Learn to Tell Stories of the Holocaust
Become both a Custodian and a Messenger of Memory
Do you have a family story of the Holocaust? Do you tell Holocaust stories while leading tours? Do you teach the Holocaust? Have you heard or read a Holocaust story that touched you? Let us guide you in the sacred task of sharing a story of someone who experienced the Holocaust.
Join us for a Free Workshop
For information on upcoming workshops and programs, subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on Facebook.
Contact us for information about coaching or if you have questions.
Exploring Their Stories
An exploration of Holocaust storytelling
Learn a little about the process of learning to be a storyteller, listen to a guest storyteller tell a story of the Holocaust, and then have a chance to try it for yourself. No storytelling experience needed.
Weaving Our Connection
A deeper story-work session
Spend time in partners working on your story. You must have attended one of our Exploring Their Stories workshops and stayed through the breakouts in order to come to these sessions.
Individual Coaching
Solidifying your story
The final step in developing a compelling story is one-on-one coaching from our storytelling director, Jennifer Rudick Zunikoff. Jennifer is a wonderful, compassionate coach who will guide you with appreciations and suggestions to make your story as smooth and powerful as possible.
Sharing Their Stories
A story presentation program
Come listen to our storytellers share true stories of Holocaust survivors, and of those who did not survive. Each program is a little different. You could be the next storyteller we spotlight.
What will we do when there are no more survivors to tell the stories?
We will have to tell Their Stories in Our Voices.
You Have Questions…
Learning to be a Storyteller
Am I going to have to write a speech?
No. Storytelling is different from speechwriting. In our workshops, you will not be writing a story down. You will be learning to tell a story as if it were your own, whether you tell it in first person or third. It is this authentic telling-from-the-heart that makes storytelling so powerful.
What if I’m too shy to be a storyteller?
Many people are nervous starting out. For this reason, we do most of our practicing in partners. With just one other person listening, there’s less pressure to be perfect. In addition, you won’t start with a complete story. You’ll start with an image and a moment, and then slowly learn to wind your story around those.
Do I have to tell the story in first person?
Absolutely not. Many of our storytellers do use first person, which can be a powerful way to present a story. But many of our storytellers use third person. How you tell your story is entirely up to you. We may ask you to try out a technique, such as telling in first person, as an exercise in a workshop, but when you present your story, you choose the perspective you use.
Choosing and Telling Your Story
My mother/father was a survivor. I know it needs to be told, so it isn’t forgotten, but how can I tell their story when I find it so upsetting?
Recognize that your own story is part of the story of the Holocaust. Your childhood experiences reflect the Holocaust experiences of your parent(s). When we work with children of survivors, we often start by helping them tell their own stories. Often, telling your own story can help you work up to being able to tell your parent’s.
What if I don’t have a story to tell?
There are many places you can find stories to tell. Here are a few:
Video Testimonies:
- USHMM archive
- Goucher College archive from the Oral History of Holocaust Survivor’s Course
- Yiddish Book Center
- Yale University archives
- The Shoah Foundation
Books and Diaries:
There are many memoirs and diaries you can offer your students. Here are two collections that may be helpful.
Where can I tell my story?
There are many places to present your story. Your local school or library would be thrilled to have you come present to them. A good place to start is to present for us, either at an ETS workshop or an STS program. If you work with us to become a confident storyteller, we will help you find venues to share your story.
Follow Us on Facebook & YouTube
© 2020 All rights reserved