I first learned of Jennifer Zunikoff’s work with college students researching and telling Holocaust stories over a decade ago at a NewCAJE Jewish Educators’ conference, and I was in awe of the devotion and respect with which the presenters shared their stories. I learned of Teach the Shoah as it was being developed by Deborah Fripp and Jennifer a few years ago, also at a NewCAJE conference. What an essential program this has become! Their invaluable programs should be required for every Middle School and High School program everywhere, in Jewish and secular settings. It is an invaluable visceral experience to hear a Holocaust story told in first person as a result of immersive research and heart connection.

We cannot ever forget. Through guided Storytelling training, the chance to share stories via ZOOM programs, the research, the rituals of the commemoration, the classroom lectures and so much more, Teach the Shoah is ensuring that the memories of those who perished in the Holocaust and those who survived are remembered, as their precious stories are preserved and perpetuated. Teach the Shoah is a lifesaving, life-giving treasure for the ages.

Dr. Fripp is a passionate person with a kind heart and whatever she talks about is still useful to know today and hence, people should pay attention while listening to her stories.

The Flower Mound Public Library has collaborated with Teach the Shoah for several years to bring programs to our community in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Their leadership team and presenters are experienced, knowledgeable, and an absolute joy to work with. These touching remembrance ceremonies enable people of all backgrounds to hear the powerful stories of those whose lives were changed forever by the Holocaust. Teach the Shoah is a valuable asset to our community, and we are grateful for their dedication to ensuring that these stories are not forgotten. We hope to continue partnering with them to bring high-quality, educational programs to the Library for years to come.

I really enjoyed her story telling. I think Dr. Fripp has such an amazing passion for history that she really made these stories interesting. I also believe that her delivering these stories made them easier to connect with and understand.

Deborah Fripp’s presentation to our adult Introduction to Judaism class was an excellent way to introduce the topics of antisemitism and the Shoah to a group of adult learners with relatively little knowledge about the Shoah. She made the topics relatable and understandable for learners from diverse backgrounds, many of whom were brand-new to learning about Judaism, and came from a variety of educational backgrounds with regards to prior knowledge about the Shoah. Deborah’s presentation reached both head and heart, connecting the lessons of the Shoah to the realities of the present-day, using stories and images to engage students. Partnering with her in the weeks leading up to and following the class was a joy, as she always asked thoughtful questions about who the learners were, what questions and background they already had, and she was eager to customize her presentation to meet the educational needs of the class.

Dr. Fripp recounts stories from those who lived through the Holocaust from a first-person perspective. After the stories are told, the audience engages in a discussion about what the stories teach and a question about them posed by Dr. Fripp. This style of teaching the Holocaust helps students more closely connect with the people in the time period they are studying, and provides specific, concrete examples of how the Holocaust affected Europe that students can then use as a jumping-off point to analyze the Holocaust as a whole.

Working with Teach The Shoah has showed me the value of my family’s stories. They have helped me develop the narratives in meaningful ways and have given me the confidence to tell my stories that might never have been heard otherwise.

[Moments of Witness, the interfaith commemoration,]  was beautiful. I felt seen, a sense of belonging and a common thread of humanity with the strength to look at the horrors we face as reminders to keep fighting the good fight

I didn’t know how serious the situation was for the people living there, as I mostly just learned about the facts or the big picture, not the stories of specific people who had to go through that event.

What you have created is such a precious gem. We are all so blessed to have this sacred space.

This is beneficial because it helps you learn in a way that you cannot by reading articles.

Your words were powerful.

I learned just how horrible the experience actually was. I mean we all read books and accounts of survivors from the Holocaust, but we usually never actually see someone act in that situation. I think it was a great change to see Esther and Dr. Fripp act out some of the people because it felt like we were getting a key into a vault to see what it actually felt like first-hand for people who were going through the situation. Esther and Dr. Fripp actually performing for the class gave it that final touch that you can’t get through a screen.

I like how they told the stories in a way that felt very personal. Before Dr. Fripp’s visit, the Holocaust felt like a terrible historical event that we were researching in class. I didn’t really understand it on a more personal level. After Dr. Fripp’s visit, I had a better understanding of how the people felt.