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Moment of Witness – Commemorating the Holocaust

Experience a powerful interfaith and interactive ceremony, framed by storytelling, that sheds light on the historical tragedy we all share and the valuable lessons we can learn.

As part of our program, we will be hearing the stories of three people who experienced the Holocaust.  This is for every community that has ever felt the pain of violence and genocide, and dedicated to the hope that there will be fewer in the future. Come together to commemorating the Holocaust.

About the presenters

Judith Bernstein, facilitator

Judith Bernstein started telling stories with Teach the Shoah in January 2020. She has also taken classes to learn how to teach and coach other storytellers. She retired from her most recent profession as a massage therapist during the Covid pandemic. Judith was an active member and leader of Toastmasters International for 40 years. She gained much of her public speaking and storytelling skills there.

Sarah Dilatush, storyteller and facilitator

Sarah Dilatush is a graduate student at the University of Arkansas History Department. Her studies focus on early twentieth century American gender and sexuality history with a focus on pop culture. Sarah tells the story of Holocaust survivor, Henry Slucki and his experience fleeing France after the occupation, his journey into Spain, and life in the United States after the war.

Libby Holden, storyteller and facilitator

My name is Libby Holden, and I am a senior anthropology major at the University of Arkansas. I plan on pursuing a career in historical archaeology, and storytelling and public outreach is an important pillar of my work. I tell the story of Holocaust survivor, Eva Brettler. Eva spent her childhood in the midst of war, experiencing the horrors of concentration camps such as Ravensbruck and Bergen-Belsen firsthand. Her story highlights her resilience through the unimaginable and the importance of keeping these stories alive.

Maddi Ruiz, storyteller and facilitator

Maddi Ruiz is a third-year social work student at the University of Arkansas. She has been storytelling for over a year and works to promote advocacy in all areas of her life.
She tells the story of Holocaust survivor, Henry Weils. It is a story of close calls and the naivety of a child in an unimaginable situation. Henry Weils journey to the United States gave him the life he deserved and the chance to carry those that were not as lucky. 

This event is presented in partnership with Teach the Shoah and the Jewish Federation of Arkansas. 

Teach the Shoah uses professional storytelling techniques to create custodians of memory who share about lives and lessons from an increasingly remote past. Their goal is to widen the network of people who tell the stories of the Holocaust. They believe people of all ages and backgrounds can learn from the Holocaust and be ambassadors for a better world. Learn more →

The Jewish Federation of Arkansas strengthens, supports and ensures the future of the Jewish community in Arkansas and provides for the Jewish people in Israel and worldwide. Learn more →

For disability accommodations, call 479.856.7250 or email questions@faylib.org 2-3 weekdays before a program. Plan your visit by viewing our building map and details on accessibility services.

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