Israeli Student’s Art Project Contains Relics Taken From Auschwitz
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JERUSALEM (JTA) — The final project of an Israeli art student who said she used artifacts she removed from Auschwitz will go on display after she clarified that they came from outside the former Nazi camp.
Beit Berl College announced late last week following a disciplinary hearing with student Rotem Bides, the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, that the exhibition would go on as planned starting July 26.
Ynet reported last week that Bides had visited the Auschwitz site six times while an exchange student in Krakow, and removed relics including shards of glass, small bowls, a metal screw, soil and a sign warning visitors not to take anything from the former Nazi camp.
Bides later clarified that she did not steal the objects, but gathered the objects, including glass, soil and rocks, and an old sign, from outside the camp.
“The student said her words were taken out of context by the journalists who interviewed her and that they put words in her mouth,” the management of the college said in a statement.
“The student sent a letter of clarification to the college management, stating she had committed nothing criminal like stealing and apologizing to anyone offended by the report the college decided to allow her to present her final project at the exhibition. Also, the college will send a letter to the Auschwitz museum to clear up any misunderstanding caused by the erroneous report,” the statement also said.
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