Can Posters Kill? : Antisemitic Propaganda and World War II
Propaganda is a dangerous weapon in the spread of hate.
How did Hitler and the Nazi Party convince millions of people that the murder of Jews during the Holocaust was not only justifiable but correct? What can we learn from one of the most horrific times in history?
Can Posters Kill? uses rare, historical posters to take readers on a visual journey from medieval anti-Jewish artwork to the venomous Nazi propaganda of the Second World War. These posters show how powerful propaganda can be as a tool for spreading hate: how repetition, vivid imagery, and urgent messaging promote intense emotional reactions—fear, distrust, loyalty, revulsion—that can be used to create a coordinated campaign to impact the way we think. By understanding the visual language of propaganda from the past, we can learn to recognize and resist messages of hate—an essential skill in a digital world where information is spread in seconds.
Praise & Recognition
Details
Publication Date: October 21, 2025
Reading Age: 13 - 19
Genre: Teen
Product Format: Paperback
Pages: 100
ISBN: 978-1-77260-429-0
Weight: 200
About the Author
Jerry Faivish
Jerry Faivish has always been a storyteller — with his friends and family, through his vast collection of Jewish-themed posters, or with his renowned jokes. Practicing law for 45 years, he also dedicated himself to preserving Jewish history and culture, a passion sparked when, as a young man in Tel Aviv, he saw posters being covered up layer upon layer and decided to collect them. Born in Montreal to Holocaust survivors, Jerry has since shared his collection with audiences around the world, from Jerusalem to Florida and New York, with notable exhibits at the Steven Spielberg Film Archives and as part of a US tour organized by Project Judaica.
A proud father and grandfather many times over, Jerry enjoys spending time with people and loved ones, staying active, or diving into Jewish learning. He wants to continue to use his extensive poster collection as a vehicle for teaching and learning about the dangers of propaganda and hate and the unique characteristics of Jewish life and culture.
About
Kathryn Cole
Kathryn Cole has spent her career in children’s books as an illustrator, art director, editor, designer, instructor, and publisher at Scholastic, OUP, Stoddart Kids, Tundra Books, and Second Story Press. The books she has overseen have won multiple awards, including four Governor General’s Awards and the Bologna Ragazzi Award for Nonfiction. She has authored nine books including Double Take: a Single Woman’s Journey to Motherhood. Kathryn volunteered as a support to parents for thirteen years with Boost in their crisis support and court preparation groups. She lives in Toronto where she enjoys freelancing as a consultant, writer, and editor.