The Endless Steppe

Despite widespread recognition of the atrocities committed against Jews in WWII, antisemitism still exists. Other groups also suffer from blatant discrimination and hate crimes based on their race, sex, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or other perceived differences from the dominant group. How is Esther’s coming-of-age impacted by discrimination and antisemitism? Generally, in what ways can stories like Esther's help combat discrimination?

Teaching Suggestion: Students might benefit from writing a journal entry about a time when they decided to question or disagree with an idea or principle they were taught as a child. This writing exercise could be followed by a class discussion of what it means to think critically and make one's own decisions, with or without referencing the personal experiences of students.

Differentiation Suggestion: As an alternative, students who demonstrate interpersonal or intrapersonal intelligence might benefit from writing a journal entry about their experience the first time they interacted with a person from a background different from their own. (This can be connected to Esther's reaction when her family was required to share their hut with “Vanya the bum.”) Students may reflect upon their reactions to and their actions during their experience; they may also reflect upon different facets of background—class, ethnicity, or region, for example.