“Why write your parents’ story?”

By Ida Margolis and Shelley Lieb

GenShoah SWFL has encouraged and supported the writing of our parents’ stories of survival. Several 2Gs attended a recent event to nudge more writers to take that step. These stories and how they can transform writer and reader cross over all elements of our mission.

These stories “promote Holocaust education and human rights.” They are written to be accessible to a middle-school student as students in Florida learn about it in the eighth grade. They are posted on the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center (HMCEC) website for public access. They are true stories of survival that chronicle the loss of human rights in ways that make it personal, believable and teachable.

When we gather our oral history, write it down and publish it, we are “preserving the history and memories of the Holocaust.” Our stories become part of the Holocaust record. It may feel like just a little bit but, when gathered together, these stories coalesce into a bigger picture, a more grounded understanding of what actually happened to individuals, to families and to a thriving culture.

When you write your parents’ story, you are “connecting with other secondand third-generation families” and now even the fourth generation. It is certainly eye-opening to read each other’s stories and comment on the similarities and differences. And it is definitely a legacy that you are putting together for your own family.

These stories provide an opportunity for “supporting the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center.” They bring interest, ideas, donations and visitors to HMCEC. Some story writers have supplemented their stories with actual family artifacts and additional materials donated to HMCEC. If you’ve already written your parents’ story, you can Google your name and note that it is listed and accessible to the public at hmcec.org/resources.

If you didn’t join us at “Our Stories” in February but are ready to take that first step or share what you’ve already written, contact Shelley Lieb at liebro@gmail.com.