In one of history's paradoxes, the Serbia which opposed Nazism and saved their Jews, is now a state which is promoting an ultra-nationalist myth at the expense of thousands of lives and the suffering of four-fifths of a million homeless people this year, forced to flee as the persecution mounts and their homes are razed. As this happens, even Serbia's enemies do not want to lend a hand - Macedonia is over-burdened and basically reluctant if not even hostile to the influx of a Moslem minority; neighboring Albania has little infrastructure and has similar problems. It may not be a genocide at this point, as Eli Wiesel defines the term - but it is frightening, appalling, heartless massacre and inhumanity.

We cannot stand aside at a time of such bloodshed. We who know of persecution or fled before it in previous times. We cannot hold our Holocaust Memorial Day this year and feel that Europe is free of ethnic persecution. We must do what we can to help in as many ways as possible.

The Jewish Agency for Israel, together with Jewish Federations and communities worldwide deplore the massacre of innocent civilians and the deportation of the defenseless in the campaign of ethnic cleansing in the Kossovo region, being conducted by the Serbian state under its President, Zlobodan Milosevic. Together with the State of Israel's Defense Forces and other Jewish relief organizations, such as the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, we are mobilizing our experience and our resources to do whatever we can in the best means possible.

Activity Structure

Pictures speak louder than words. Everyone should have heard of Kossovo. Have them bring an article or photo from home/the school library/teachers' room (photocopied) or make short notes on something they saw on TV or heard on the radio.

Go round the group and ask what it is that they feel most strongly about the news of Kossovo.

• Does the event seem far or near to them?
• Do you know of other regimes who mass persecuted opponents or special groups?
• Pinochet of Chile; Argentina...; Rwanda; Soviet Russia...; Nazi Germany
• Have any of these leaders been brought to justice for their crimes? War crimes- Nuremberg; Klaus Barbie; Eichmann; Pinochet (ongoing)...
• Where did their own families originate?
• Have they ever thought about what made their families move, or maybe discussed it with them?
• Why did their families move here?
• Does this make Kossovo seem nearer to the group now?
• What would you like to do now to help in your own way?

Option 1

List of interactive sites by the BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/nato_interact/ns_interact.html

Picture gallery - life in the camps
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_315000/315523.stm

Email highlights
http://news2.thdo.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/newsid_306000/306923.asp

Option 2

With Internet access, visit the Discovery Channel on http://www.discovery.com/ and use the Kossovo link to read about the types of assistance that are available. List the kinds of emergency services which are being supplied and mark those in which you are interested.

If you want to organize a funding campaign, you will need to know what Jewish organizations are accepting contributions and how to find them. Look at JCN http://www.jcn18.com/ or your local Jewish Federation which is collecting for the Jewish Agency/United Kibbutz Movement assistance and the IDF field hospital in the area - or AJJDC's website on http://www.jdc.org/ - see non-sectarian projects / how you can help - open mailbox

Mount a campaign - Think of several slogans with which to run the campaign before starting on any of the following:

• Make posters & flyers saying where and when you are collecting or people can make/send their contributions.
• Have the class/group write a letter to parents and copy it with this information.
• Have the appeal included in the Yom Hashoa ceremony this year.
• Join an organized collection group - and also give, yourselves.
• Think of something you would have bought this week for yourself - and set that money aside for your first contribution.
• If you our your parents are socializing over a drink, cigarette - give that money as a gift.
• If you are saving money by cutting down on smoking or stopping altogether - think of it as a better purpose for the money you would have burned.
• Hold a fun auction of toys, or a car-boot (=garage) sale, bring & buy sale... anything that can be organized quickly and publicized locally. Sponsor a dance, a walk, a sing-along...

Option 3

Use the media!

Letters to the editor of major newspapers and newspapers in ex-Yugoslavia on both sides; petitions to the Serbian embassy in your country.

Get coverage for all your campaigning and fundraising in an organized manner. It is important to be seen doing something, both for the community and - psychologically -for the people on whose behalf you are campaigning.

Summing Up

We do not stop here: funds are going to be needed to cater for an increasing number of refugee camps and to continue supporting them either in the camps or in European countries; political pressure will need to be maintained to ensure they have homes to which they can eventually return and that the perpetrators are brought to trial.

Discuss how your group thinks justice will be best served.