Holocaust Museum Houston

HolocaustMuseumHouston Program to TrainDescendants toShare Their Stories Goes International Aprogram initiatedbyHolocaustMuseumHouston toallow thechildrenandclose friendsofHolocaust survivors to continue to share their histories when thesurvivorscanno longerdoso isbeing replicated internationally. TheCalgary JewishFederation inCalgary,Canada, has received a $40,000 grant to implement “Through Their Eyes: A Survivor’s Story,” which was launched in Houston by members of the 2nd Generation in2009. The program is not intended to replace survivors who are still able to speak and talk with students and other organizations nor is it intended to tell the2ndGeneration viewpoint, according toSandy Lessig, whowas the creator of the program. Rather, adult children and family friends who are close to the survivor are taught how to use their parent’s or friend’s own videotaped testimonies, artifacts and life lessons to carry on the message when the survivor is unableor unavailable todo so. Ineach50-minutemultimediasession, thesurvivor’s videotaped testimony is mixed with interactive, historical narration by the survivor’s adult child or close friend who knows their history well. Each presentation is followed by a question and answer session. Lessig, a member of the 2ndGeneration, has had several phone conversations over the past year with the Canadian federation to discuss how they might replicate the program. “They took it to heart, and wrote a proposal resulting in a grant from the Alberta Human Rights Commission to create their own version of ‘Through Their Eyes’,” she said. “The Calgary Jewish community is facing the same challenge as in all Jewish communities - our courageousSurvivorswho have been speaking for over 30 years aregetting to the stagewhere this is no longer possible. It is imperative that their stories continue tobe told andwe aregrateful that Sandy, via Holocaust Museum Houston, has given us a blueprint to continue this meaningful work,” said Ilana Krygier Lapides, director of Holocaust and human rights education at the federation. The Houston program is generously underwritten by the Stanford and Joan Alexander Foundation and theSterling Family Foundation.

AROUNDHMH

Holocaust Survivor Chaja Verveer, center, met with the cast of the A.D. Players’ production of “TheDiary of Anne Frank” duringFebruary.

ConsulGeneral of FranceSujiroSeamandadelegationof electedofficials from the Manche region of France (which includes Normandy) visited HolocaustMuseumHouston inMarch.

SurvivorsAnnaSteinberger andHelenColin joinedEllen Trachtenberg for the launchof theMuseum’snew Generation toGenerationLegacySociety inMarch.

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