Speaking Engagemens in Laa an der Thaya: Highschool and Business School - April 2005



I am very happy about the fact that, after all the years of lecturing abroad (mainly in the USA), I had been given the chance to speak in Laa. This was even more important than ever now, just a few weeks before the dedication of the memorial. People have to be made aware why the memorial is put up.

In mid April I had the opportunity to speak about the Jewish past of Laa in front of all 14 year old students (4 classes) and one of the graduating-classes at the local Highschool as well as to both graduating classes of the local Business School. It was a very nice suprize when the school-inspector attended the very first lecture.

Especially the 14 year old students took the chance and participated very vividly in the 2nd part, in which they could ask questions – either about the Jewish past or my research work. They showed much passion and comittment to the topic. Considering that my lecture was marking the end of a series of sessions in which they had talked with their teacher about nazism, the students also showed very good background-knowledge.

I guess, the students were also very much involved because I had taken out a single life-story. It was one of my aims to make sure that this was not just another history class for the kids. I really wanted them to feel how important the saying “never again” has to be considered. To make them feel the urgency, I had to give history a face. So I picked out the story of Karola Österreicher. I put her in the center of my lecture and grouped other stories (the ones of her family, neigbours and friends) around hers.

I think, that the students understood only too well how important it was to me to tell them about the Jewish community of Laa – the life here before 1938 and also about the being singed out and the final extinction. It is so important for the students to understand, that it is the acting and not-looking-away of very single person, which makes a difference. Especially the youth needs to be reached with this message, because it is them who will decide about the future. Therefore I want to thank the schools again for inviting me and the students for listening.

Mag. Magdalena Müllner