Image: group of scholars on a tour of Jewish Lodz

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Post by PhD Researcher Catharine Aretakis:

The EHRI Seminar on Microhistories of the Holocaust held in Łódź, Poland a few weeks ago was an invaluable learning experience in which the future of microhistorical research on the Holocaust looked brighter than ever. A group of scholars (both early career and long established) came together in Poland to discuss current and future projects to advance the sub-field of microhistory. From fascinating work on the postal service in the Łódź ghetto to discussions on methodological challenges to debates on the proper use of microhistory in Holocaust education, it became very clear that some of the most interesting work being done on the Holocaust using microhistory is still forthcoming. Among the guest speakers were some of the contributors to the acclaimed volume Night without End edited by Jan Grabowski and Barbara Enkelking as well as renowned Holocaust scholar Dalia Ofer.

In addition to a full week of exhilarating discussions and debates among the participants and organizers, the participants had in-depth tours of Jewish Łódź, the former Łódź ghetto, and the killing center at Chełmno. Not only did I come away with a wonderful impression of the work being done on microhistory today and many plans for future research, I was helped tremendously in forming new opinions of my ongoing project on the microhistory of the Holocaust in the Netherlands. Thank you very much to EHRI, the Polish Center for Holocaust Research, and the University of Łódź - Center for Jewish Research for such an invigorating week of scholarship.