Descendants Recommit to Preserving Families’ Shoah Stories

May 5, 2025 Staff Report

Approximately 30 members of the Baltimore Jewish Council Speakers Bureau recently reunited at the Pikesville residence of Abe Wasserberger and Lissa Abrams. (Provided photo)

On Sunday evening, Apr. 27, the Baltimore Jewish Council and the nonprofit Teach the Shoah held a reunion in Pikesville for the three cohorts of local Holocaust descendants — 28 members of the first- to fourth-generations — who participated in the Holocaust Storytelling training program.

The program was funded by the BJC and facilitated by Teach the Shoah over the past two-and-half years.

With their training now complete, members of the BJC’s Holocaust Speakers Bureau go out to area schools and community groups to share their families’ Holocaust testimonials as a vehicle for remembrance and education.

The following is a statement issued by the group in the aftermath of the reunion:

A Gathering of Storytellers:

Honoring Holocaust Memory Through Shared Reflections

We are a community dedicated to preserving memories, united by our commitment to Jewish education and Holocaust remembrance. Our group consists of diverse descendants of Holocaust Survivors. In our free time, we work to refine how we share our families’ Holocaust stories, ensuring they are educational and impactful when told publicly. Remembering and honoring those Survivors is our daily responsibility.

On Apr. 27, our community met in person after many of us completed Yom HaShoah speaking engagements. As members of the Baltimore Jewish Council (an agency of The Associated) Speakers Bureau, trained through Teach the Shoah, we came together to reflect on the impact that our storytelling had on the community throughout the year and especially the week of Yom HaShoah, whether in schools, universities, libraries or elsewhere.

We were honored to be joined by:

Howard Libit, executive director of the Baltimore Jewish Council;
Emily Goodman, the BJC’s director of Holocaust and Countering Antisemitism Programming;
Dr. Deborah Fripp, executive director of Teach the Shoah (virtually from Singapore);
Lynne Feldman, director of Holocaust scholarship and general manager of Teach the Shoah (virtually from Tel Aviv);
Jennifer Rudick Zunikoff, storytelling mentor of Teach the Shoah;
Tanya Wisoker, board member storyteller, instructor and workshop facilitator of Teach the Shoah;
And about 30 speakers of the Baltimore Speakers Bureau, ranging from Holocaust survivors to fourth-generation descendants of Holocaust survivors.

Together, we are all bonded by the mission statements of both organizations:

“Foster cooperation and understanding within the Jewish community; Build relationships and mutual understanding with ethnic, racial, and religious groups across Maryland; Through education and action, promote strong support for Israel and the Jewish people at home and throughout the world” — Baltimore Jewish Council

“Teach the Shoah trains people of all ages, generations, and backgrounds to share testimony-based stories and lessons of the Holocaust that challenge ignorance and hate by building personal connections across generations, faiths, and identities.” — Teach the Shoah

We believe that Holocaust education is one of the most powerful tools to combat antisemitism and halt Holocaust denial. By sharing our family stories with audiences of all ages, we can foster empathy in others.

For some, sharing our stories can be intensely emotional and challenging, while others find joy in telling their tales. Regardless, we all recognize the importance of keeping these stories alive. We hope our connection to these narratives and the family members they represent resonates with those who hear them and leaves a lasting impact.

We want to thank our hosts, Abe Wasserberger and Lissa Abrams, for welcoming us into their house for this meaningful event.

If you are interested in telling your family’s Holocaust stories, please reach out to the Baltimore Jewish Council and Teach the Shoah.

The Baltimore Jewish Council offers free speakers featuring a variety of different Holocaust stories for all organizations. For information, contact info@baltjc.org.