mples of the many well-known and famous people to pass through Theresienstadt. With Theresienstadt filled with so many brilliant and talented people, it was a place destined to be interesting. The art and music that came from Theresiensadt is still being performed, and looked at. The poetry is still being read. Art was an essential part of the lives of the residents in Theresiensadt, whether it is music, poetry, or visual art. To each musician, artist or poet it was a small fraction of time where they could escape into a world of their own. For that fraction of time, they controlled their square of paper, or their instrument. The artistic freedom in Theresiensadt was their spirit, and it bloomed and grew through the years of its existence. It was the only way, some said, that they could have survived with a soul. The Nazi’ s reason for allowing art was entirely for showing the world what Theresiensadt was made of. The Nazi’s supplied the residents with the materials needed as long as there were products that came out it. The artwork was a document of truth for the world that the people were being treated fairly and humanely. The S. S took advantage of some things such as the children’s opera. They realized that the children were having fun and were happy during the time spent with the group, so they filmed them as a major event in their propaganda film. All of the children involved with the children’s opera were later sent to the gas chambers in the East. The Nazi’s allowed many other things besides art, such as a limited amount of religion. Rabbi’s held services and even performed Jewish rites, like bar mitzvahs. The Red Cross even donated matzah for Passover. Although not allowed, many torahs, prayer shawls, prayer books, and religious objects found their way into the ghettos, mostly from new arrivals. Other religions were also practiced. One eighth of the population in Theresien...
