Michael Wilson
“Embracing our Differences” is comprised of men and women of different faiths, races, and life experiences who live in PebbleCreek and meet to discuss, understand, and embrace the differences between different groups of people.
On Oct. 18, Group 2 of Embracing Our Differences went on a field trip to the Arizona Jewish Historical Society in Phoenix. We were given a tour of the building, which was initially used as a synagogue. Rabbi Emeritus Jeffrey Schesnol spoke of the historical significance of the building and provided a timeline of Jewish history, including the many challenges and struggles faced by Jewish people in Europe as well as in America.
Using Metaquest Virtual Reality Headsets, we listened to a Holocaust survivor who narrated a tour of the concentration camp in which he was held. He provided us with a firsthand account of life in the camps. We were able to observe the barracks, campground, and various buildings within the camp where Jewish people were separated from their families and ultimately killed.
While touring the Historical Society, we viewed paintings by Holocaust survivors depicting the horrors of the camps and atrocities of the time.
Holographic technology enabled us to engage in conversation with Oskar Knoblauch, a 98-year-old Holocaust survivor who lives in Fountain Hills, Ariz. Oskar told us about his childhood, time spent in the concentration camps, his release, and subsequent immigration to the United States. He went on to marry, have children, and became a successful businessman who, to this day, continues to give back to those in need.
Afterward, we enjoyed lunch during which we engaged in a stimulating discussion that allowed us to parallel our Historical Society trip with the history of Black people in the United States as discussed in the book “Caste” by Isabelle Wilkerson. Our discussion provided us with a new perspective of historical events experienced by the Jewish people and common factors experienced by both the Jewish people and Black Americans.