Fund Waldsee's 65th Birthday Inspiration Circle: Tikkun Olam

Waldsee is celebrating its 65th birthday! We are creating an Inspiration Circle to embrace our anniversary and the responsibility associated with our name. We are already halfway there - we are excited that early supporters have already committed $30,000 toward our $60,000 goal - so now just $30,000 to go! Please consider donating a bench or an information panel, or offering general support. Every amount helps, large or small. Please help Waldsee inspire future generations to care responsibly for our world: Tikkun Olam. You can donate here - be sure to designate "German Language Village Tikkun Olam Pomegranate Reflection Site. You can also donate by clicking the GoFundMe link provided. Find out more ways to donate below.

Here's our story. We're the oldest and largest residential immersion program in German language and culture in North America. Waldsee was the inspiration for the name of almost all of the other 14 Concordia Language Villages. But a few years ago we unexpectedly discovered that the name Waldsee is associated with a dark period of German history: the Nazis told prisoners that they were heading to an idyllic (and fake) place called Waldsee (Forest Lake) when they were really heading to Auschwitz.

Since our discovery we have grappled with the many issues and questions associated with this period of German history and its implications for our Village name and the community it has represented for 65 years. One key question that we had to address was whether the Nazi deception obliged us to change the name of the German Language Village. As our discussions progressed, we found guidance in an additional question: “How may we best honor the victims?” By abandoning the Waldsee name, we would clearly disassociate ourselves from this horrible history - but we would also be abandoning an opportunity for remembrance.

We are first and foremost a learning community. That is why we decided to both maintain the name Waldsee and accept a moral responsibility for its history. The centerpiece of this effort is our Inspiration Circle: a place in our village where we can pass on the Waldsee "story" in age-appropriate ways and offer space for reflection and motivation to work for a better world. These themes are framed well by the Hebrew expression tikkun olam -- a call to heal that which is broken and start anew in a positive sense.

The Waldsee Tikkun Olam installation is defined by two semi-circular seat walls with an open access area at each side. This creates a reference to an embrace – bringing two sides together. The two seat walls are centered around a large inlaid pomegranate, which is a traditional symbol of love, hospitality and blessing in Jewish culture – surrounded by the German words besinnen (reflect/contemplate), begegnen (encounter/engage), and bewegen (move, or also go forth and change things or set things in motion). Accompanying the installation are two welcome panels and five informational panels. The installation is underpinned by a fully developed curriculum.

How to Help: Any donation helps, large or small. Donations can be for general project support, or for a specific element:

Any amount -- for general support. Thank you!

$30,000 -- for Waldsee Tikkun Olam Pomegranate reflection circle - covers fabrication, transport, installation

$ 5,000 -- for groundwork by our staff to prepare the site

$ 580 -- for 10 Benches @$580 each

$ 2,000 -- for 8 Information Panels @$2,000 each

$ 3,000 -- to support staff training/curatorial counselor position

$ 1,000 -- to support 1 of 6 curricular themes embedded in the project

Donate here! Be sure to designate

German Language Village Tikkun Olam Pomegranate Reflection Site

Or Donate by clicking the GoFundMe link provided!

Thank you!

Concordia Language Villages/Concordia College is a 501c3 tax-exempt organization.