History is the best teacher.
And learning from the actions of others can help prevent people from repeating mistakes. That’s a belief that German historian Anette Isaacs holds dear.
The Director of Lifelong Learning at Florida International University will return to The Villages for her fifth presentation with The Villages Enrichment Academy — a five-part series lecture series titled “Inside Germany” on Jan. 16 and 17.
“In terms of Berlin, Germany, we really don’t want to do that again. The more we learn, the more we get a complete picture. History, to me, is a huge puzzle or mosaic,” Isaacs said. “It has a picture put together by looking for the answers to many of the questions I ask as a historian.”
After moving to the United States in 2006, Isaacs said that she noticed people held a strong interest in German history. This led her to start giving presentations and developing over 40 different lecture topics about Germany — including beer, food, teddy bears, the German Reich, and how German people deal with the guilt of the Holocaust.
“The lectures are for a people who constantly seek information with interest about the world,” Isaacs said. “The information they learn will be worthwhile.”
Villagers and others who attend the class will get additional puzzle pieces to help them paint the picture depicting how Germany impacted parts of history.
Isaacs will lead the “Inside Germany: Everyday Life in Nazi Germany” class from 1:30 to 3 p.m., followed by the “Inside Germany: Unveiling Hitler’s Nazi-Islamist Alliance” class from 3:30 to 5 p.m., ending with the “Inside Germany: Eichmann Before Jerusalem” class from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 16.
The next day Isaacs will lead the “Inside Germany: 1945: The Year That Shaped the New Germany” class from 9 to 10:30 a.m., followed by the “Inside Germany: A Story of Guilt and an Unlikely Friendship” class from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Each class will be at Lake Miona Recreation, 1480 Buena Vista Blvd., The Villages.Isaacs said that those who attend her lectures will appreciate the thought-provoking information shared during the lecture series, that coincides with the 35th anniversary of the second unification in Germany and the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
“They are being able to get an authentic look at German history from a German born person,” she said.
Isaac said that she’s often inspired by many parts of life for her lecture topics. An impromptu museum visit inspired her presentation about German American businessman Levi Strauss, and the 2020 anniversary of the prohibition era in America inspired her German beer lecture.
She’s also motivated by the positive feedback she receives after her lectures.
“I thrive off that,” Isaacs said. “Getting the chance to open people’s minds and share impactful knowledge in an engaging way is great.”
The fee to register for the class is $25 per person for residents and $31 per person for guests. For more information about Isaacs’ classes or to register, visit http://www.the
enrichmentacademy.org.
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
