Majka is a girl whose life is forever changed by an ocean voyage. Majka is taken out of school to sail with her parents as they work aboard the S.S. St. Louis, a German ocean liner on a special trip in 1939. The passengers onboard are 900 Jewish refugees seeking escape from life under Nazi rule. Majka has been raised in this world, but all she's been taught is now challenged by a growing friendship with a young Jewish passenger, Liesl. Majka must decide which side she is on. Meanwhile, the ship is being denied entry into any port, raising the prospect of the refugees having to go back to the horrors of Nazi Germany. Set during this historic tragic voyage, the play explores themes of friendship, prejudice, anti-Semitism, heroism, and culpability.
Voyage of the St. Louis | Holocaust Encyclopedia: https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/voyage-of-the-st-louis
Voyage of the MS St. Louis | The U.S. and the Holocaust | Ken Burns | PBS: https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/us-and-the-holocaust/interactive-voyage-of-the-ms-st-louis
The Story of the St. Louis | A Holocaust Timeline Activity for Grade 6 - Yad Vashem: https://www.yadvashem.org/education/educational-materials/st-louis-activity/entry-denied.html
The Voyage of the St. Louis | Facing History & Ourselves: https://www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/voyage-st-louis
MS St. Louis | History, Summary, & Facts | Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/topic/MS-St-Louis-German-ship
Holocaust Memorial Day Trust | The SS St Louis: https://hmd.org.uk/resource/ss-st-louis/
History Unfolded - Newspaper Search of USHMM Database: https://newspapers.ushmm.org/
Arizona-Specific Reporting on the St. Louis
DBQ Resource - American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee - June 15, 1939
Additional Primary Sources - JDC Archives
Recall, Connect, & Extend - St. Louis Legacy Project
Post-St. Louis Asylum Policies - 1951 Refugee Convention
