Course Information
JCIV 3100 + JCIV 3110
3+1 Credit
Eligibility:
First-Years, Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors
Dates:
March 1, 2025 to March 9, 2025
Description:
While many students are familiar with the Nazi extermination of Jews in Western Europe during World War II, few know that a parallel effort was waged in the East. There, Nazis killed Jews methodically, but mostly not in mass camps built for extermination. Learn about the forensics of the Holocaust by bullets and other mass killings with Fr. Patrick Desbois, a forensic anthropologist and author of “Holocaust by Bullets,” “In Broad Daylight,” and “The Terrorist Factory.” This course and the associated lab will train students to analyze forensic investigations of the Holocaust by bullets and other genocides, and prepare them to conduct similar investigations on the ground. The trip component offers the opportunity to engage with Holocaust witnesses, victims, and perpetrators, as well as current policy makers and Jewish community members in Romania.
Professor Information
Andrej Umansky, the Center for Jewish Civilization’s Post-Doctoral Fellow, also serves on the Board of Directors of Yahad in Unum, where he works as a member of the leadership team to advance the mission through forensic investigation, academia, and community engagement. Dr. Umansky further advises, defends and represents as an Specialist lawyer for criminal law and Senior Associate of the law firm individuals and companies in criminal law and administrative offences relating to economic and international areas.
Father Patrick Desbois, president of Yahad-In Unum, has devoted his life to confronting anti-Semitism and furthering Catholic-Jewish understanding. His research has greatly expanded the scope of understanding concerning the Holocaust in Eastern Europe. His book, The Holocaust by Bullets, documents those findings. Father Desbois is the director of the Episcopal Committee for Relations with Judaism, serves as a consultant to the Vatican, and was a personal aide to the late Archbishop of Paris, Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger. He was awarded the Medal of Valor by the Simon Wiesenthal Center, the Humanitarian Award of the U.S. Holocaust Museum, and honorary doctorates from Hebrew University, and Bar Ilan University in Israel, amongst other honors.
Itinerary Highlights
Iasi Holocaust Museum; Pogrom of Iasi; Podul Iloaiei; Victoria; Bucharest
Travel Details
The Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS) will cover the costs of travel and accommodation fees including airfare, lodging (double occupancy hotel), transportation for the company visits, some meals, site visit entry fees, tips, and any gear rental (if needed by the program), for all students accepted to this C-Lab.
Students are responsible for covering tuition & fees, books/materials for the classes, any related visa requirements, any immunizations, any Covid-19 or other testing (if required), GU $65 international health insurance, some miscellaneous meals, any laundry, phone and data charges, transportation to/from the airport in DC, and any out-of-pocket personal expenses. Past students shared to estimate a cost of $100-300.
Visas, if required, cost $25-$125 on average for application and processing fees. It is students’ responsibility to research requirements and secure visas if needed. Travel information will be covered further in info sessions for accepted students.
If you do not have a valid passport or a passport that will be unexpired for 6 months following return from the program, please apply for a passport now.