Beyond Words (BW-ViS)
From Testimony to Visual Storytelling in Holocaust Education
Beyond words lie the life stories and testimonies of those who survived the atrocities of the Pogrom—the deportations, the separations from loved ones, the expulsion from their homes, and the ostracism from society—simply because they were considered DIFFERENT.
Beyond words lie the images that speak to us of the darkest chapter in the history of Romania and Europe: the Holocaust.
Dincolo de cuvinte sunt poveștile de viață și mărturiile celor care au supraviețuit atrocităților din timpul Pogromului sau deportărilor, despărțirilor de cei dragi, alungării din casele lor și exilării din viața socială, pentru simplul motiv că au fost considerați ALTFEL.
Dincolo de cuvinte, sunt imaginile care ne vorbesc despre cel mai întunecat episod din istoria României și a Europei, Holocaustul.
Jenseits der Worte stehen die Lebensgeschichten und Zeugnisse derer, die die Gräueltaten des Pogroms, die Deportationen, die Trennung von ihren Angehörigen, die Vertreibung aus ihren Häusern und den Ausschluss aus dem gesellschaftlichen Leben überlebt haben – allein weil sie als als ANDERS galten.
Jenseits der Worte stehen die Bilder, die uns vom dunkelsten Kapitel in der Geschichte Rumäniens und Europas erzählen: dem Holocaust.
MISSION
BW-ViS is a collaborative transnational project, focusing on raising awareness among the broader European public about lesser-known stories of Jewish communities persecuted during the Holocaust between 1941 and 1944 under Romanian authorities.
It facilitates access to modern educational tools, encourages intercultural and interdisciplinary dialogue, and brings together young people from three countries, raising their awareness of a shared European history.
BW-ViS este un proiect bazat pe o colaborare transnațională care își propune să aducă în atenția publicului larg din Europa poveștile de viață mai puțin cunoscute ale comunităților evreiești din România și teritoriilor administrate, persecutate între anii 1941 și 1944 sub autoritatea autorităților române.
BW-ViS facilitează accesul la instrumente educaționale moderne, încurajează dialogul intercultural și interdisciplinar și reunește tineri din trei țări, promovând cunoașterea unei istorii europene comune.
BW-ViS ist ein länderübergreifendes Kooperationsprojekt, dessen Schwerpunkt darauf liegt, die breite europäische Öffentlichkeit für weniger bekannte Geschichten jüdischer Gemeinden zu sensibilisieren, die zwischen 1941 und 1944 während des Holocaust unter rumänischer Verwaltung verfolgt wurden.
Es erleichtert den Zugang zu modernen Bildungsinstrumenten, fördert den interkulturellen und interdisziplinären Dialog und bringt junge Menschen aus drei Ländern zusammen, wodurch ihr Bewusstsein für eine gemeinsame europäische Geschichte geschärft wird.
OBJECTIVES
BW-ViS encourages dialogue among the broader teaching community, relevant public stakeholders, professionals from different fields, and NGOs involved in educational projects across the three partner countries.
BW-ViS încurajează dialogul între cadrele didactice, stakeholderii din domeniul public, profesioniștii din diferite domenii de activitate și organizațiile non-profit implicate în derularea proiectelor educaționale din cele trei țări partenere.
BW-ViS fördert den Dialog zwischen Lehrkräften, relevanten öffentlichen Akteuren, Fachleuten aus verschiedenen Bereichen und Nichtregierungsorganisationen, die an Bildungsprojekten in den drei Partnerländern beteiligt sind.
BW-ViS brings together young people from the three partner countries to highlight the “common history” we share as Europeans, confront the difficult chapters of our shared past, and emphasize the importance of understanding past failures to protect the EU’s democratic values and build a better future.
BW-ViS reunește tineri din cele trei țări partenere într-o descoperire a „istoriei comună” a Europei din perioada Holocaustului, acceptând trecutul întunecat și evidențiind importanța conștientizării greșelilor din trecut pentru a proteja valorile democratice și a construi un viitor comun mai bun.
BW-ViS bringt junge Menschen aus den drei Partnerländern zusammen, um die „gemeinsame Geschichte“ hervorzuheben, die wir als Europäer teilen, sich mit den dunklen Kapiteln der gemeinsamen Vergangenheit auseinanderzusetzen und zu betonen, wie wichtig es ist, die Fehler der Vergangenheit zu verstehen, um die demokratischen Werte der EU zu schützen und eine bessere Zukunft zu gestalten.
BW-ViS innovates Holocaust education by collaboratively creating an EDUCATIONAL KIT on the Holocaust under Romanian authority.
BW-ViS inovează în domeniul educației despre Holocaust prin dezvoltarea interdisciplinară a unui KIT EDUCAȚIONAL despre Holocaustul în România.
BW-ViS leistet einen innovativen Beitrag zur Holocaust-Aufklärung, indem es ein BILDUNGSPAKET zum Thema Holocaust unter rumänischer Verantwortung entwickelt.
CONSORTIUM
Our consortium brings together partner institutions from three countries: Romania, Austria, and the Republic of Moldova, with relevant experience in research, education, museology, and community life.
Each partner has a key role and complementary expertise in highlighting the shared European history during the Holocaust, preserving Holocaust memory through education, countering Holocaust denial, and fostering Jewish life.
The consortium is coordinated by the ”Elie Wiesel” National Institute for the Study of the Holocaust in Romania (INSHR-EW) and includes three other institutions: The Vienna Wiesenthal Institute for Holocaust Studies (Austria), the Jewish Community of Moldova (the Republic of Moldova), and the “Moldova” National Museum Complex (Romania).
Consorțiul nostru reunește instituții partenere din trei țări: România, Austria și Republica Moldova, cu experiență relevantă în cercetare, educație, muzeologie și viața comunității.
Fiecare partener prezintă un rol-cheie și dispune de expertiză complementară în punerea în valoare a istoriei comune europene din perioada Holocaustului, în conservarea memoriei Holocaustului prin educație, în combaterea negării Holocaustului și în promovarea vieții evreiești.
Consorțiul este coordonat de Institutul Național „Elie Wiesel” pentru Studiul Holocaustului din România (INSHR-EW) și include alte trei instituții: Institutul Wiesenthal din Viena pentru Studiul Holocaustului (Austria), Comunitatea Evreiască din Moldova (Republica Moldova) și Complexul Muzeal Național „Moldova” (România).
Unser Konsortium vereint Partnerinstitutionen aus drei Ländern: Rumänien, Österreich und der Republik Moldau, die über einschlägige Erfahrung in den Bereichen Forschung, Bildung, Museologie und Gemeinschaftsleben verfügen.
Jeder Partner spielt eine Schlüsselrolle und bringt ergänzende Fachkenntnisse ein, um die gemeinsame europäische Geschichte während des Holocausts zu beleuchten, das Gedenken an den Holocaust durch Bildung zu bewahren, der Leugnung des Holocausts entgegenzuwirken und das jüdische Leben zu fördern.
Das Konsortium wird vom Nationalen Institut für Holocaust-Forschung „Elie Wiesel“ in Rumänien (INSHR-EW) koordiniert und umfasst drei weitere Institutionen: das Wiener Wiesenthal-Institut für Holocaust-Studien (Österreich), die Jüdische Gemeinde von Moldawien (Republik Moldau) und den Nationalen Museumskomplex „Moldawien“ (Rumänien).
Since its founding in 2005, the Wiesel Institute has carried out research on Holocaust history and organized educational and cultural activities aimed at preventing antisemitism and Holocaust denial, as well as raising awareness of the effects of extremism, discrimination, racism, and xenophobia on democratic societies. In education, the Wiesel Institute provides training courses on antisemitism, xenophobia, racism, and Holocaust history for various groups, including secondary and high school teachers, public officials, journalists, and public employees.
It works in three main areas:
1. Research, focusing on its collections, including the Holocaust-related sections of the IKG archive, which are loaned to the institute, as well as the Simon Wiesenthal estate with its extensive materials on Nazi
perpetrators;
2. Engaging young scholars through its long-standing fellowship program;
3. Education, emphasizing the institute’s commitment to the core idea of the European
Enlightenment: educating responsible adults through the transfer of knowledge. Scholarly
lectures and events aim to encourage the general public to confront antisemitism, racism, the Holocaust, and genocide by sharing significant research findings on these topics. However, it is also crucial to develop, expand, and test new, even experimental ideas. The VWI organizes exhibitions and artistic installations, initiates interventions in the public sphere, and creates new digital projects, as well as innovative teaching methods and educational tools.
The Jewish Community of Moldova (JCM) serves as the umbrella organization for Jewish associations and groups across the country. With deep historical roots, JCM carries forward the legacy of Jewish cultural and communal life in Moldova, dedicated to preserving traditions, protecting heritage, and strengthening Jewish identity. It supports a vast network of schools, community centers, and synagogues, and fosters cultural events, youth engagement, and educational and social initiatives. Alongside its communitarian mission, JCM is committed to defending civil, religious, and cultural rights, countering intolerance and antisemitism, and promoting dialogue and cooperation with Moldovan authorities, international organizations, and Jewish communities worldwide.
The “Moldova” National Museum Complex (MNMC) is a prominent museum institution in Eastern Romania, comprising four national museums—two of which are focused on history—and six other museums located in or around Iași city and county. MNMC serves as the main provider of museum activities in Eastern Romania, partnering on projects with other museums both within Romania and internationally. It has extensive experience using visual tools to craft stories that are accessible to the public. MNMC is a dynamic institution that adapts to community needs and continually strives to meet visitors’ expectations and informational needs. This is why museum education programs have been integrated into its offerings, primarily targeting schools but also serving adult audiences with more diverse and context-specific learning needs. MNMC has experience implementing educational and cultural projects focused on spreading knowledge of cultural themes and raising awareness about the importance of intercultural understanding and the transmission of cultural heritage.
Beyond Words: From Testimony to Visual Storytelling in Holocaust Education- BW:ViS (Dincolo de cuvinte: de la mărturie la narațiune vizuală în educația despre Holocaust) este un proiect coordonat de Institutul Național pentru Studierea Holocaustului din România „Elie Wiesel”, realizat în parteneriat cu Complexul Național Muzeal Moldova din Iași, Comunitatea Evreiască din Republica Moldova și Institutul Wiesenthal din Viena, Austria, și finanțat de Comisia Europeană prin proiectul CERV-2025-CITIZENS-REM-HOLOCAUSTJEW.
BW-ViS se derulează în perioada 2026-2028 și este implementat în România, Republica Moldova și Austria, reunind cadre didactice, experți în educație, în arte vizuale, studenți, jurnaliști, experți în studii de gen din cele trei țări, pentru analiza provocărilor și oportunităților în educația despre Holocaust și a rolului materialelor vizuale în facilitarea acestui proces.
Printr-o colaborare transnațională și dezvoltarea unui set de instrumente educaționale, proiectul aduce în atenția publicului european, istoria mai puțin cunoscută a comunităților evreiești din România, care în perioada 1941-1944 au fost supuse discriminării, au fost ținta pogromurilor și deportărilor în Transnistria.
Beyond Words: From Testimony to Visual Storytelling in Holocaust Education—BW:ViS is a project coordinated by the “Elie Wiesel” National Institute for the Study of the Holocaust in Romania, carried out in partnership with the Moldova National Museum Complex in Iași, the Jewish Community of the Republic of Moldova, and the Wiesenthal Institute in Vienna, Austria, and funded by the European Commission through the CERV-2025-CITIZENS-REM-HOLOCAUSTJEW project.
BW-ViS runs from 2026 to 2028 and is being implemented in Romania, the Republic of Moldova, and Austria, bringing together teachers, experts in education and the visual arts, students, journalists, and gender studies experts from the three countries to analyze the challenges and opportunities in Holocaust education and the role of visual materials in facilitating this process.
Through transnational collaboration and the development of a set of educational tools, the project brings to the attention of the European public the lesser-known history of the Jewish communities in Romania, which between 1941 and 1944 were subjected to discrimination and were the targets of pogroms and deportations to Transnistria.
What is BW-ViS trying to achieve?
Considering an evident gap in knowledge and the vast presence of Holocaust distortion (and even denial), the BW-ViS project aims to offer a set of innovative pedagogical tools and address various target groups.
Its overarching aim is to reshape Holocaust knowledge and the memory of its victims through:
1) innovating Holocaust education by collaboratively creating an EDUCATIONAL KIT on the Holocaust under Romanian authority;
2) fostering dialogue among the wider teachers’ community, relevant public stakeholders, professionals from different fields, and NGOs involved in educational projects across the three partner countries, focusing on implementing innovative teaching tools that foster Holocaust education, and tackle threats to democracy in today’s Europe;
3) bringing together young people from the three partner countries to highlight the “common history” we share as Europeans, acknowledge the negative past, and emphasize the importance of understanding past failures to protect the EU’s democratic values and build a better future.
Through the tools and activities developed, BW-ViS focuses on:
1. Addressing knowledge gaps and declining Holocaust remembrance across all generations, especially younger ones, by providing engaging educational tools that focus on building empathy through normalizing differences—by showcasing the traditional lifestyle of the Jewish communities in pre-war times and recognizing them as active and integral members of society.
2. Combating Holocaust denial and revisionist narratives by developing educational tools based on authentic testimonies of Holocaust survivors and actively engaging the younger generation in deconstructing the negationist narrative that is
massively proliferating online.
3. Promoting interactive, sustainable, and engaging cooperation among peers from the educational field in a cross-national context. The project will bring together pre-university teachers from the three partner countries, enabling them to discuss and exchange strategies to address the challenges they face in class when approaching their countries’ negative histories.
4. Establishing a multidisciplinary approach involving educational institutions, Jewish communities, museums, and research organizations to broaden educational focus and reach a wider public.
5. Providing modern educational solutions that include innovative content, delivery methods, and outreach approaches that are inherently gender-sensitive, disability-inclusive, and age-appropriate, ensuring that Holocaust education effectively reaches and engages all learners in an accessible and equitable manner.
What does the Educational KIT consist of?
The EDUCATIONAL KIT that will be developed within the BW-ViS project frame includes:
1. Two animated films which will tell the story of the two main outbreaks of violence against Jews under Romanian authority: the Pogrom in Iași and the ghettos in Transnistria.
2. Educational guidelines for using visual materials in class (photographs, films, interviews, graphic novels) discussing the potential of this type of material to elucidate and deepen understanding of key aspects of the Holocaust. Examples from three countries will be included for each type of visual material. For each of the presented visual materials, the Guidelines will offer methods for explaining its content, discussing challenges, and suggesting ways to foster critical thinking.
To whom does BW-ViS address?
BW-ViS project addresses a wide range of audiences, from the general public to pre-university students. However, in developing and disseminating the educational kit, the project engages in particular:
- High school teachers of history, civic culture, and humanities from the three partner countries.
- Educational public stakeholders from the three partner countries.
- NGOs specialized in educational activities from the three partner countries.
- University students from Austria, the Republic of Moldova, and Romania.
Ana Bărbulescu
research.inshrew@gmail.com
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the European Education and Culture Executive Agency can be held responsible for them.