The Weitzman Museum’s newest and most powerful signature program, Roots to Understanding, introduces high school students to the basic tenets of Jewish peoplehood, to the historic origins and contemporary manifestations of antisemitism, and to some of the most important moments of cross-cultural solidarity across almost 400 years of American Jewish history.

Before embarking on a museum tour, students screen the PBS film Repairing the World: Stories from the Tree of Life, which highlights the Pittsburgh community’s unity and resiliency in the face of unspeakable tragedy.

Under the guidance of trained educators, students then examine primary source materials and museum artifacts showcasing instances of anti-Jewish hatred as well as instances of collaboration and allyship, from the 17th century to the present. Participants are encouraged to reflect on their own personal identities, as well as on their own experiences of prejudice and discrimination, and to help build communities that are “stronger than hate.”