IN PERSON: While the atrocities of the Holocaust are widely known, the experiences of survivors in the aftermath of liberation often receive less attention. That's what this course will focus on: What came next? Through lecture and interactive discussion, we will explore the obstacles survivors encountered trying to return to life, the ways they adapted, and the lasting impact on their families and future generations. The instructor will share how these narratives have influenced his life growing up as a child of survivors, including an emotional visit to Poland that sparked his journey into Holocaust education. Together, we will learn about notable survivors, the early efforts to teach and commemorate the Holocaust, and the enduring lessons survivors have taught us. | Lecture + Q&A.
Max enrollment: 25.
Location: Judea Reform Congregation, 1933 W. Cornwallis Rd, Durham NC 27705
Shelly Bleiweiss is a child of Holocaust survivors and an experienced OLLI instructor at Duke and NC State University, having taught courses on the Holocaust and antisemitism. He was a docent at Holocaust Museum Houston and participated as a mental health counselor on the International March of the Living. Since moving to North Carolina in 2014, Shelly has joined the North Carolina Council on the Holocaust and has spoken to hundreds of school students and numerous civic and community groups.