Writing/Art Contest
Additional Resources

Contest Flyer (pdf)

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the judges looking for?

A panel of judges will review the entries. Judges are educators, artists, and writers of various faiths and backgrounds. They will be looking for creativity, thoughtfulness, and an understanding of the question.  Judges will be looking for you to relate your piece to a specific Holocaust testimony, text, or event. They want to know how this story or event effects you personally (why did you choose this one?) and how will it change the way you react when you see injustice.  What will you do?  Judges will also be looking for proper spelling, grammar, punctuation, and artistic talent.

Are there special considerations that you want the judges to know?  If so, please include this in your essay, artist's statement or video.

Is there a flyer/handout with all of the contest information?

Yes. Click here for the flyer (pdf).

Where can I print/download a submission form?

Right here - Word doc  or  pdf.  Submission forms are required with each entry. 

I am submitting an art piece.  Do I have to write an artist's statement?

Yes. It should be 100 words or less and should be attached to your art piece.

What was the Holocaust? 

The Holocaust refers to a specific event during the 20th century. It was the state-sponsored, systematic persecution and destruction of European Jewish people by the Nazis and their collaborators (helpers) between 1933 and 1945. While Jews were the primary target of Nazi hatred, the Nazis also persecuted and murdered Roma Sinti (Gypsies), Jehovah’s Witnesses, Poles, and people with disabilities. Six million Jews (two-thirds of the European Jewish population) and five million others were murdered in the Holocaust.

What are the pictures on the flyer?

The images on the Writing/Art Contest flyer are winning art entries from 2010 and 2011.  To see the winning entries from 2011, click here.

Who was Jacob Friedman?

Jacob Friedman was a Holocaust survivor from Brody, Poland and the father of Henry Friedman, who survived the war in hiding and who now lives in the Seattle area.  Henry founded the contest more than 15 years ago and named the contest for his father.  More on Jacob Friedman and a letter from Henry.

Will I get my entry back?

If you want your entry back, you must send a self-addressed stamped envelope with your entry.

Who sponsors the contest?

The Washington State Holocaust Education Resource Center.  The Holocaust Center is a non-profit organization located in Seattle.  For more information about the Holocaust Center (and to watch our really great video) click here.

Where can I go to learn more about the Holocaust and to read/hear stories from survivors, rescuers, and others?

  • Washington State Holocaust Education Resource Center -  click here to go directly to the stories of local Holocaust survivors.
  • Anne Frank Center USA - www.annefrank.com
  • Anne Frank House (Amsterdam) - www.annefrank.org  
  • Jewish Foundation for the Righteous (stories of rescuers)—www.jfr.org.
  • Jewish Partisans Educational Foundation (stories of Jewish partisans - armed Jewish resistance)—www.jewishpartisans.org
  • United States Holocaust Memorial Museum—www.ushmm.org.
  • USC Shoah Foundation (largest archive of video testimonies, numbering over 52,000 from 56 countries) -  http://college.usc.edu/vhi/
  • Yad Vashem, Jerusalem (archive of names & stories of the "Righteous Among the Nations" - non-Jewish people who helped Jews)—www.yadvashem.org.

For some excellent free teaching materials, also check out:

Is there a list of suggested books and films on the Holocaust?

Yes. Please see the annotated bibliographies for the Holocaust Center's teaching trunks.  Choose the trunk at the appropriate grade level for suggested list of books and films.

Where can I get some of these materials?
The Holocaust Center has a lending library.  We would be happy to loan books, films, posters, teacher guides and other materials to you.  Please contact the Center at info@wsherc.org or 206-774-2201.

Have additional questions or want more information?  Please email info@wsherc.org or call 206-774-2201.