Welcome, students! On this page, you will find lots of helpful resources and guidelines for The Competition. Rules and rubrics for middle and high schoolers are on the left side of the page. Below, you can read the Competition prompt and learn more about Anne Frank, Elie Wiesel, and Erich Lichtblau-Leskly.
Competition Prompt
Competition Entry Form
Student Guide to Anne Frank
Student Guide to Elie Wiesel
Student Guide to Erich Lichtblau-Leskly
Below, we have provided three examples of artwork by Erich Lichtblau-Leskly. Click on each bar to learn more! See the Student Guide to Erich Lichtblau-Leskly for guiding questions on art analysis.
The Nazis’ penalty for taking anything, even an apple, was routinely punished by deportation to the East. Prisoners did not steal, but instead schleusst or “organized,” a ghetto euphemism for the appropriation of common property.
Stealing from another prisoner was considered unacceptable, whereas taking items from shared property, such as apples from the few apple trees that grew in the ghetto, was perceived as “organizing.”
Notice the illustration on the left – its rough edges indicate that it was cut up. This piece was illustrated while Erich was incarcerated in Theresienstadt.
Next, look at the illustration below. This piece was illustrated in the 1970s-1980s while Erich lived in Israel. In German, Erich wrote a message on the artwork: “Risky apple smuggling. Penalty: to the east with the next transport.”
Right-click each picture to view them in greater detail in another tab.
“There were also marriage ceremonies in the ghetto. There were canopies [chuppahs], and the rabbis officiated [at] the ceremonies.” – Erich Lichtblau-Leskly
Standing beneath the chuppah, “the cook and the cleaning girl make an excellent match in the ghetto, yes, because love goes through the stomach!” as stated in the Israel period painting below.
Notice the illustration on the left – its rough edges indicate that it was cut up. This piece was illustrated while Erich was incarcerated in Theresienstadt.
Next, look at the illustration below. This piece was illustrated in the 1970s-1980s while Erich lived in Israel. Once again, Erich wrote a message on the artwork.
Right-click each picture to view them in greater detail in another tab.
“It was forbidden to keep flowers at home or cut them, but people did that. Vegetables were also a valuable commodity for business in the ghetto.” – Erich Lichtblau-Leskly
A female laborer carries wildflowers under her coat into the ghetto. Despite it being forbidden to have the simply nicety of a flower in the ghetto, prisoners did it to preserve a ray of hope and bring some color into their dark lives. Prisoners maintained their humanity, in any way they could.
Notice the illustration on the left – its rough edges indicate that it was cut up. This piece was illustrated while Erich was incarcerated in Theresienstadt.
Next, look at the illustration below. This piece was illustrated in the 1970s-1980s while Erich lived in Israel. Once again, Erich wrote a message on the artwork: “Female workers in the countryside business are forbidden to organize GREEN under their coat into the ghetto.”
Right-click each picture to view them in greater detail in another tab.
