The Holocaust serves as a reminder of the consequences of intolerance towards the “other.” This lesson will discuss the meaning of tolerance. For many, tolerance is considered a virtue and a norm which seems obvious and necessary for peaceful coexistence. But has this always been the case? This lesson will begin by discussing the earliest human societies. Have they been always in conflict with each other? How was the distinction between “us and them” formed and fixed? What was the role of religion in this distinction? What types of distinctions existed throughout history? The lesson will focus on how the distinction between “us and them” turns into a distinction between good and evil. Although the pretexts and mechanisms of this differentiation have changed in the modern era, they reflect longstanding historical trends.
The first lesson will discuss the importance of learning about and discussing the Holocaust, highlighting...