Cincinnatians can now hear the stories of Holocaust survivors and their family members via Zoom.
The series, originally held in person at the Holocaust & Humanity Center, coincides with the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II (Sept. 2, 1945) and also marked the center's second year of calling Union Terminal home. (The Holocaust & Humanity Center was previously located in Rockwern Academy in Kenwood.)
Because of current restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the survivor speaker series will be held virtually until further notice. The first speaker event held via Zoom on March 25 had 50 people register.
The series continues at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 1 with Andrea Herzig. The retired educator and author of Courage in the Little Suitcase will tell the story of Mordechai Anielewicz, her distant relative and the topic of her book. "At 20 years old, Anielewicz led 300 to 500 young men and women between the ages of 13 and 30 to fight back against the Nazis during the liquidation of the Warsaw Ghetto," reads an event description.
You can register for the Zoom event here.
Local survivor Vera Gutin was the first to speak in the series. Her story was told by her daughter, Barbara McCoucha. Gutin's earliest memories unfolded in her hometown of Trier, Germany during the 1938 events of Kristallnacht — "The Night of Broken Glass," in which German Nazis burned and vandalized Jewish-owned businesses, homes, schools and synagogues.
In a statement, Sarah Weiss, chief executive officer of Holocaust & Humanity Center, says she hopes to see the Cincinnati community take advantage of the series, which is sponsored by Margaret and Michael Valentine.
“These stories showcase the power of the human spirit and resilience,” Weiss says. “We are privileged to be the last generation to hear directly from eyewitnesses of the Holocaust, and it is our responsibility to hear and carry on these memories.”
