Sometimes an experience gives you a lot more than you expect. That was the case when I recently attended NewCAJE, an annual conference for Jewish educators. I was not there as a Teach the Shoah (TTS) teller but rather attended because of my job as a temple educator. I expected the conference would provide inspiration and ideas to enhance my teaching, and it did. However, the most valuable takeaway was unrelated to this. Instead, it was the connections I made with other TTS storytellers.

During the conference I met several TTS members whom I had only met over Zoom, as well as one whom I hadn’t met but whose name I recognized. I instantly felt a bond to each of them. We talked, laughed, gave positive support before sessions we were presenting, and learned more about each other’s lives. In other words, we formed a community. What surprised me was how quickly and easily this happened, which reflects on the wonderful atmosphere created by TTS leadership and everyone involved.

Since taking the Moving from Testimony to Story class a year ago, I have felt the strength and support of the TTS community. Through the willingness of others in my class to listen to me experimenting with scenes and revising them until they worked, the appreciations given after a presentation, the workshops during which storytellers can receive help from each other, and so much more, the sense of being part of a community is always there.

Even outside the actual storytelling, members of the TTS community clearly care about each other. Recently, someone mentioned that she had experienced an antisemitic incident. TTS members immediately responded with their support in terms of her response and their pride in her for responding as she did. Birthday wishes sent to others in the group are more than just “happy birthday” because they often include an appreciation of the person’s contribution to TTS.

Telling Holocaust stories can be hard. Each time I tell my dad’s story, I wonder how it will be received by the listeners and whether it will make a difference. The emotions I feel when telling the story stay with me for quite some time. Having the TTS community’s support is invaluable in so many ways and is greatly appreciated.