The Critical Question at Hand
For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated with the Jewish people's experience in all different times and places in world history. The Jewish experience has been very unique on many levels. When we look at the grand narrative of Canadian history in the 20th century, there is no emphasis on Jewish experiences in Canada. Anti-Semitism and discrimination is not often discussed with students, and most high school students are not aware of the attitudes towards Jewish people in Canada in the first half of the 20th century. We put a huge portion of our focus on the Holocaust and the events in Europe, and we do not focus in on what was happening within our borders. Most students do not think that Canadian policy was in any way discriminatory towards Jewish people. However, when investigating the time period more closely, we see a different picture.
The SS St. Louis is a good place to start with students in investigating this issue. The question I would like to focus on in this research, similar to what I have done in the past, is the following:
Why were the Jewish refugees on the SS St. Louis in June of 1939 turned away from Canada by the government?
The SS St. Louis is a good place to start with students in investigating this issue. The question I would like to focus on in this research, similar to what I have done in the past, is the following:
Why were the Jewish refugees on the SS St. Louis in June of 1939 turned away from Canada by the government?