern Europe, emphasizing their scale, public nature, and central role in the genocide. Participants are introduced to the Holocaust by bullets as a critical phase in the evolution of Nazi killing policies, one that both preceded and overlapped with the operation of extermination camps. 

Educators are then introduced to Yahad – In Unum’s investigative methodology, which combines archival research, eyewitness testimony, and field-based analysis to reconstruct crimes at the local level. Participants explore how this methodology is translated into classroom-ready educational resources, including primary documents, maps, and testimony excerpts. 

At the core of the program is a guided micro-historical case study from one specific location in Ukraine. Working with a curated set of archival records and eyewitness testimonies, participants reconstruct how the Holocaust unfolded in that locality. 

This case study illustrates how global policies and decisions developed earlier in the Nazi regime were translated into concrete actions during 1941–1942, shaping the destruction of individual communities. Educators examine how evidence is identified, cross-referenced, and evaluated, and how historians establish what happened, when, and how.

Educator Scholarship: This one-time scholarship is available to current educators, retired educators, and students currently enrolled at an academic institution. To apply for a scholarship to cover the cost of admission to the program, please email: education@mjhnyc.org

Participation in this program is CTLE credit eligible.