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A unique photo shoot took place in Miami, where the subjects were not professional models but individuals representing resilience, bravery, and dignity, all shaped by their experiences during the Holocaust.
Judy Rodan, an 87-year-old survivor, expressed the lasting impact of those experiences, stating, “It is something that we carry. It’s something that cannot be washed off. No pills, no treatments, no psychology or psychiatry. I think I’ve done it all.”
Rodan was hidden in a Catholic convent in Budapest through the war, as she lost all of her immediate family to Auschwitz. In similar stories, 88-year-old Miriam Klein Kassendorf spoke of her harrowing experiences fleeing from her home in what was then Czechoslovakia, recalling, “My father was grabbed by his elbows and dragged out of our home on a Shabbat evening.” Meanwhile, 95-year-old David Schecter survived not only one but two extermination camps, feeling a profound need to share his story for future generations: “It felt that our children need to know.”
As the years pass, the urgency to document these stories increases; we are losing 8% to 10% of Holocaust eyewitnesses annually. Out of approximately 200,000 survivors remaining, it is estimated that half will no longer be with us in the next 5 to 7 years.
Photographer Gillian Laub, who has dedicated her work to capturing Holocaust survivors, shared poignant insights from those she photographed. “There’s pride, there’s strength and resilience, and there’s also sadness. Some people get emotional. Some people feel like, I am here. I am standing here proud and strong.“
Laub’s initiative, titled Live2Tell, aims not only to document these survivor stories but to emphasize their importance. At a recent event, Kassendorf met fellow survivor Stella Sonnenschein, and they reflected on their shared histories. “It’s our mission; that’s why we survived,” said Kassendorf. “My father was a rabbi, and he told me that when I grow up, I should tell the world.” Sonnenschein echoed this sentiment, stating, “So, we have a job to do. We have to live a very long time!”
In January 2024, Laub’s work took a bold form as she projected her portraits across New York City in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, including on the iconic Brooklyn Bridge. Not seeking prior permission, she described the project as a “renegade guerrilla art project,” illuminating the stories of survivors in a public yet respectful manner.
This endeavor resonated deeply with survivors like Pearl Field, who remarked on the importance of Laub’s mission to ensure the memory of the Holocaust endures. While survivors are increasingly willing to share their experiences, recent global events, particularly those starting on October 7, 2023, have reignited painful recollections for many. Kassendorf expressed her alarm, saying, “I thought, My God, they’re doing it again. They’re killing the Jews!” Schecter described reliving traumatic memories: “I was reliving my past and couldn’t shake it for several weeks.” Rodan added, “When I see all this disaster and insanity around us, it’s 6, 8 thousand miles away, but it’s touching. It’s un-nerving.”
Israel’s military response to recent hostilities has further displaced millions in Gaza, prompting protests across the United States. Many Holocaust survivors today have been confronted with antisemitism that they feel is resurfacing in their own communities. Greg Schneider of the Claims Conference noted concerning trends in Holocaust awareness, highlighting that a significant number of Americans have seen Holocaust denial and distortion online. A recent survey indicated many in the U.S. could not name a single concentration camp, showcasing a disturbing gap in historical knowledge.
As Laub recognizes the responsibility to amplify these stories, she reflects on her own past and familial history, admitting she often failed to engage with her grandfather’s experiences as deeply as she wished. “I was too young,” she said. “I feel so guilty now.”
At a recent event in Miami Beach, survivors including Schecter, Rodan, and Kassendorf were honored on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, embodying the light of resilience and wisdom. Laub emphasized, “I was looking and seeking wisdom. I found that light from all of the survivors who became part of this work.”
In honoring the voices of Holocaust survivors, Laub provides a platform for those who had their childhoods stolen, allowing them to share their truths as a testament to the atrocities that should never be forgotten. As Kassendorf powerfully stated, “Who knew that this would be our revenge to hate, and to Hitler, and to antisemitism and the Nazis? As we say in Yiddish, Mir zenen do. We are here.”
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Story produced by Amiel Weisfogel. Editor: Carol Ross.
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