The Zionist/Jewish Youth Movements in Warsaw in the 1930's

This programme is suitable for a seminar or camp and lasts about 3 hours.

Divide participants into groups of about five people. Each group will represent one Youth Movement in Warsaw in 1938. If numbers are limited, group the leftist Zionist youth Movements together (as they had similar world views).

Each group will need the assistance of a counsellor or moderator who understands the Movements well and can explain the situation in pre-war Poland, so the staff will need to move around constantly.

• Each group should design and make a Movement logo, badges, banner and poster as well as write a song. They should also produce a newsletter explaining the Movement's position on antisemitism, Zionism, Polish Jewry, Movement gossip and news etc. They also need to write a speech or a short drama piece about "Options for Jewish Youth", to be delivered to an emergency conference to be held by the Jewish Youth Council.

• Everyone should come to the conference "dressed" to match their Movement. The room should be decorated appropriately with the banners and posters, and the newsletters distributed on all the tables.

• A senior moderator should act as Chair of the Council and open by explaining why the conference is being held, namely, to debate and discuss which youth movement has the ideology most relevant for dealing with the situation facing the Jews in 1938. Each group in turn will then present their song or drama piece and their speech. A small number of questions can be taken from other groups.

• To conclude, participants should vote on which movement they would have joined in Warsaw in 1938. Peoples' answers should be discussed, with the senior counsellor commenting both on the voting and on how realistic the presentations and speeches were. Time should be allowed for participants to express their reactions to the programme.