Over a long and deep professional and personal experience, I have discovered that the dynamics of the performing arts are applicable to didactic courses dedicated to the Remembrance where young students are able to find new expressive, emotional, intellectual and humane capabilities. Through intense and quickly paced workshops, it is
possible to leave a positive mark that will last a lifetime. The didactic course culminates in a show where the students are protagonists and witnesses of both the complete personal journey and of the Remembrance itself. This gives the students a concrete and liberating demonstration of their capabilities, strong self esteem and hope. Thanks to the harmonious quality and energy of the work group (the “company”) which they are part of, individual students (of any ethnicity, age or field of study), starting from their own limits, succeed in knowing themselves and their particular gifts better, even the hidden ones. This happens while working and collaborating within a collective. This experience replicates a social model in which the reciprocity of doing good is the fruit of many unique individuals and it can be utilized within the family, among friends and in society in general. The theme of the Remembrance, above all that of the Holocaust, of Nazi fascism and of the Resistance and non Jewish Political Deportation helps not only to connect the past to the future, rendering them relevant and present, but it also leaves a legacy for constructing new Remembrances of humane and concrete significance.
EYAL LERNER - Artistic director

3. THE PROJECT (+subs)
https://youtu.be/xyrNHBfJuMQ 
4. STUDENTS and TEACHERS - FEEDBACKS (+subs)
https://youtu.be/UbjA1GA86LM
5. TEACHERS - ARTISTIC COLLABORATION - FEEDBACKS https://youtu.be/QILwZCc5IhE
6. INSTITUTIONS
https://youtu.be/TAmqFDu2T28
7.PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS
https://youtu.be/P8UnTEV9n54
8.PARTICIPATION OF CHILD CHORUSES (only music) https://youtu.be/RmhTOi_FrLM
9. STUDENT COUNCILS
https://youtu.be/PBcWOI-jWU0 / https://youtu.be/JCVWMjIdmfo

Remembrance…not just a Day

Is it possible today to convey youthful testimony to a dark past, giving life to feelings of a dynamic and courageous humanity?
Can true emotions of solidarity and compassion be opened up through the performing arts, creating deep connections capable of strengthening our own individuality?  
Do we believe that, after being immersed as protagonists in one of the most horrific chapters of history, we can re-emerge from it optimistic, more aware and more courageous?

These are the challenges that lie at the root of Eyal Lerner’s Remembrance Project which, through his artistic and didactic search, has involved thousands of students and teachers to date, accompanying them on this continuously evolving path.  

The Remembrance Project is aimed at an in-depth exploration of Jewish history and culture, as well as the history of the Holocaust, in relation to the development of the Second World War and the progressive deterioration of the condition of the Jewish population, until the attempt at its complete annihilation.

The initiative springs from the eclectic didactic and artistic experiences of Eyal Lerner, a musician who was born and brought up in Israel and has resided in Italy since 1995. The object of the project is the creation of shows centered on the above themes and adapted to the specific History of local areas and the character of the participants. Combining experiences of research, music and dramatic reading, there is also a workshop dimension to Eyal Lerner’s shows, offering students and teachers an active involvement in the productions, making them a highly educational experience as well.    

In collaboration with a vast number of important entities, Eyal Lerner to date, has already involved over 40,000 students in secondary and lower secondary schools throughout Italy, more than a thousand of whom have done so actively, as participants in the workshops and protagonists in the shows.  

His project and method is recognised as an original means of “spreading knowledge of all forms of student participation in the sense of Presidential Decree 567/96” through the launching of a project of “particular innovativeness” aimed at the “promotion of student participation in the life of the school”.  

PAST COLLABORATIONS AND PATRONS
Jewish communities: Milan, Genoa, Florence, Casale Monferato, Merano
The Institute of Italian Culture: Cracow, Wolfsburg
Regional Education Department: Lombardy, Ligury, Tuscany
Provincial Student Councils: Cremona, Bergamo, Sondrio, Mantova Milan City of Rome: Memorial didactic office
Il Pitigliani - Jewish Center, Rome
The Fossoli Foundation
The municipalities of Parma, Chiavari, Merano, Cremona and others... Region of Tuscany
Ficlu (National federation of clubs and centres for UNESCO)
Lions club Florence Stibbert
Rotary Club Pontedera
Palazzo Ducale - Genoa

SPONSORED BY
The Holocaust Memorial (“Binario 21”) of Milan
the Jewish Community of Rome
Ucei - Union of Italian Jewish Communities
The Remembrance Project / Cdec of Rome
The Camis De Fonseca Foundation

THE SHOW
“May these things never end…
Jewish memory through music and narration”    

The show is composed in two parts: The first recounts the history the Jewish people through music and stories tied to traditions before the war: this way, the students have the opportunity become interested in and get to know the culture of a people who, having survived centuries of diaspora and migration, knew how to transform adversity into optimism, creativity and hope.        
In the second part, while the stories of particular individuals unfold (*), a drastic change of atmosphere is witnessed: Italian events from nazi-fascism to the Resistance, the nazi war machine and the extermination.  
(*) Through research focused on a historical period, events that happened in the areas hosting the performance can be introduced into the show. One possible objective is to recount the history of the local population: the life of the people, the acts of heroism, participation in the Resistance, other forms of persecution as well as other significant and engaging events whose presentation can be entrusted to the students themselves and becoming an integral part of the show.

To begin with, schools are invited to participate as spectators by filling out the online form that can be found on the website: www.progettomemoria.org

ACTIVE AND INNOVATIVE PARTICIPATION
The opportunity for the students to participate in the show in an active way strengthens the emotional impact of the event, particularly on an audience consisting of their own peers. It is not always necessary that the students have any previous knowledge about the theme of the Holocaust, this will be elaborated on during the preperation phase.  

The contents of the show are flexible and modular with the aim of adapting the event to the local history of different areas.     Therefore, each school will be able to choose which workshops on the basis of its own orientation and/or the presence of individuals gifted with particular talents.      

The organization and realization of the workshops provides for a first phase introduced and conducted by advisor teachers,  with the supervision of the artistic direction of “Progetto Memoria” and then a successive phase in which the show is finally staged. It is in this second phase that the artistic direction will coordinate and coach the representative students from the various schools actively involved in the event.  

In order to better implement the various paths and insertions of the different participations within the show, didactic guide and support material will be sent after confirmation of registration.    

WORKSHOPS

Following is a list of some suggestions for workshops, organised for a scholastic approach. It is possible to start a workshop course with more complete classes at the same time as ones for fewer students with specific personal skills. Please note: they are not obligatory!

- Research and elaboration on historical information and local testimony
- Narration
- Choral and solo singing
- Instrumental music ensemble and soloist
- Dance, dance theatre and choreography,
- Set design, set construction, costumes
- Lighting, sound, editing
- Filming and documenting the workshops and the show
- Audio-visual filming and editing Ripresa
- Research of multimedia material in historic archives
- Jewish culinary traditions (Hotel institutes)
- Research on historic locations concerning the theme
- Hospitality, promotion, press office, coordination and organization of the show

Study/Work Schools

Where requested, for students taking part in the various workshops, it is possible to start a Study/Work School course defining the contract with various entities recognized by ministerial standards.    

PUBLIC ENTITIES    
With your assistance and your valuable participation, we propose the possibility of putting on the show also in evening hours, launching collaborations with public entities such as municipalities, associations, museums, etc… so that the shows, presented together with the students, can be shared with the public.      

Suor Emerenziana who saved dozens of Roman Jews, recognized as "Righteous among the Nations"

 … to not leave them alone… with that nightmare, we invited them in with us… we talked about this and that… and they were happy, for a moment, to forget and get away from that thought that oppressed them. It is something to not forget… It’s not possible to forget because it touched us to the core… and then we overcame it… it was necessary, it’s not that we performed miracles… in a situation of unjustly inflicted pain, nothing less can be done.
     
Roberto Jarach, vice-president of the Holocaust Memorial Foundation (“Track 21”) of Milan

I have the pleasure of welcoming you all… for a show in which we want to present, in an artistic and contextual light, the tragedy of the Holocaust, in a way that can reach into students’ hearts and  make them understand what the tragedy [of the Holocaust] was. It is this concept [of being persecuted for being born jewish] that must be impressed upon the youth of tomorrow and make them understand points that need to be seized upon in society in order to avoid that this history repeat itself. I am certain that you teachers will manage to transmit this message and prepare the students… for this important and profound reflection.


Dr. Pica, Municipality of Rome

…this show and day… absolutely moving, exhaustive from both an artistic point of view and above all from a historic point of view… I saw these students who will be going to Auschwitz, very interested and deeply moved.
   
Laura De Fonseca, De Fonseco Foundation of Turin

Eyal is fantastic. You all have put on a show that is very captivating for the students, and also educational. And next year, we will try to expand it, develop ti and bring it to as many young people as possible. Thank you for having done this!  

Silvia Guetta, Scifopsi - Florence University of Studies

The idea came about when Eyal Lerner… made his presentation at a conference on the theme of the Holocaust and how students see the Holocaust. From that moment the idea of expanding this formative opportunity was born, involving university students as well as those in middle and superior schools… and those who come together to create a powerful artistic experience

Domenico Petruzzo, General Director of Tuscany Regional Education Department (USR)

We want to acknowledge the beautiful experience  that we have had… because it was a moment of intriguing reflection, very original and beyond common that knows how to combine the artistic vein of  the presenter with the remembrance… a feat that struck us favorably and we hope that this thing can continue
 
Milva Segato, Day of Remembrance contact person Tuscany USR

The theatrical and musical work the Lerner has developed and engaged the students in a truly effective way… It was the first time in which we something new, different and the results were truly  amazing… The horror tends to be dismissed by the students… Eyal knew how to… confront such a difficult theme even in a manner that was… delicate… I think that it was a meaningful experience for all who participated… that will leave a mark…

Vittorio Gasparrini, president of the Florence UNESCO Center

For UNESCO, the Holocaust is not only the remembrance of the 27th, but rather a permanent program… A permanent educational theme… The education of the memory of the genocide in order to impart peace and dialogue and understanding.

Anna Dolfi, vice-president of the Florence UNESCO Center

The importance of the initiative is to talk with the young. This is the mission that UNESCO has. …Therefore, the initiative of today is truly a pillar of our work. This makes us very happy.


Luigi Dei, dean of the Florence University of Studies

“May these things never end…” [title]: I like this idea of a never ending flow. Even the Remembrance battered by waves does not sink, [and so] has no end. “Remembrance through music and narration” [sub-title]: from all the arts… only music and narrative have a correlation with time… they lend themselves better to connecting with the theme of the Remembrance. Your show that mixes accounts and music is beautiful because it enhances the commemorative effect of two cultures that, in synergy, help us to observe the remembrance. I congratulate all of you on this show which puts together words, affirming stories that drip with memory and spirit with these incredibly alluring narrations with whimsical and original dances…they are sprites that fly from the musical staff …let’s not stop them! Let them dance…while other waves flying from dramatic voices recount for us …they convey us to the kingdom of the time that was.

WE AWAIT YOUR REGISTRATION/ENROLLMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS THERE ARE NUMEROUS REQUESTS.
THIS YEAR THE PREFERENCE IS TO PRESENT THE SHOW IN THE SAME MONTH THE FIRST TRAINS DEPARTED FOR THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS OR CHOOSING OTHER EVENTS THAT ARE CONNECTED TO EACH SPECIFIC PLACE.