Chapter 6: Survivors Share Resilience

Humane Holocaust education involves learning about and from Holocaust survivors. As educators, we can select, convey, and help interpret the narratives and accounts of survivors. Whether or not it is part of our given curricula, we can be privileged to listen and, when possible, interact with people who had firsthand experiences with catastrophic historical events. It is estimated that there have been over 100,000 recorded accounts of Holocaust survival, only some of which have been examined and appreciated by scholars or educational audiences (Greenspan, 2010b). Survivor accounts tell and retell Holocaust narratives in many ways and from many perspectives. Survivor narratives extend educational options well beyond the important “cannon” provided by well-known authors. Navigating selections from survivors is a great opportunity for educators and provides “relatable” information to students and for Holocaust studies of all kinds.